The first great strand of Christian mysticism emerged from the religious experience of desert Christians and the Origenist theology that shaped their views. This mystical aspect of early Christianity was found in the letters of Paul and the Gospel According to John, where mystical aspects were expressed. During the Middle Ages, some of the most profound expressions of Christ-mysticism were voiced by women mystics, such as Catherine of Siena and Julian of Norwich.
Mysticism in the Middle Ages was not a uniform movement with a single goal; it took different forms in various aspects, including contemplative prayer, visions, ecstatic experiences, and mystical practices. It is one of the two dominant fields of medieval theology, along with scholasticism, and has been an important mode for expressing the faith. Mysticism is a set of beliefs surrounding the specifics of feeling a union or presence of God to understand religion and religious experiences. For medieval women, mysticism was a succession of insights and revelations about God that gradually transformed the recipient.
Mysticism is a highly contested term, with some using it to denote a personal experience of God and others applying it to the literary articulation of it. In a medieval context, mysticism does not exclude solid theological discussion, biblical exegesis, and propositional truth. Mystics feel a communion or identity with a higher being or ultimate reality or spiritual truth, like an epiphany. Medieval mysticism was primarily visual and affective, with the mystic seeing and feeling truth, seeing God, Christ, or saints, and being flooded with love for what they experienced.
📹 What is Christian Mysticism?
Join me as I turn to explore Christian mysticism as we delve into the fascinating treasures of this tradition. From ancient practices …
What is an example of mysticism?
Mysticism encompasses a range of observable behaviors, including chanting mantras, meditation, and prayer. These practices are thought to facilitate a sense of oneness or union with the divine, thereby fostering a sense of unity and connection within the individual.
What are the three stages of Christian mysticism?
Two authors, contemporary mystics and scholars, delineate the three principal stages of mystical life: the purgative, the illuminative, and the unitive. For further information, please refer to Fr. Spitzer’s article on Christian mysticism, accessible via the following link.
What is mysticism in Christianity?
Mysticism is a concept that involves contact with the divine or transcendent, often involving union with God. It has played a significant role in the history of Christian religion and has gained influence in modern times. Mysticism has been studied from various perspectives, including psychological, comparativist, philosophical, and theological. Hermeneutical and deconstructionist philosophies in the 20th century have brought attention to the mystical text.
Theoretical questions have been debated, such as whether mysticism constitutes the core or essence of personal religion or whether it is better viewed as one element interacting with others in the formation of concrete religions. Some argue that experience and interpretation cannot be easily sundered, and that mysticism is typically tied to a specific religion and contingent upon its teachings. Philosophers like Walter T. Stace and Robert C.
Zaehner have employed typologies of mysticism, often based on the contrast between introvertive and extrovertive mysticism developed by Rudolf Otto. The cognitive status of mystical knowing and its clash with mystics’ claims about the ineffability of their experiences have also been important topics for modern mysticism students.
What is sin in mysticism?
Sin is a metaphysical concept that refers to the failure of humans to express the attributes of Being, such as life, love, intelligence, and wisdom. The New Testament word for sin, “amartia”, means to “miss the mark”, while the Old Testament word is “net”. This term accurately describes the condition brought about by the lack of perfection. However, for a metaphysical definition, the term must be related to human consciousness, referring to any human attempt to negate or destroy any divine ideas. In essence, sin is a human attempt to deceive or destroy divine ideas, highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing sin in order to achieve divine perfection.
What is medieval mysticism?
Medieval mystics experienced mystical experiences, similar to epiphanies, that often led to a dramatic conversion and commitment to religion. The movement emerged from the Dominican Order of the Catholic church, which was formed in 13th century France. As the order expanded, it shifted focus from doctrinal activity to ascetic and contemplative life. Key figures in the 14th century mystical movement in Germany included Meister Eckhart, Heinrich Suso, Johannes Tauler, St. Catherine of Siena, Albertus Magnus, Hildegard of Bingen, and Mechthild of Magdeburg.
