Detachment and Suffering in the Negative-Allegorical Theology of John of the Cross

Subject Areas : Christianity

مسعود Sadeqi ¹ , ربابه Abdari ²

1 - استادیار دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران
2 - کارشناس ارشد عرفان اسلامی، پژوهشکده امام خمینی(ره) و انقلاب اسلامی، تهران، ایران

Received: 2019-03-07 Accepted : 2019-03-07 Published : 2018-07-23

Keywords: Detachment, suffering, desolation, dark, purgation, illumination, union, Love,

Abstract :

John of the Cross (1542-1591) is the creator of the four great, brilliant and admirable mystical works. Using symbols of negative-allegorical theology to follow the figurative language of the Bible, and mystical concepts in a systematic way, these works try to elevate seekers to the supreme perfection.  In fact, the profound impact of John of the Cross on Christian mysticism of the Middle Ages was due to, most of all, a stage in mysticism, which is called "the dark night of the sense". This stage was introduced in his masterpiece, Dark Night of the Soul, which is known for its emphasizing the place of love in mystical path. Decoding the prominent parables of Christian mysticism, John of the Cross gives a Christian image of suffering and a dynamic theory of detachment that is far from desolation and has deep connection with the submission.