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McDonald Lecture: Revisiting Modern Christian “Mysticism”: What Did the 20th Century Mean by It, and Why Does It Still Matter?
Candler welcomes systematic theologian and philosopher of religion Sarah Coakley as the 2025-2026 Alonzo L. McDonald Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Life and Teachings of Jesus and Their Impact on Culture. In two public lectures set for October, Coakley will explore why “mysticism” still fascinates many, both inside and outside the churches. She will also address the 20th century’s development of several influential theories of mysticism that distorted the goals of classic Christian “mystical theology” while simultaneously adding new insights which endure.
In this first of the two McDonald lectures, Coakley will compare the theories of William James, Ernst Troeltsch and Michel de Certeau, and reflect on what aspects of their work are still important in today’s context.
Click here to learn more about this McDonald Lecture Series.