What is medieval Christian mysticism?
In the Middle Ages, Christian mystics sought a deeper, personal, and meaningful relationship with God, focusing on personal, less institutionalized religions. Mystics claimed insight into mysteries beyond ordinary human knowledge through direct communication with the divine or immediate intuition in a state of spiritual ecstasy. They practiced meditation and prayer, often abandoning worldly positions and belongings to focus on discipleship and inner life.
Some traveled and shared their visions, and the writings of medieval mystics, especially after the invention of printing, opened their ideas and practices to a wider audience. Mystics are part of the Christian heritage and are considered the core of Christian spirituality for some, even today.
What is the main idea of mysticism?
Mysticism is a belief in union with the divine nature through ecstatic contemplation and spiritual access to ultimate reality. It is often applied to theories that assume occult qualities or agencies that cannot be empirically or rationally explained. There are numerous definitions of mysticism, all referring to intense and direct religious experiences, such as Jewish mysticism, where the mind encounters God directly.
Mysticism and religious experience are closely related but should not be considered identical. Mysticism is distinguished from numinous experiences, as described by Rudolf Otto, and from ordinary experiences of God, as illustrated by John Baillie. William James characterized mystical experience by four marks: transiency, passivity, noetic quality, and ineffability. Mysticism often involves an altered state of consciousness, such as trance, visions, suppression of cognitive contact with the ordinary world, loss of the distinction between subject and object, and weakening or loss of the sense of the self.
Not all religious experiences are mystical, and not every mystical experience includes all of these features. However, there is a large body of individual testimonies and descriptions from major religious traditions that involve many of these features.
Did Jesus practice mysticism?
Jesus was a teacher of teachers and a mystic of mystics, entering the mysteries of the Holy Life and ways of living. He invited others to join him in his journey. The term “mystic” can be associated with various mystics, such as Krisha, Buddha, yogi, Gandhi, Saint Teresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross. Matthew Fox, a progressive theologian and Dominican priest, devotes an entire book, “The Coming of the Cosmic Christ”, to the mysticism of Jesus. Jesus’ teachings and teachings were deeply rooted in the teachings of his disciples, who were inspired by his teachings and the teachings of his disciples.
What are the 4 marks of mysticism?
The mystical phenomenology is distinguished by a set of characteristics, including ineffability, a mystical quality, transiency, and passivity. James posits that this latter quality represents the most challenging aspect to convey in verbal form.
What was mysticism in the Middle Ages?
Medieval mysticism, derived from the Greek word meaning “to conceal”, was a belief system that focused on the presence of God and understanding religious experiences. Mystics in the Middle Ages were not concerned with transcendental experiences but with the presence of Christ during the Eucharist, the allegorical meanings of biblical texts, and the experience of God’s presence. Being a mystic meant being part of a concealed group with access to knowledge through ritual practices and contemplation.
In the first centuries of Christianity, mysticism was seen as a path to discovering God’s influence on the world. Mystics studied hidden ways to connect with God, remove identity burdens, and reawaken divine spirit within individuals. The practice was sometimes performed by women. The split between the East Orthodox Christian church and the Western Catholic church led to differences in mysticism practice throughout Europe. However, mysticism is not a set of Christian practices and experiences, and it has been practiced by various religious sects, including Indian, Buddhist, Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
How did mysticism affect the church?
Mysticism within the Church served to fuel a desire for the divine and provided a platform for those who were dissatisfied with the Church’s superficial duties or perceived corruptions. This fostered a sense of unity within the Church.
📹 6 myths about the Middle Ages that everyone believes – Stephanie Honchell Smith
Explore the 6 most common misconceptions about the Middle Ages, and find out what living in medieval times was actually like.
