Identity Despite Alterity of the Truth and Creation from the Point of View of Theoretical Mysticism

The relationship between the Truth and creation is among the important issues in theoretical mysticism. From mystics’ point of view, this relationship is in the form of identity despite alterity; that is, God is identical to creation in one aspect and contradicts it in another aspect. From their point of view, the only essential example of being is the exalted God. This Being, due to its infinity, fills all places and there is no place emptied of Him, and this causes the identity of God with all the individuations. On the other hand, due to being absolute, such Being exceeds all individuations and, consequently, is different from them. This relationship, which is a result of the particular unity of being, has raised some questions and ambiguities. This paper seeks to provide a better understanding and a clearer conception of this relationship by explaining the claims of the mystics and examining the teachings that have led to this attitude.