Michael Hahn (left) and John Arblaster (right) delivering a join lecture on ‘Mystical Theology, Annihilation and Deification’ as part of the Christian Spirituality programme in November 2024.
Two scholars of mysticism connected to Sarum College will give keynote talks at major international conferences related to the study of mystical theology during this academic year.
Michael Hahn who leads the postgraduate programmes in Christian Spirituality at Sarum
Dr Michael Hahn (The Dom Gregory Dix Lecturer in Christian Spirituality) who leads the postgraduate programmes in Christian spirituality at Sarum has been invited as one of the two keynote speakers for this year’s Patristics, Medieval and Renaissance Theology conference hosted annually at Villanova University just outside of Philadelphia. The conference will take place in October with the theme of ‘Vita Apostolica: Poverty, Simplicity, the Common Life, and the Mendicant Legacy,’ in the Jubilee Year of St Francis of Assisi, with the 800th anniversary of Francis’s death being the week prior to the conference. Michael’s talk will consider language of self-impoverishment and annihilation in medieval Franciscan mystical-theological writings and how they relate to contemporary (systematic- and feminist-)theological readings of claims of kenosis (self emptying).
This is the 51st annual PMR conference at Villanova which has gained a reputation as the most prominent historical theology conference in North America, with a particular focus on mysticism and spirituality as they relate to scholastic and philosophical theology. Michael’s fellow keynote speaker this year is Yale University professor, Volker Leppin, and recent keynote speakers at the event include Sarah Coakley (2025), Mary Carruthers (2018), Caroline Walker Bynum (2016), Lewis Ayres (2015), Bernard McGinn (2013), Amy Hollywood (2013), Michael Sells (2008) and Denys Turner (2007).
In April, Michael will also be one of six keynote speakers at an event at St Mary’s University in London (and jointly hosted by the Oblate School of Theology) which celebrates the career of Philip Sheldrake. Sheldrake is a leading scholar in the study of Christian Spirituality and is a former faculty member at Sarum. Michael will feature alongside Sheldrake himself and Rowan Williams, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, Bernadette Flanagan, Amy Maxey, and Ron Rolheiser. More information on this event for those who would like to attend will follow.
John Arblaster, Visiting Scholar at Sarum College
Sarum College Visiting Scholar and the Director of the Ruusbroec Institute (University of Antwerp), Professor John Arblaster has also been given the honour of being one of the keynote speakers at the 2027 Mystical Theology Network conference. The MTN holds an annual conference at different venues, with this year’s conference being held at St John’s College, Oxford. Many of the leading scholars of Christian mystical traditions, as well as mystical traditions from other religions and philosophical traditions have presented as a keynote speaker in recent years, with this year’s keynote speakers also including Oxford’s Jane Shaw. This year’s conference will focus on the theme of ‘Mysticism and the Everyday’ and more information (including a call for papers) is here: https://www.mysticaltheologynetwork.org/annual-conference.
These invitations demonstrate the leading role that Sarum College occupies in terms of scholarship on mystical theology and as a centre for excellent in teaching and learning on mysticism. Other Visiting Scholars who are experts on mysticism include Edward Howells and Gillian Ahlgren, and Sarum’s many webinar series and short courses offer ways to learn about the Christian mystics in addition to studying for our postgraduate programmes.
Michael is joined by many leading scholars in teaching each of the Christian Spirituality modules. The programme is taught with in-person four-day intensive teaching weeks and supported with online learning and tutorials. This means that the programme is flexible and can be worked around other commitments and work and without requiring the need to relocate to study. If you’re interested in finding out more about the programmes, come to our online taster evening on Wednesday 18th November – sign up here: https://www.sarum.ac.uk/short-courses/online-taster-session-for-postgraduate-programmes-in-christian-spirituality/.
You can also come to individual modules as an external auditor. Michael and John will be joined by other world leading scholars in their fields, Ann-Conway Jones, Edward Howells and Jane Shaw in November when this team of five speakers will guide students through a study of ‘Western Christian Mysticism.’ For more information and to sign up, see our website here: https://www.sarum.ac.uk/short-courses/ma-module-western-christian-mysticism/