Jane Leade

Jane Leade (March 1623 in Norfolk ; † August 19, 1704 ) was a Christian mystic whose spiritual visions, which she published in a series of writings, played a key role in the founding and philosophy of the Philadelphian Society ("Philadelphian Society") in London influenced.

youth

Jane Leade came from a distinguished family and was carefully raised. At the age of 15, she said she had received a vision during a wedding reception in which an angelic voice urged her to give up such frivolities and pursue spiritual matters. Although she promised to do so, the next phase of her life was very conventional. She was married to a distant cousin according to her inclinations and had four daughters with him. Their 27-year marriage was very stable, but he left her penniless in London when he died.

It was at this time that she had her first vision of the "Virgin Sophia," the feminine aspect of God described in the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. Sophia promised to unlock the secrets of the universe. Leade declared herself the " bride of Christ " and went on to record her constant visions in a similar way to her predecessor, Hildegard von Bingen . Her mystical notes eventually grew into several volumes.

The Philadelphian Society

In 1670 Jane Leade founded the Philadelphian Society for the Advancement of Piety and Divine Philosophy with John Pordage , a Berkshire Protestant priest and follower of Jacob Boehme , and Thomas Bromley . Leade's writings formed the core of the society's spiritual goals and ideas. The movement flourished until the early 18th century when, with Leade's death, membership began to decline. Nevertheless, she found followers in Europe (e.g. Dodo (II.) Zu Innhausen and Knyphausen (1641–1698); Johanna Eleonora Petersen ) and America.

The ecumenical thought (unity in diversity)

Leade believed that the reign of Christ was imminent, but only after the denominational divisions were lifted. Brotherly love (Philadelphia) should unite Christians. The individual denominations could temporarily remain in place as an emergency roof. She shared the idea of ​​world harmony with Leibniz .

Others

At times she has been identified with the author of the alchemical treatise Sunflower of Wisdom ( Leona Constantia ).

literature

• Franz Wöhrer : Lead (s), Jane . tape 4 , p. 1286 .
• Barbara Becker-Cantarino : "The maternal strength of our new fee": theological ideas and religious effectiveness of Jane Lead (1623/24 - 1704) and Johanna Eleonora Petersen (1644 - 1724) . In: Faith and Gender. Pious Women - Spiritual Experiences - Religious Traditions. Ed. V. Ruth Albrecht u. a. Cologne u. a .: Böhlau 2008, pp. 235-252.
• Marcus Meier: The New Man after Jane Leade. Anthropology between Böhme and Early Enlightenment . In: Old Adam and New Creature: Pietism and Anthropology. Contributions to the II. International Congress for Pietism Research 2005. Tübingen 2009, pp. 137–150.

Web links

• Biography (English)