Mysticism, practical spirituality, and hospitality

walking and meditating with Jacques Derrida

Irudayadason

pp. 445-459

in: Ananta K. Giri (ed), Practical spirituality and human development, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018

Abstract

However enigmatic the works of Derrida may seem to be, one cannot fail to notice glimpses of practical spirituality in his writings, especially in the more recent works. This chapter is an attempt to trace relevant and practical insights for everyday life from the journey of search in Derrida's philosophy. This chapter therefore tries to show that Derrida's political hospitality is anchored in a certain mystical bend that he exhibits in his understanding of faith. This chapter has four unequal parts. The first part aims to make a coherent presentation of what Derrida calls faith in the "im-possible" God which is followed by an extensive treatment of the idea of secret inscribed in religion. The third part shows an inevitable relationship between secret and moral responsibility and the final part dealing with the dilemma of hospitality tries give pointers to the practical spirituality of Derrida's faith in the impossible God.

Cited authors

Derrida Jacques