The existence mysticism and its challenges to theism Cover Image

Mistyka egzystencji i jej wezwania pod adresem teizmu
The existence mysticism and its challenges to theism

Author(s): Zbigniew Kaźmierczak
Subject(s): Philosophy, Metaphysics, Special Branches of Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku
Keywords: mysticism; existence; existence mysticism; theodicy; theism; mistyka; egzystencja; mistyka egzystencji; teodycea; teizm

Summary/Abstract: The article is an attempt to describe a phenomenon that can be called the existence mysticism. It is a simple consequence of theism and consists in the conviction that God who intervenes in the human world must intervene in human existence. Since God according to monotheism is all powerful it can be expected from any believer that whatever happens to him is not so much an expression of a free will of any creature or the nature of things themselves but first of all and essentially an expression of all-powerful God. This observation has a very important influence on understanding of faith that cannot be conceived of as a frivolous decision to believe but as a result of a long processes of existential development. The article shows that the fact that evil is a part of human existence and not only an intellectual event that is to be explained by theodicy creates an enormous challenge for theism and makes faith more dramatic than it is normally maintained.

  • Issue Year: 2/2015
  • Issue No: XXVII
  • Page Range: 63-77
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Polish