The Pedagogy of Mystical Praxis and The Problem of the Self-Knowing: An Institutionalizable Approach for Combating Contemporary Socio-Ecological Degradation
Date
2023-10-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0009-0003-6366-3098
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Abstract: This thesis comes in response to contemporary concerns over (socio-)ecological degradation and the question: How can we institutionalize transformation into our presently dysfunctional system? I offer the field of mystical praxis as an academic consideration. In the minds of many, the contemporary state of socio-ecological degradation (i.e., the climate crisis, social injustice, etc.) ranges between the apocalyptic and the apocryphal. Among the responses there has been a strong shift in thinking and approach towards the spiritual and the mystical. In much of the dialogue on ecology, such as within Laudato Si’ and The Great Work, contemplation is taken as a frontal assault on the socio-ecological crisis through didactic, dialectic dialogue encouraging people to be more holistically oriented. This whole dialogue is spiritualized and often has mystical undercurrents of encountering beauty. All of these approach mysticism as a transformational human activity. Having experienced what I argue is a mystical encounter myself, I can attest that this benevolent and anthropocentric approach to mysticism errs in telling only a portion of the story on contemplation. This thesis aims to offer a fuller story for mysticism within academia. I appeal to St. Teresa of Avila’s The Interior Castle as a suitable textbook for contemporary (Catholic) institutions of education to employ as a way to begin to institutionalize transformation through systemic self-reflective knowing. The contemporary crisis has much deeper roots than most commentators ascribe in the ideas of socialized anthropocentrism and the instrumentalization of nature. This is The Problem of the Self-Knowing, or the problem of the human being a self-knowing creature capable self-willing resulting in the development of material culture. Mysticism, as the practice of knowing one’s Self [i.e., self-reflection], is a discipline of knowledge currently missing from the institutional socialization of western youths and should be taken seriously as a field of study which might help reconstitute the epistemology and methodology of the educational system thereby institutionalizing transformation into the infrastructure of contemporary Western society.
Description
Keywords
mysticism, St. Teresa of Avila, Laudato Si', Thomas Berry, eco-justice, sacra doctrina, St. Thomas Aquinas
Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Religion and Culture
Program
Religion and Culture