REL 224 Elkins

Adelene Lai 13.10.12

Written Comments Visions as Theology In a certain sense, I feel Hildegards visions can be considered a form of theology especially since her Trilogy, beginning with Scivias, seems to take on the form of a Summa. Although we do not know whether her visions were recorded in chronological order, it is clear that they address issues from the very beginning i.e. the creation in Vision Two where God creates and distinguishes light from darkness and Adam and Eve. She also interprets and explains these visions, going in-depth in Vision Two as to why the angels cast Lucifer out of heaven, and affirms the notion that Eve was responsible for seducing Adam - a widely held view in theology. However, in comparing Scivias to other theological works of her time, it appears that there are elements of Scivias which do not always conform. Vision One in particular is very reminiscent of Isaiah 6 and his prophetic thinking where Hildegard received a similar sort of call by a figure sitting on top of a mountain throne, suggesting Scivias took the form of a biblical model. On the other hand, this is not the case when comparing Hildegards work to that of mystics of her time like Elizabeth of Schnau. Although in a certain sense Hildegard could be considered a mystic because of her direct and immediate encounters with God, she is unlike Elizabeth of Schnau in that Hildegard was not concerned with answering specific questions. The nature of her visions seem more prophetic in that they have their purpose is moral reform and she uses prophetic language and imagery.