Divine Deviants is a comparative study of the Persian Sufi poet, Jalal al-Din Rumi (1212-1273), and the English Metaphysical poet, John Donne (1572-1631). By focusing on the two schools of thought to which these poets belong as well as their individual poetic worldviews and styles, this book elucidates the different dimensions of the shared philosophy governing their poetry. Bridging linguistic, cultural, religious, and philosophical barriers, Divine Deviants carefully illustrates that in the works of both Rumi and Donne love symbolizes Beatific Vision and Truth. More generally, this book highlights the bonds between religion, mysticism, and literature and thus examines not only the interdependent issues in these disciplines, but also the invisible and yet profound closeness that exists in the representative works of the two literary and religious traditions. Divine Deviants is a comparative study of the Persian Sufi poet, Jalal al-Din Rumi (1212-1273), and the English Metaphysical poet, John Donne (1572-1631). By focusing on the two schools of thought to which these poets belong as well as their individual poetic worldviews and styles, this book elucidates the different dimensions of the shared philosophy governing their poetry. Bridging linguistic, cultural, religious, and philosophical barriers, Divine Deviants carefully illustrates that in the works of both Rumi and Donne love symbolizes Beatific Vision and Truth. More generally, this book highlights the bonds between religion, mysticism, and literature and thus examines not only the interdependent issues in these disciplines, but also the invisible and yet profound closeness that exists in the representative works of the two literary and religious traditions. Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1(14) The Context 15(12) The Philosophical Fundamentals of Belief 27(20) Religious Obligation and Mystical Transcendence 47(50) The Intellectual Character of their Work and its Manifestation therein 97(42) Figuring Love 139(20) Conclusion 159(6) Bibliography 165(6) Index 171