This unit introduces students to mystical theology through engagement with texts, figures, and practices that explore the relationship between divine experience, language, and theology. It examines a range of mystical traditions within Christianity, including both recognised theological traditions and forms of experiential and embodied spirituality that question or unsettle established theological norms. Students consider how mystical theology interacts with wider forms of life, including ecclesial practice, ethics, politics, and the arts, and explore how mystical texts reflect on the limits and possibilities of theological expression.
Unit code: CT3012Z
Unit status: Approved (Major revision)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3
Unit discipline: Systematic Theology
Delivery Mode: Blended
Proposing College: St Francis College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Describe the historical development of mystical theology and the contributions of key figures and traditions. |
| 2. | Analyse mystical texts and concepts in relation to broader theological and philosophical contexts. |
| 3. | Apply insights from mystical theology to interpret its significance for Christian life and practice. |
This unit requires students to complete two Undergraduate Foundation level units in Systematic Theology.
Synchronous and asynchronous lectures and text-based tutorials
Franke, William. On What Cannot Be Said, 2 vols., Notre Dame, 2007.
Hollywood, Amy. Sensible Ecstasy: Mysticism, Sexual Difference, and the Demands of History. University of Chicago Press, 2002.
McIntosh, Mark. Mystical Theology: The Integrity of Spirituality and Theology. Blackwell, 1998.
Sell, Michael. Mystical Languages of Unsaying. University of Chicago Press, 1994.
Steenbuch, Johannes Aakjær. Negative Theology: A Short Introduction. Cascade Books, 2022.
Prevot, Andrew. The Mysticism of Ordinary Life: Theology, Philosophy, and Feminism. Oxford University Press, 2023.
Boothby, Richard. Embracing the Void: Rethinking the Origin of the Sacred. Northwestern University Press, 2023.
Turner, Denys. The Darkness of God: Negativity in Christian Mysticism. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
The Cambridge Companion to Christian Mysticism. Edited by Amy Hollywood. Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Rose, Marika. A Theology of Failure: Žižek Against Christian Innocence. Fordham University Press, 2019.
Burrus, Virginia, Mark D. Jordan, and Karmen MacKendrick. Seducing Augustine: Bodies, Desires, Confessions. Fordham University Press, 2010.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 0 | 100.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 15 Apr, 2026
Unit record last updated: 2026-04-15 09:51:38 +1000