This book discusses mysticism and its possible contributions to a positive common human future. It is organized into three parts - Studies of Mystical Traditions, Comparative Studies of Mystical Traditions, and Social and Ethical Implications." The approach is philosophical and critical. The contributors differ on whether or not mystical traditions would restore peaceful living and peaceful coexistence. However, the problem before this manuscript is the growing pain and suffering caused by greed in the world, greed causing economic disequilibrium, racism and divisiveness causing social unrest resulting in mass migration and refugees crisis. Through the lens of mystical traditions," the manuscript proposes a balance approach between material and spiritual needs of people. To strengthen human spiritualty, the manuscript emphasizes practicing meditation, music, prayers, zikr, yoga, mindfulness, fasting and other methods of spiritual revival for peace within self andwith others.
Part 1: Studies of Mystical Traditions.- 1: Mysticism, Visual Art, and
Repairing the World in a Strife-ridden Secular Age.- 2: The Zen ArtsA
Mystical Entry Point to a World of Oneness.- 3: Jewish Mysticism: Teachings
About Unity and Discord.- 4: The Immense Oceans of Gods Love: Rumis
Oceanic Imagery.- 5: Benedictine Evangelicalism: Human Flourishing,
Peacemaking, and Protestant Pedagogy Today.- 6: The Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi
Order Approach to Peaceful Coexistence Through Mawlana Sheikh Nazim
Al-Haqqanis Words and Actions.- Part 2: Comparative Studies of Mystical
Traditions.- 7: Lifes Great Questions and the Abstract Sacred: Cupitts New
Religion of the Everyday in the Global Context.- 8: Transcending The Letter,
Awakening the Mind: Maximos the Confessor and Tsong Kha Pa and The Challenge
of Textual Supersessionism.- 9: On The Rasil of the Ikhwn al af and
Bonaventures Minds Road into God.- 10: Beyond Separations: Mystics Merging
Across Time and Space.- 11: Al-Fana in Ibn Arabis and Eckharts Thoughts:
The Annihilation of the Many in the One.- Part 3: Social and Ethical
Implications.- 12: Identity, Prejudice, and Mysticism: Exploring Sustainable
Narratives of Peace Across Religious Borders.- 13: Migration and the
Mystical-theological tradition: Migration Experiences and the Experience of a
Dark Night.- 14: Polishing the Mirror of the Heart: Sufi Poetic Reflections
as Interfaith Inspiration for Peace.- 15: Eschatological Politics and
Intellectual Jihad: Shaykh Ahmad ibn Idris legacy in Europe.- 16: Abu Hamid
al-Ghazalis on the Duties of Brotherhood as a Modern Guide for Peaceful
Coexistence.- 17: Marriage in Shara and aqqa:Mystical Marriage in the
Thought of Mamd Muammad h.- 18: Concluding Remarks.
Muhammad Shafiq is a professor of religious studies at Nazareth College. He directs the Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and holds the Chair for Islamic and Interfaith Studies at the International Institute for Islamic Thought. He recently published a co-edited volume with Palgrave entitled The (De)Legitimization of Violence in Sacred and Human Contexts (2021). Thomas Donlin-Smith is a professor of religious studies at Nazareth College. He recently published a co-edited volume with Palgrave entitled The (De)Legitimization of Violence in Sacred and Human Contexts (2021).
