Dr. Jack Mulder Jr., visiting assistant professor of philosophy at Hope College, is author of a new book that examines the religious philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard.
Mulder's book, "Mystical and Buddhist Elements in Kierkegaard's Religious Thought," has been published by Edwin Mellen Press of Lewiston, N.Y.
According to Mulder, the qualities of mysticism include the annihilation of the self and union with God. The standard reading of Kierkegaard, he said, has conversely emphasized the philosopher's insistence on the distinction between Creator and creation. Mulder, however, sees in Kierkegaard's writings a view of humanity's relationship to the divine that is in keeping with the mystical perspective.
Mulder has taught at Hope since the fall of 2004. He is a specialist in the philosophy of religion and Kierkegaard's thought, and has had articles published or has articles forthcoming on related topics in journals such as "Continental Philosophy Review," "Kierkegaard Studies Yearbook," "International Journal for Philosophy of Religion" and "Listening: A Journal of Religion and Culture."
He is a 2000 Hope graduate, and completed his master's and doctorate at Purdue University in 2003 and 2004 respectively. He taught at Purdue prior to joining the faculty at Hope.