The paper reflects on the ways in which a vision of reason ascending to heavenly or eschatological realities inspired two philosophical theologians to come to a similar understanding of holistic knowledge. It takes a look first at the emergence of the notion of "integral knowledge" in the writings of Ivan Kireyevskiy-a key nineteenth century Russian Orthodox religious philosopher.
It presents next the theological vision of a contemporary North American Baptist theologian James McClendon. Attention is paid to the relevance of patristic notions of "theosis" and "pleroma" for enquiring into the intellectual quest of the two thinkers.