The Origins of Christian Mysticism



Overview

Come and discover the origins of Christian mystical theology.  Explore 'the seeing that consists in not seeing' (Gregory of Nyssa), the state of mind 'resembling sapphire' (Evagrius of Pontus), and 'the brilliant darkness of a hidden silence' (Dionysius).

The early Christian mystics we will be studying, such as Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Evagrius of Pontus and Pseudo-Dionysius, drew on deep roots in both Jewish and Greek traditions as they struggled for words with which to describe the indescribable.  They were influenced by apocalyptic descriptions of heavenly ascent and Platonic notions of the soul.  But above all, they valued scripture.  We will examine their interpretations of such biblical passages as Moses' entry into the darkness, the elders' viewing of the divine sapphire pavement, and Ezekiel's chariot vision.  They scoured these passages for clues about the practice of prayer and contemplation, drawing on difficulties in the biblical text to argue for a higher, spiritual meaning.  We will also consider how the desert fathers' and mothers' experiments in ascetic living shaped Christian contemplative traditions. 

The emphasis throughout will be on reading primary sources together - translations will be provided.  There will be plenty of time for discussion as to what we understand by 'mysticism'.

Programme details

Courses starts: 22 Apr 2025

Week 1: Introduction to Mystical Theology

Week 2: From the Bible to the Apocalypses

Week 3: Platonism and Philo

Week 4: Clement of Alexandria

Week 5: Origen

Week 6: Gregory of Nyssa

Week 7: The Desert Hermits

Week 8: Evagrius of Pontus

Week 9: Macarius

Week 10: Pseudo-Dionysius

Certification

To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00
Take this course for CATS points £30.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Ann Conway-Jones

Dr Ann Conway-Jones is an honorary research fellow at the University of Birmingham, specialising in biblical interpretation, early Jewish-Christian relations, and the origins of mystical theology.  She combines her scholarship with over 20 years’ experience of teaching adults.

Course aims

To explore how Christian mystical theology developed from its twin roots in Jewish apocalypticism and Platonic philosophy.

Course objectives:

  • To present prominent early Christian mystics.
  • To examine how key biblical passages influenced the development of mystical theology.
  • To trace the use of heavenly ascent as a metaphor for the inner journey of the soul.

Teaching methods

The teaching will be a combination of presentations by the tutor and class discussion.  Use will be made of online materials, including brief videos of specialists in the subject.  Students will be given short extracts from key texts (in translation) to read before each session, and asked to come prepared to explore them further.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

  • read extracts from early Christian mystics with confidence;
  • identify the biblical passages which influenced the development of mystical theology;
  • understand the way in which heavenly ascent traditions were turned into metaphors for the inner journey of the soul. 

Assessment methods

One essay of 1500 words.  A selection of titles will be provided.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

The course is open to all. No background knowledge is required.

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support