Theological Trends
DOROTHEE SÖLLE Radical Christian, Mystic in Our Midst Nancy Hawkins
T
HE SAD NEWS OF THE DEATH of Dorothee Sölle, German theologian and radical Christian, spread throughout the world in April 2004, when the message of Easter was still fresh. It seemed impossible to believe that this vibrant voice was gone. Right up to the moment of her death, Sölle was giving workshops, leading discussions, and sharing her poetic message of hope. Her final, unfinished writing project, a book on death and mysticism, affirms her love of mystical theology and the fact that she was facing her own mortality. Even though Sölle is no longer with us physically, her words and her vast collection of writings will live on. This essay celebrates Sölle as a radical Christian and as a mystic, and explores how her work fosters a spirituality for our time. Sölle’s spirituality is fuelled by the desire for prayerful and political resistance. She rejects any simple idea that God is omnipotent, and she mounts a critique of the role that such beliefs have played in society. It finds its depth in Meister Eckhart’s mystical concept of ‘living without a why’, and in the belief that all people are called to be mystics. It is a spirituality inspired by the themes of liberation theology and feminist critique, and honed by the memory of Auschwitz. Sölle’s theology and spirituality are multifaceted. Her work appeals to people of many faith traditions as well as to those who search for a more humanistic, secular approach to life. Her experiences drive her reflections, keeping her writings concrete and honest, and offering her readers an accessible, challenging spirituality.
The Way, 44/3 (July 2005), 85-96