Heavenly Love

The love of God and his ‘noblest creation’ mankind, as this is understood by Islamic and Christian mystics, is the central theme of this symposium. Discussion will focus not only on divine love, a purely spiritual religious love, but also on erotic and sexual love which can also be ›heavenly‹. A panel of prominent philosophers, scientists and literary scholars will attempt to approach the power of this feeling, of this state of being, through short lectures, statements and dialogues. Desire and fulfilment, eroticism and transcendence are the co-ordinates on the map of that ‘vast country’, love. From the Old Testament’s Song of Songs, through Mowlana Djalal ad-Din Rumi's (1207-c.1273) Love Book for his beloved Shams, from the verses of Omar Khayyam and Hafiz through Hildegard von Bingen’s visions to Georges Bataille’s studies of ›divine eros‹, images and ideas of a love inspire us which is capable of overcoming all boundaries.

Produced by the Ruhrtriennale.

Kindly supported by the Udo Keller Stiftung Forum Humanum.