In a fantasy novel I’m working on (inspired my actual mythologies, theologies, philosophies, and esotericism), magic is the practice of studying and manipulating arcane forces. Mysticism, though is when you make a covenant with a powerful spiritual being or group, serving some form of purpose for them, and being rewarded by some form of boon or power in return. This is meant to encompass people like prophets, oracles, shamans, and of course warlocks. However the main group who utilizes mysticism in the story are a fictional monotheistic nation, which members of their eight holy orders bind angels to relics. Whoever holds the relic may use the angels power, with the angels consent. This practice is meant to be more of a hands-on version of Christianity. One doesn’t just passively pray and wait to be answered. They instead are given the opportunity to inact gods will, provided an angel is willing to work with them.
Listening to this again after a year I was so impressed with Meister Eikhart in particular. I like the way that he points out that visions etc are not true mysticism . I was lucky to meet an advanced yogi ( of integrity ) who told me that on the Path i might have wonderful visions or might manifest special powers ( sidhis ) . These experiences are not the Ultimate objective so its best to observe them with interest but move on .✝️🕉️.
mys·ti·cism 1. belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender. “St. Theresa’s writings were part of the tradition of Christian mysticism” 2. belief characterized by self-delusion or dreamy confusion of thought, especially when based on the assumption of occult qualities or mysterious agencies. “there is a hint of New Age mysticism in the show’s title”
You Should do a series on the negative impacts and positive impacts of syncritism in modern times. Syncretism refers to the blending or merging of different belief systems, often religious or cultural, into a new, hybrid system. Like many concepts, the effects of syncretism can be both positive and negative, depending on various factors and perspectives. Here are some potential negative effects of syncretism: 1. Dilution of Authentic Traditions: When two or more belief systems are combined, it can lead to a dilution of the original practices and teachings of each tradition. This can result in a loss of cultural or religious identity for the communities involved. 2. Confusion and Incoherence: Syncretic beliefs may lead to contradictions and inconsistencies between different aspects of the merged systems, causing confusion among followers and practitioners. 3. Resistance and Conflict: Traditionalists within each original belief system may reject or resist syncretic practices, leading to internal conflict within communities or groups. 4. Loss of Cultural Diversity: Syncretism can sometimes lead to the homogenization of cultural practices and beliefs, eroding the richness and diversity of different traditions. 5. Power Struggles: In cases where syncretism is forced upon certain groups by dominant cultures or religions, it can be a tool for asserting power and control over marginalized communities, leading to cultural oppression. 6. Misinterpretation and Misrepresentation: The merging of different beliefs can lead to misinterpretations of their original meanings and intentions, potentially leading to distorted understandings of those traditions.
This is insane, I had an existential crisis on ketamine recently and almost everything you described became obvious. I was always too logical and before that happened I descended into nihilism. But once I realized the reality of dualism, and the fact that I still could not believe that intelligence can not come from no intelligence, it all makes sense. I also was have experienced Mandela effect and have seen people that know the Bible that say verses have changed, so I could never adhere to a book written on earth. It’s too much to explain but basically I realized that we as humans use the creators most powerful force, will. And now what I believe happened is before the Big Bang there was only the consciousness of god. At some point god became “self aware” and then boom! The sheer power of primordial will exploded into and endless expansion of everything conceivable from our earthly perspective!
When I want to look at a mystic path I ask if they who walk that path can accept their faults? Can they laugh at themselves? Do they contemplate and meditate? Are they quick to condemn others? Do they hate easily or love easily whatever religion they use to give form to their path is of minimal importance . Most important is how they act how they laugh and love in the world. I have loved your website for years.
I had a mystical experience or near death experience where I came into contact with the essence of God. I still cry thinking about it seven years later. I felt the unity or union they speak of. It is so hard to live in this world after feeling the absolute unconditional and profound love that is waiting for us when we reunite for good. My soul was annihilated. It happened as they described in this article. It was the most painful and the most beautiful moment in my life. What a great article. Very informative as I was raised Greek Orthodox and my experience didn’t coincide with what the church teaches but obviously more aligned with mysticism.
When it comes to Christianity, especially the Orthodoxy, we make a distinction between theology and mysticism, because one is concerned with the mind, or knowledge of everything that we’ve already discovered, while the other is concerned with the soul, or discovery of everything that we don’t know yet, so we try to balance those two, because without theology, a discovery can’t be comprehended, and without mysticism, there’s no progress in knowledge.
