Mystical Theology and Muslim-Christian Dialogue-1st Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Muslim-Christian dialogue is a crucial issue in the contemporary world. Possible means for dialogue must be pursued on many levels, but it can be successful only by taking religious experiences seriously in their claim to truth. One form of religious expression that combines a strong connection to one's own tradition with genuine openness to dialogue is mysticism. Mystical theology, which is rooted in the spiritual experience and relatively free from theology of power, could be a bridge of dialogue between Christianity and Islam, seeking for a common ground and shared values. It is open also to the possibility of reading the other’s traditions beyond apologetics or polemics, without avoiding dissension themes in the Islamic-Christian dialogue. The experiences and the writings of classical and modern mystics, both Muslim ( ‘Attar, Ibn ‘Arabi, Rumi) and Christian (Augustine of Hippo, John of the Cross, André Scrima, Pierre Claverie, Chiara Lubich), could be possible bridges for the Christian-Islamic dialogue. This issue invites researchers to reflect upon aspects, examples and systematic elaborations regarding mystical theology, analysing their potential for that dialogue.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Mystical Christian Theology
• Mystical Muslim Theology
• Comparative Mystical Theology
• Muslim-Christian Dialogue
• Mystical Imaginary
• Mystical Approach to the Theology of Religions

Prof. Dr. Stefan Tobler
Guest Editor

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