Holy rhetoric: Anselm's prayers and the phenomenology of divine compassion. Issue 5 (19th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sweeney, Terence
• Is Part Of: International journal of philosophy and theology. Volume 81:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 447
• Page End: 465
• Publication Date: 2020-10-19
• Subjects: Anselm -- prayer -- rhetoric -- phenomenology -- medieval theology -- Aristotle; Philosophy and religion -- Periodicals; 230
• DOI: 10.1080/21692327.2020.1819383
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-2327

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this essay, I examine Anselm's 'Prayers and Meditations' as rhetorical prayers. I consider the basic structure of prayer as address to the Divine. For Anselm, this address is rhetorically structured towards persuading God to reveal himself by the three Aristotelian means of persuasion: character, affect, and argument. Compassion is the phenomenological showing of God as the transcending Good as summoned by the orator. In rhetorical prayer, we take up our existential situation as moved by God to move God. Compassion is the showing-up of God in prayer as revelation of self and Other.