by Cicely Richard

Created on: August 16, 2008

Meister Eckhart, the German theologian, philosopher and Christian mystic, was born Eckhart von Hochheim around 1260 in the village of Tambach, Thuringia, a Germanic region. Little is known about his early childhood. The only confirmed information is that he came for a family of noble landowners.

When he was 15 years old, Eckhart became a Dominican theologian. He was a highly educated man, studying at the University of Paris and in Cologne. He became a popular preacher. In addition to preaching, he was a Parisian Professor of Theology and took a leadership role in the Dominican Order. He served as vicar of Thuringia in his mid-30s.

Eckhart wanted to use his teachings to draw both Christian and non-Christian searchers of truth. He had a unique style of teaching that was different from the way Christian teachings had been transferred to the populace. His use of imagery of to explain the mysteries of the soul, the Abyss and the birth of the World in the heart made those who listened to him discern the deeper meanings of the teachings.

His doctrines somewhat deviated from the traditional teachings of Christianity. Though his writings, Eckhart examined the relationship between God and humans, stating that the soul can be in complete union with God. He taught that God was fertile and overflowed with love. Out of that love, He gave birth to the Son, or the Word. Eckhart also felt that creation was not because of that overflowing, but that it was an act of free will by the triune nature of Deity. He made a distinction between God and the Godhead.

His teaching raised eyebrows among other theologians. As early as 1311, he was accused of heresy because of his often controversial ideas about Christianity. However, he maintained his position as a teaching professor at a number of influential theological institutions in Europe. When he was 60 years old, Eckhart even attained a professorship in Cologne.

Eventually, the Church would seriously examine his teachings and scrutinize a number of the principles he presented to the populace. In 1329, he was tried as a heretic by Pope John XXII after the pope issued a bull, an official document of the Church. It lists a series of statements made by Eckhart in his works that the Pope deemed heretical. Unfortunately, Eckhart died before he could refute the charges brought against him.

Since the death of Meister Eckhart, religious theologians have examined his teachings and compared them to Christian and non-Christian teachings. Many parallels have been drawn between his teachings and the teaching of Buddhism. This status within the Catholic Church remains in question. A consensus has not been met as to his place in the Church's history.

Sources:

http://www.biography.com
http://www.e ckhartsociety.org

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