Bythetimeofearlymodernity,awidelydeployedtenetofChristianthoughthadbeguntovanish.Thedivineideastradition,theteachingthatallbeingshaveaneternalexistenceasaspectsofGod’smind,hadfunctionedacrossawiderangeofcentralChristiandoctrines,providingChristianthinkersandmysticalteacherswithapowerfultheologicalcapacity:toilluminatetheTrinitariangroundofallcreatures,andtorenewthedivinetruthofallcreaturesthroughhumancontemplation.AlreadybythetimeoftheMiddlePlatonists,Plato’sformshadbeenreinterpretedasideasinthemindofGod.Yetthatwasonlythebeginningofthetransformationofthedivineideas,forChristianbeliefinGodasTrinityandintheincarnationoftheWordimbuedthedivineideastraditionwitharemarkableconceptualagility.ThedivineideasteachingallowedmysticaltheologianstoconceivethehiddenpresenceofGodinallcreatures,andthepowerofeverycreature’struthinGodtoconsummatethefulldynamicofeverycreature’scalling.TheDivineIdeasTraditioninChristianMysticalTheologybringstolifethestrikingroleofthedivineideastraditionintheteachingofitscentralexponents,andalsosuggestshowthedivineideasmightconstructivelyinformChristiantheologyandspiritualitytoday.Especiallyinanageofglobalcrises,whenthetruthofthenaturalenvironment,ofracialinjustice,andofpublichealthisdeniedanddisputedforpoliticalends,thedivineideastraditionaffordscontemporarythinkersacreativeandcontemplativevisionthatreveresthedeeptruthofallbeingsandseekstheirmendingandfulfilment.
