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Denys the Areopagite and the Divine Light | Carl E. Olson and Dr. William Riordan | Ignatius Insight Podcast | August 26, 2008 The editor of Ignatius Insight talks to theologian William Riordan, S.T.D., Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University about his book, Divine Light: The Theology of Denys the Areopagite (Ignatius Press, 2008), an indepth study of the rich theological and philosophical work of the mysterious and influential fifth-century theologian. 37 minutes. Listen to mp3 audio file: • RIGHT CLICK to download mp3 audio file (9 megs) • RIGHT CLICK to download m4a audio file (17 megs) Divine Light: The Theology of Denys the Areopagite | William Riordan, S.T.D. In his missionary journeys, St. Paul spoke in a number of cities in the Greek peninsula including Athens, renowned for its philosophical heritage. He addressed to them the message of the One, Unknown God (Acts 17:22ff). Among those present in the Areopagus (the open city center of Athens) on that day was a certain Denys (Dionysios) who eventually became a disciple of Paul. Centuries later, a corpus of writings appeared bearing the name of the Denys the Areopagite. These texts were considered to be the writings of the first century disciple of the 
Apostle Paul and thus achieved almost immediate prominence, strongly influencing the lives of St. Maximus the Confessor (d. 662) and St. John Damascene (d.749) in the East and
Eriugena (d. 877), St. Bede (d. 735), St. Bernard (d.1153) St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1272) Nicholas of Cusa (d. 1464), St. John of the Cross (d. 1591), and many other great minds in the West.
Later historical studies of Denys' texts, especially during the 19th century, showed conclusively that the writings are of a later date (5th century) than had generally been thought. Hence, the appending of "Pseudo-" before the name of Denys (Pseudo-Denys, Pseudo-Dionysius) became common place. The extraordinary brilliance of the texts themselves, however, has been in no way dimmed. The late Holy Father John Paul II in his monumental encyclical Fides et Ratio warns insistently against an approach to Revelation that shuns metaphysics. The texts of Denys provide a majestic and profound metaphysical perspective. Deeply formed by the Divine Liturgy and the Sacred Scriptures, this mysterious author uses the great insights of Plato and his later disciples, expressing the deepest profundities of the faith in stunningly beautiful writings. In Denys, readers past, present, and future find a penetrating contemplative vision into the Mystery of the Trinity and its creation. This book is a focused exposition of Denys' theological understanding with particular attention to the illuminating metaphysical depth of his insight. Care has been taken to prepare a text that is readable for the serious laymen accompanied with footnotes to provide a more detailed background for the scholar. "To befriend the saints is to learn how to be the friend of God. In this beautifully written book, William Riordan offers a model of scholarly theology that strives not merely to get the concepts right, but to get the friendship right. Inspired by Denys, Riordan teaches us how to re-think our reductionist understanding of the world, so as to discover afresh the cosmic, liturgical, and Christological path by which God makes us his friends (what the Greek Fathers called 'divinization'). By exploring Denys's contemplative wisdom in an manner that restores Denys to us as a great friend in Christ, this much-needed book exemplifies Newman's motto, 'Heart speaks to heart.'" -- Matthew Levering, Associate Professor of Theology, Ave Maria University "The figure of Dionysius (Denys) the Areopagite continues to be surrounded in controversy and misunderstanding. In Divine Light William Riordan offers us a reasoned and passionate defense of Deny's Christian orthodoxy, and shows how important Deny's theology of beauty and divinization is for us today. "This study persuasively demonstrates that Deny's theology is not Neo-Platonism dressed up in Christian clothing, but rather that Denys makes use of categories drawn from Neo-Platonism to express a truly biblical and liturgical Christian theology. "Divine Light is more than just a scholarly study of a noted theologian. It is a work of spiritual theology itself, elevating the reader to see the great beauty and harmony of God and the cosmos through the eyes of Denys the Areopagite." -- Daniel A. Keating, Associate Prof. of Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit MI "At last, we are rediscovering a major figure in the history of Christian thought--Denys the Areopagite--and in a readable book that will delight both lay and academic readers. Dr. Riordan has helped us to recover Denys, an ancient theologian of luminous vision, singular clarity, and profound depth. His theology is at once metaphysical and mystical, biblical and ecclesiastical, but above all sacramental. Here we discover one of the greatest guides for some of the Church's greatest minds, beginning with Maximus the Confessor and continuing through Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure. Christian intellectual formation is incomplete without him, and without this book, which makes him so accessible." -- Scott Hahn, author Rome Sweet Home William Riordan, S.T.D. is Professor of Theology and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Ave Maria University, Naples, Florida. He previously taught philosophy at the University of San Francisco, and theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and Ave Maria College, both in Michigan. Dr. Riordan wrote his dissertation on the doctrine of divinization in the writing of Pseudo-Dionysius. He is working on a new facing-page translation of the Divine Names by Denys the Areopagite (with introduction and notes) to be published in the Ancient Christian Writers Series. His specialties include the areas of metaphysics, the doctrine of participation, and Trinitarian theology. He holds the degrees of B.A. from St. Mary's University of California; M.A. from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley; and S.T.L. and S.T.D. from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. |
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