Experiencing God in Late Medieval and Early Modern England

Experiencing God in Late Medieval and Early Modern England explores how divine revelation was a central aspect of English religion, shaping thought and belief. It highlights a common discourse that underpinned this representation, emphasizing the preparation of the soul for an encounter with the divine through spiritual disciplines and devotional practices. The book also discusses the physical, metaphysical, and epistemological features of revelation and its legitimacy and stigmatization within the wider context of knowledge.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 17 June 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Experiencing God in Late Medieval and Early Modern England delves into the profound significance of divine revelation in late medieval and early modern English religion. Through a comprehensive exploration of various source materials, including contemplative works, accounts of revelatory experiences, biblical commentaries, devotionals, and religious imagery, David J. Davis argues that divine revelation played a central role in shaping English thought and belief. This book sheds light on previously under-explored notions about divine revelation and its profound impact on shaping large portions of English culture.

Davis contends that in this period, there was a collective representation of divine revelation as a source of human knowledge, transcending religious and intellectual divisions. The majority of people believed that divine revelation, through a captivating encounter with God, was attainable, and it was regarded as the pinnacle of religious experience, providing pure understanding. The book highlights a common discourse that permeated the sources, underpinning this collective representation of how human beings experienced the divine. It demonstrates a persistent effort across significant segments of English religion to prepare individuals' souls for an encounter with the divine through diverse spiritual disciplines and devotional practices.

Over centuries, this discourse and the broader culture of revelation provided a vital structure and legitimacy to both contemporary claims of divine revelation and the biblical precedents upon which contemporary experiences were modeled. It detailed the physical, metaphysical, and epistemological aspects of how a human being was understood to experience divine revelation, serving as a means to delineate and define this profound spiritual experience.

In conclusion, Experiencing God in Late Medieval and Early Modern England offers a rich and insightful examination of the role of divine revelation in shaping late medieval and early modern English religion. Through a meticulous analysis of a diverse range of source materials, Davis provides a compelling argument that divine revelation was a central and transformative force in English culture, shaping not only religious beliefs but also broader intellectual and cultural developments. This book is a valuable contribution to the study of late medieval and early modern history, religion, and culture.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 241 x 262 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198834137