St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews University Home
View Item 
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Divinity (School of)
  • Divinity
  • Divinity Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Divinity (School of)
  • Divinity
  • Divinity Theses
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • Divinity (School of)
  • Divinity
  • Divinity Theses
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

George Matheson and mysticism : a biographical study

Thumbnail
View/Open
ScottMcKennaPhDThesis.pdf (1.325Mb)
Date
2018
Author
McKenna, Scott
Supervisor
Bradley, Ian
Funder
University of St Andrews
Metadata
Show full item record
Altmetrics Handle Statistics
Abstract
George Matheson, a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Church of Scotland in the late Victorian period, was a mystic. Mysticism is not commonly associated with Scottish Presbyterian ministers who stand in the Calvinist branch of the Reformed tradition. In this thesis I discuss the extent to which Mathesonian theology reflects mystical theology, generally understood, and more specifically Hegelian mysticism. Drawing on a significant number of Matheson’s writings, I have created a succession of foci which encapsulate Matheson’s mystical thought: union with God, the inner life, immortality of the soul, and self-forgetfulness. After a brief biographical chapter, I discuss Matheson’s crisis of faith, which he suffered in the first year or two following his ordination, and his spiritual recovery. In chapter three, I discuss Matheson’s contribution to the debate between science and religion and specifically his engagement with the doctrine of transcendence proposed by Herbert spencer. In the remaining chapters, I discuss the four central themes of Matheson’s work: union with God, the inner life and immortality of the soul, and self-forgetfulness (kenotic theology). In common with other mystics, Matheson’s sense of union or oneness with the Divine is a central characteristic of his work. Christ in us, Christ in you, was the lived experience which moulded Matheson’s spiritual life, theology and meditations. In chapter 5 I discuss Matheson’s focus on the inner life, the importance of silence and solitude, and immortality of the soul. Matheson’s imaginative engagement with Scripture was shaped by his physical blindness. The darkness which enveloped his existence was the darkness in which he saw and felt the mystery of God. From inescapable darkness, he saw God in all things. In the final chapter I discuss Matheson’s kenotic theology. Matheson understood death and suffering, like eternal life, to be integral to the Divine.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Collections
  • Divinity Theses
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/15589

Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Advanced Search

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunderThis CollectionBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunder

My Account

Login

Open Access

To find out how you can benefit from open access to research, see our library web pages and Open Access blog. For open access help contact: openaccess@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Accessibility

Read our Accessibility statement.

How to submit research papers

The full text of research papers can be submitted to the repository via Pure, the University's research information system. For help see our guide: How to deposit in Pure.

Electronic thesis deposit

Help with deposit.

Repository help

For repository help contact: Digital-Repository@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Give Feedback

Cookie policy

This site may use cookies. Please see Terms and Conditions.

Usage statistics

COUNTER-compliant statistics on downloads from the repository are available from the IRUS-UK Service. Contact us for information.

© University of St Andrews Library

University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter