Amongst the apparent enigmas of life, amongst the seemingly most radical and abiding of interior antinomies and conflicts experienced by the human race and by individuals, there is one which everything tends to make us feel and see with an ever-increasing keenness and clearness. More and more we want a strong and interior, a lasting yet voluntary bond of union between our own successive states of mind, and between what is abiding in ourselves and what is permanent within our fellow-men; and more and more we seem to see that mere Reasoning, Logic, Abstraction,—all that appears as the necessary instrument and expression of the Universal and Abiding,—does not move or win the will, either in ourselves or in others; and that what does thus move and win it, is Instinct, Intuition, Feeling, the Concrete and Contingent, all that seems to be of its very nature individual and evanescent. Reasoning appears but capable, at best, of co-ordinating, unifying, explaining the material furnished to it by experience of all kinds; at worst, of explaining it away; at best, of stimulating the purveyance of a fresh supply of such experience; at worst, of stopping such purveyance as much as may be. And yet the Reasoning would appear to be the transferable part in the process, but not to move; and the experience alone to have the moving power, but not to be transmissible.

Friedrich von Hügel's 'The Mystical Element of Religion' is a seminal work in the field of religious studies, exploring the spiritual dimensions of faith in a nuanced and scholarly manner. Divided into two volumes, the book delves deep into the mystical aspects of various religious traditions, from Christianity to Hinduism, providing a comparative analysis of the mystical experiences and practices found within these belief systems. Von Hügel's writing style is erudite and insightful, drawing on a wide range of sources to support his arguments. As a prominent Catholic theologian and philosopher, Friedrich von Hügel's own background and scholarly pursuits undoubtedly influenced his decision to write 'The Mystical Element of Religion'. His academic expertise in the field of theology, coupled with his personal interest in mysticism, led him to undertake this comprehensive exploration of the mystical aspects of religion. Von Hügel's unique perspective and deep knowledge make him a credible authority on the subject. I highly recommend 'The Mystical Element of Religion' to anyone interested in delving into the spiritual and mystical dimensions of faith. Von Hügel's thorough analysis and insightful commentary make this book a valuable resource for scholars and students of religion alike.

Our late modern era is marked by the rapidity of change; waxing pluralism; focus on the future, not the past; the elevation of personal choice over communal obligation; and, for some, a sense of spiritual and intellectual disorientation that can lead to resentment, fear, nostalgia, and/or a disordered desire for absolute certainty and rigid authority. How can religious traditions be maintained and even thrive in such an environment? How do they negotiate the fluidity of it all and transmit their beliefs and practices to future generations? What should be the role of academic authorities vis-à-vis religious authorities in this process? Finally, what can different religious traditions learn from one another on the general topic of tradition? This volume invites readers to participate in a candid ecumenical and interreligious conversation involving Christian, Jewish, and Muslim voices. The editor and contributors alike contend that the “Abrahamic” faiths, while having honest differences, face common challenges from contemporary culture, which often fosters incomprehension about the depth, breadth, and intellectual rigor of religious traditions. At the same time, traditions can become disengaged and moribund without attending to them with careful reflection, discernment, and conversation with others who hold different points of view. With contributions from: David Novak James L. Heft, S. M. David Bentley Hart Ebrahim Moosa Sarah Hinlicky Wilson

Excerpt from The Mystical Element of Religion as Studied in Saint Catherine of Genoa and Her Friends, Vol. 1: Introduction and Biographies Four months have sufficed to require a Second Impression Of this lengthy study Of difficult and complex themes. And this, evidently not because, but in spite of, certain peculiarities of style, - Germanisms strange on the part Of the son of a pure Scotchwoman, resident in England for some thirty-six years and more. I take this success to be due, predominantly, to the pro found importance and abiding interest Of the subject Of the book, and to the general character Of the method attempted here. May the very defects of the work help to bring home to the reader this inexhaustible richness Of its subject-matter, and to indicate the pre-existence, the super-eminence, the independence of the august Object Of religion, as compared with those very aspirations and convictions which this Object itself occasions and incites, and which our analyses so in adequately fathom. God, the Divine Spirit, is indeed before, within, and after all our truest dignity and deepest disquiet. If some years hence a Second Edition is called for, I Shall hope greatly to improve the book, largely by the aid of my various critics' strictures and requirements, which, so far, have. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

"Prepared by the R.R. Bowker Company's Department of Bibliography in collaboration with the Publications Systems Department"--Page opposite t.p. Includes indexes. Author Index ... 3901-4069 Title Index ... 4071-4389.

Mysticism in Early Modern England traces how mysticism featured in polemical and religious discourse in seventeenth-century England and explores how it came to be viewed as a source of sectarianism, radicalism, and, most significantly, religious enthusiasm.

"After many years of scholarship, administrative experience and leadership in Catholic higher education, James Heft has written a book that draws upon many academic disciplines to paint a picture of the past, the current situation (challenges, strengths and weaknesses) of Catholic universities, and after identifying its foundational pillars, points the way to a future that is open to modern culture without capitulating to it, embraces Catholic intellectual traditions without fossilizing them, and presents a vision of its relationship to the hierarchy that is respectful, independent, faithful and dynamic"--