Louise Nelstrop: Christian Mysticism Cannot Be Separated from the Bible
Christian mysticism cannot be separated from the Bible. This was the central argument of Prof Dr Louise Nelstrop in her inaugural lecture on the occasion of her acceptance of the Chair of Church History. “The Bible had a crucial influence on the thought of mystics. Their exegesis challenges us to rethink our understanding of essential Christian ideas, such as what it means to love God.”
Renewed attention for Christian mysticism
According to Louise Nelstrop, there is much to be gained for church history by giving renewed attention to Christian mysticism, just as was the case in the Middle Ages. Christian mystics then were already pushing the boundaries of theology: “Female mystics were the first to defend women’s right to interpret the Bible. It is strange that today we have forgotten that these Christian mystics were also courageous exegetical pioneers.”
Download the lecture
The full lecture (in Dutch) can be downloaded from our website.