It’s good to associate with the scriptures to discuss this. I’m writing development material to understand prophecy, which I did study, for books. Good to hear a different popular scripture. Differs from the Mormon Rasta Google searches, and the information is crucial. You get into the comprehension in study. It helps. Technically a Rabbi. Just constitutional.
I would argue that Protestant-ism only, “deformatlized,” mysticism. What I mean by that is that it took it out of the realm of philosophical speculation and consolidated it within concepts such as, “immanence,” and the autonomy of the individual conscience. This, in turn, was the dynamic behind translating the Christian canon into the vernacular. “‘Faith,’ IS the pan-ultimate expression of the mystic experience,” they would say. Faith then became the form of mysticism stripped of its Neo-Platonic lexicon with all its attempts at Aristotelian categorization (a rather strange bed-fellow) hiding behind Hindu-like rhetorical non-description. All who follow that latter path, however, are by so doing doomed to never reach the goal for they are imitating the experience of someone else which is counterproductive to the project. “I get it; and the way I know I do is from the conformation of the leader.” Protestant-ism would say, “I am surrounded by a cloud of saints,” not mystics. Mystic philosophers – so called – remind me of Post-modern philosophers who write books against the utility of language while using it to write books, have them published, and thereby be seen as gurus if not just make money. I would further suggest that anyone who holds to an apophatic concept of God is not a Christian at all since the Scripture they claim as the basis of their belief clearly states that God IS knowable and has take great pains to reveal His character. What mystics actually are saying is, “I cannot comprehend the ontological nature of God and therefore cannot control Him, so I’ll turn Him into a Trickster.
An excellent topic, thank you. I look forward to ideas of practice but i have a guided philosophy on it. Christian mysticism is the same quest for truth in all mystic traditions. This makes it distinct from religions, the found truths of miracles, revalatuons absolutions and devotions. Mysticism preserves the mystery of the divine. Our own experience, being of the divine, has indescribable, unspeakable aspects of nature. Your nature and my nature, as a mirror of man/kind also reflect our nature in light of the divine. Edit: Synchronous, I was beginning to reject the Apophatic this evening. I was contemplating the mystery when He told me “God is eternal”. My thoughts strayed to a sense of being neither young nor old, timeless or time-bound, now here and nowhere. I then arrived on the idea that God is everlasting. The mystery remains. Editedit: Ebulio is interesting as exuberance has become my highest form of devotion.
@49:54, I know this will sound weird but the first thing that came to mind when I heard the passage about Not-Other read was Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland the quote from Nicholas of Cusa is SO very circular. Is it know if Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland a mockery or parody of this kind of literature?
it seems to me the difficulty is that by defining mysticism as experiencing the presence of the divine, it overlaps with a lot of evangelical practices that include no reflection or contemplation like Evangelical claims to a personal relationship with Jesus which seem at odds with the more intellectual meditative origins of mysticism although perhaps movements like the dervishes in Islam or the sect Rasputin was allegedly involved with
39:10 In German “nicht” is the word for “not” and nothingness would be “Nichts”. (And ground today is Grund, not “grunt”, but I see google brings this up and so maybe it was spelled differently hundreds of years ago.) Eingang and Ausgang (entrance and exit) are two comon words. “Ein” like Ayn Rand, and Aus like (h)ouse.
Amazing article! I actually experienced two mystical phenomenon…for years I tried to explain to people who looked at me like I was crazy. I totally understand and agree with all the quotes you brought up in the article. I would really like to have an opportunity to explain my experiences in more detail. Please take me seriously…. I have been thinking about sending letters to a couple of people that I think might be able to explain what happened to me but i’m still hesitating. perusal this article makes me really want to reach out and explain that amazing experience! By the way i grew up as a christian but started to practice buddhism its amazing the similarities that you can find in both spirituals practices despite de differences….I really want to talk with you!