Lectures - Christian Mysticism – Part 3: Neoplatonism

How did Greek philosophy shape the development of Christian mysticism? The philosophy of Plotinus and his successors offered a language for Christian mystics to speak about divine transcendence, the hierarchy of being, and the contemplative journey of the soul. Figures such as Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and Pseudo-Dionysius drew on Neoplatonic metaphysics to express both mystical experience and the relationship between creation and the divine. At the same time, Neoplatonism’s influence raised enduring theological questions. How could the transcendent One be both utterly beyond and intimately present within creation? And to what extent did the Neoplatonic model of One, Nous, and Soul provide a framework for articulating the Christian doctrine of the Trinity? In this live lecture, Leandro Palacios of Toronto Centre Place examines how Neoplatonism shaped the language of Christian mysticism and how the at times clashing encounter of Greek philosophy and Jewish mystical tradition shaped the spirituality of the early Church. Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions of our lecturer during the Q&A. This series traces the development of Christian mysticism from biblical and patristic roots through medieval and modern expressions. We explore influential writings from Gregory of Nyssa, Pseudo-Dionysius, Hildegard of Bingen, Bernard of Clairvaux, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, Teresa of Ávila, John of the Cross, as well as contemporary voices. This lecture is part of our series exploring Christianity and the Bible from an academic perspective through history, mythology, archaeology, theology, and biblical studies. 📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at https://www.centreplace.ca/lectures Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider making a donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada): ❤️ https://www.centreplace.ca/donate ️