25 - Corbin contra Christianity

Описание: Continuing an exegesis of Corbin through Tom Cheetham's 'The World Turned Inside Out', with ch.7 'The Angelic Function of Beings', part 2 'The Pathetic God', pp. 192-202. This is a difficult section which focuses on some of Corbin's critiques and misgivings on the topic of Christianity, particularly the distinction between Creator and created, ala Being and nothingness. His imaginal way goes back into Shi'ite Sufism, which I found challenging to come to terms with in the way presented here.

Zoom AI says:
"Quick Recap
The meeting centered on key insights from episodes 23 and 4, covering themes related to Tom Cheetham, Henry Corbin, and the angelic function of beings. Discussion focused especially on Corbin’s analysis of post-Christian eschatology and the relationship between Islamic Sufism and Christianity. Sam explored theological ideas such as the distinction between uncreated and created beings, the cultural impact of early stone-tool technology, and parallels between scientific cosmology and Christian creationism. The session ended with Corbin’s reorientation from being to becoming, the value of imaginal practice, and a brief shift to practical matters like woodwork.

Summary
Transcendence and Consciousness
Sam reviewed the major downloads for episodes 23 and 4, placing Cheetham, Corbin, and angelology into context. He outlined his work in Chapter 7 on Corbin’s imaginal world, Neoplatonism, and Sufi-Christian connections. Cheetham’s claim that modern consciousness lacks sympathy with beings because of a misinterpretation of transcendence—linked to the Incarnation—was examined critically. Sam acknowledged the possibility of personal access to transcendence through theophanic vision and Gnosis.

Christianity and Western Expansion
Sam discussed Corbin’s critique of Christian and post-Christian eschatologies and the Western drive toward transcendence conceived as escape. He noted how certain Christian interpretations feed world-denying impulses that later manifest in secular expansionism—colonialism, capitalism, and other growth-oriented ideologies. He connected this to creation ex nihilo and its shaping of Western transcendence.

Uncreated and Created Beings
Sam examined the theological split between uncreated and created beings, arguing that the gap between highest being and nothingness cannot be bridged rationally. He linked this to Jungian archetypal oppositions, especially masculine–feminine polarities. The doctrine of creation from nothing, he suggested, reinforces rather than causes this existential divide.

Culture, Tools, and Divine Compassion
Reflecting on early stone-tool inventions, Sam described how technological mediation distanced humans from original practices. This separation appears symbolically in Christian dogma and other traditions, which often fall into literalism. Corbin’s interest in Luther and theophany was highlighted, framing receptivity to divine grace as central. Sam connected this to Ta'wil—a prophetic hermeneutic that turns sensory forms into symbols and mysteries grounded in divine compassion.

Creation Theories and Divine Imagining
Sam compared scientific cosmology and Christian creationism as sharing power-based, distance-oriented metaphysics. In contrast, Ibn Arabi’s doctrine treats creation as arising from divine love and desire, not from nothingness. Sam introduced the idea of active imagination as a shared activity of divine and human creativity but left open how this generates gnosis or theophany.

Love, Imaginal Perception, and Apparition
Sam emphasized creation as rooted in love rather than force. He described the imaginal realm where beings reveal themselves symbolically and personally. Apparition was framed as pointing beyond mere appearance toward transcendence. The conversation briefly shifted to woodwork assistance.

Theophanies and Awakening
Sam explored theophanies as central to spiritual awakening, balancing exoteric monotheism with esoteric understandings of God as lover, beloved, and love itself. He referenced thinkers like Nicholas of Cusa and Shirazi in explaining relational models of God and creation.

Ibn Arabi on Divine Self-Knowing
Sam described Ibn Arabi’s view that creatures are God’s means of self-perception. He struggled to translate this into practical terms, especially how creation embodies divine compassion and connects human and divine. He noted that Ibn Arabi’s ever-renewing creation prevents any complete cosmic theory.

Corbin’s Philosophy
Sam concluded with Corbin’s ideas on perpetual creation and annihilation, the divine-material interplay, and spiritual stations. Corbin’s shift from being to becoming and emphasis on imaginal practice present challenges to conventional Western metaphysics."