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Christian Mysticism and Food

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Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics

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Synonyms

Areopagite texts; Asceticism; Byzantine Hesychasm; Christianity; Medieval Mysticism; Mysticism; Non-anthropocentric ecological philosophy; St. Nicholaos Cabasilas; St. Symeon the New Theologian

Introduction

Food in the form of items with nutrients essential for survival (whether cooked or uncooked) is of key importance for the distinct Christian theological and philosophical perspective called “Christian Mysticism”: it acquires a new spiritual and transcendent dimension. After an attempt to define and chart the rather loosely connected threads in philosophical and theological thought that can be grouped within this distinct form of mysticism, attention will be directed to the significance of food and drink for the achievement of the goals of Christian Mysticism and thus, the soteriological transformation of human beings. The discussion will close with an evaluation of the contribution of Christian Mysticism in the context of contemporary debates in the Philosophy of Food.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Open University, Buckinghamshire, MK7 6AA, UK

    Constantinos Athanasopoulos

Authors
  1. Constantinos Athanasopoulos
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Correspondence to Constantinos Athanasopoulos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Paul B. Thompson

  2. Department of Philosophy and Religion, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

    David M. Kaplan

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Athanasopoulos, C. (2014). Christian Mysticism and Food. In: Thompson, P.B., Kaplan, D.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0929-4_436

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0929-4_436

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-0928-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-0929-4

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