CFP: ‘Mysticism of Open Eyes’ in: 'Universitas Gedanesis'

Jan Grzanka, editor of the biannual scientific journal ‘Universitas Gedanensis’, together with Elżbieta Mikiciuk, invite you to contribute to the next issue of the journal entitled ‘Mysticism of Open Eyes’.

The motto of the issue is André Malraux's words: ‘The 21st century will be mystical... or it will not be.’ We do not interpret them as a striking metaphor, but as a diagnosis of the times. If Christianity is to survive, it cannot be an escape from the world, a form of spiritual escapism. The concept of ‘mysticism of open eyes’, developed by Johann Baptist Metz, means mysticism that does not separate itself from reality, focused on private spiritual experience, but is sensitive to suffering, seeing the faces of others. It is a mysticism of compassio, compassionate, especially present with those who have been hurt and concerned about the justice they expect.

Today, in an age of violence, inequality and new forms of exclusion, indifference has become one of the most dangerous temptations of ‘disembodied’ and individualistic spirituality, a pseudo-mysticism that not only replaces shallow religiosity, but leads faith astray. ‘Open Eyes’ is a protest against a misunderstood path of mystical contemplation. Mysticism will either become a sensitive, loving presence in the world, attentive to human beings and all living creatures, or it will lose itself in non-existence. If the 21st century is not mystical in this sense, it will become spiritually dead and helpless in the face of apatheism.

The editors plan to publish two issues of the journal, which will then be used as the basis for a book to be published by the Krakow Society of Authors and Publishers of Scientific Works ‘Universitas’. For several years now, a series of publications has been appearing, based on articles published in the Universitas Gedanensis journal, supplemented with additional materials and published under the collective title Bibliotheca Culturae Scriptae (Library of Written Culture).

Each volume of the series is planned as a separate collective work, edited by Dr Jan Grzanka and an expert in the field invited to collaborate. In the edition ‘Mysticism of Open Eyes’, the co-editor of the volume is Prof. Elżbieta Mikiciuk, PhD, from the University of Gdańsk.

All information about the journal and the publishing series is available at: universitasgedanensis.com.pl. The tabs ‘For authors’, ‘Reviewing guidelines’ and ‘Publication ethics guidelines’ contain detailed guidelines for publishing articles in ‘UniversitasGedanensis’.

Please send any questions and correspondence to the following email addresses:

[email protected]

Editor-in-chief of Universitas Gedanensis: Dr Jan Grzanka (SANS-Sopot)

[email protected]

Co-editor of the volume: Prof. Elżbieta Mikiciuk, PhD (University of Gdańsk)