Mysticism. Between Traditiond and Modernity.
Lecture series of the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies in the winter semester 2024/25
In view of the crises in religious institutions, interest in mysticism is increasing again today. Mystical traditions are an expression of an individual approach to meaning and transcendence. They offer neither ready-made answers nor general solutions, but reflect spiritual search movements. Mystical experiences are radically subjective, yet a widespread cultural phenomenon. Across eras and continents, religions and denominations, languages and media, people strive to transcend earthly boundaries. They develop strategies to experience religious unity and bring the infinite into finite reality. In the literature of revelation, mystics struggle to find words that make the unspeakable sayable. The interdisciplinary lecture series provides an insight into the diversity of mystical forms in Judaism and Christianity, Islam and Hinduism and spans the arc from Roman antiquity to medieval visionaries and Protestant reformers to contemporary film in twelve lectures.
| 22.10.2024 | Thomas Baier (Würzburg) Why there is no mysticism among the Romans |
| 29.10.2024 | Christine Büchner (Würzburg) Between God and the World. Mystical traditions from a systematic theological perspective |
| 05.11.2024 | Milad Karimi (Münster) - CANCELLED What is Islamic mysticism - today? |
| 12.11.2024 | Maximilian Bergengruen (Würzburg) Mystical / Automatic Writing: Böhme, Novalis, Breton |
| 19.11.2024 | Martha Kleinhans (Würzburg) Suggestive self-narratives by Italian mystics: Angela da Foligno and Caterina da Siena |
| 26.11.2024 | Stephanie Catani (Würzburg) Seeing miracles? Christian mysticism and contemporary film |
| 03.12.2024 | Miriam Wallraven (Würzburg) Ascetic detachment from the world and eccentric adventures: Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe |
| 17.12.2024 | Volker Leppin (Yale) Reformational ramifications of mysticism. Martin Luther, Andreas Karlstadt and Thomas Müntzer |
| 14.01.2025 | Frederek Musall (Würzburg) Between Mystical Spirituality and Rational Philosophy: The Thought of Rabbi Jospeh D. Soloveitchik (1903-1993) |
| 21.01.2025 | Raid Al-Daghistani (Münster) The Sufi Resacralisation of Nature: An Attempt at Spiritual Ecology from the Spirit of Islamic Mysticism |
| 28.01.2025 | Regina Toepfer (Würzburg) Mystical Sisters. Provocation and imitation in the monastic community |
| 04.02.2025 | Maryam Haiawi (Hamburg) Auditio spiritualis. On the music of angels in medieval mysticism |
Time and place
The lecture series takes place on Tuesdays at 19:30 in the Toscana Hall of the Würzburg Residence(south wing, Residenzplatz 2).
Registration is not necessary. Admission is free.
It is possible to take part in the lecture series online:
Link to the Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 697 7088 9774
Password: 909726
Recognition for the degree programme
The lecture series can be credited towards your degree programme. Please note the information on crediting.
Organisation and contact
Prof. Dr Christine Büchner
Chair of Dogmatics
Prof Dr Regina Toepfer
Chair of German Philology
