Amy Hollywood Boeken

Acute Melancholia and Other Essays deploys spirited and progressive approaches to the study of Christian mysticism and the philosophy of religion. Ideal for novices and experienced scholars alike, the volume makes a forceful case for thinking about religion as both belief and practice, in which traditions marked by change are passed down through generations, laying the groundwork for their own critique. Through a provocative integration of medieval sources and texts by Jacques Derrida, Judith Butler, Talal Asad, and Dipesh Chakrabarty, this book redefines what it means to engage critically with history and those embedded within it.

Focusing on the neglected theological contributions of women, particularly the beguines, this study explores their mystical teachings and challenges to contemporary sexual ideologies. Hollywood analyzes key texts, including works by Mechthild, Porete, and Eckhart, highlighting the unique union of the soul and the divine they propose. The book emphasizes the beguines' influence on later mystical writers, especially Meister Eckhart, revealing the complex interplay between their spiritualities and his teachings through detailed textual analysis.