Abulafia, Kabbalah is not primarily a form of gnosis or
theosophy. In effect, his view has nothing in common with the
Sephirotic Kabbalah, whose object is the penetration of the structure
of Divine being and the processes 6ccurring therein. With the help
of his profound erudition, Moshe Idel has devoted patient and
exhaustive study to the analysis of the extant material from the
voluminous Abulafian corpus. He concludes that the mystical
technique, experiences and doctrines of this author are focused upon
the human being and his upward progress along the path leading to
prophetic-mystical ecstasy.
- Professor: Dr. Conny Williams
It is customary to blame secular science and anti-religious philosophy for the eclipse of religion in modern society. It would be more honest to blame religion for its own defeats. Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive,
insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion—its message becomes meaningless. Religion is an answer to man’s ultimate questions. The moment we become oblivious to ultimate questions, religion becomes irrelevant, and its crisis sets in. The primary task of philosophy of religion is to rediscover the questions to which religion is an answer. The inquiry must proceed both by delving into the consciousness of man as well as by delving into the teachings and attitudes of the religious tradition.
- Professor: Dr. Conny Williams