German mysticism

The German mysticism, sometimes called Dominican mysticism or Rhinelands mysticism, was a medieval Christian mystical movement, which spread particularly within the Dominican Order in Germany. Although in Germany earlier Hildegard of Bingen had occurred as a mystic already and had developed under the influence of Mechthild of Magdeburg, the monastery Helfta a center of women mystics, the term " German mysticism " is mainly in terms of Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler, and Heinrich Suso used, whose writings gained the largest circulation. Other well-known names from the extensive list of mystics are about Rulman Merswin and Margareta Ebner and the friends of God. About the religious sphere also was the German mysticism especially for the development of German literary language of meaning.

The relationship between scholasticism and the German mysticism is controversial, depending on the weighting of the contrasts and similarities. For example, the use of the vernacular is cited in contrast to the Latin scholastics. But even Meister Eckhart, who is known for his German sermons, wrote detailed philosophical treatises same teaching in Latin.

About the Middle Ages also was the German mysticism of importance for the Reformation ( cf. Luther's edition of the Theologia German ) and beyond. During the following centuries for renewal movements in both the Protestant and Catholic in the area