Abraham J. Heschel and the mysticism of divine pathos

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Published: Apr 30, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5752/P.2175-5841.2019v17n52p132-147
Keywords:
Heschel, divine pathos, deep theology, mysticism

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Edson Fernando de Almeida
Professor do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência da religião da UFJF

Abstract

The category of divine pathos had got its strongest expression in Abraham J. Heschel. The prophet has no ideas and concepts about God, the prophet is one who undergoes a transitive action of God. It is not a fusion with God, it is about being affected by the pathos of God. For Heschel the mystical experience is an ecstasy of human being; revelation is an ecstasy of God. It is not God that is an experience of human being; human being is an experience of God.   It derives from this not proper an unitive mystic, but a sympathetic mystic, which translates as a human response to the pains of God in the pains of the world. What the prophets testify is not the essence of the divine, but his pathos, his concern with human misery. The divine pathos is like a bridge thrown over the abyss that separates the human being from God.

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How to Cite
ALMEIDA, Edson Fernando de. Abraham J. Heschel and the mysticism of divine pathos. HORIZONTE - Journal of Studies in Theology and Religious Sciences, Belo Horizonte, v. 17, n. 52, p. 132–147, 2019. DOI: 10.5752/P.2175-5841.2019v17n52p132-147. Disponível em: https://periodicos.pucminas.br/horizonte/article/view/P.2175-5841.2019v17n52p132. Acesso em: 14 aug. 2025.
Issue
v. 17, n. 52, jan./abr. 2019 - Dossiê - Judaísmo: religião, cultura, nação
Section
Artigos/Articles: Dossiê/Dossier

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Author Biography

Edson Fernando de Almeida, Professor do Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência da religião da UFJF

Possui graduação em Teologia - Seminário Presbiteriano do Sul (1985), graduação em Psicologia - Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (1993), mestrado em Teologia pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (1998) e doutorado em Teologia pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (2002), pós doutorado em Ciência da Religião pelo Programa de Pós- Graduação em Ciência da Religião da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - PPCIR-UFJF (2015). É professor Adjunto do Departamento de Ciência da Religião da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. Integra o grupo de pesquisa Apophatiké - Estudos Transdisciplinares em Mística.