What Christian Mysticism is Not
One way to understand Christian mysticism would be to begin by clarifying what things are commonly called “mysticism” but really aren’t — at least, not from an orthodox Christian perspective:
- Christian mysticism is not occultism. It’s not about uncovering some long lost secret, à la The DaVinci Code.
- Christian mysticism is not magic. It’s not about wielding spiritual power or engineering our own experience.
- Christian mysticism is not esotericism. It’s not about learning techniques for psychic development.
- Christian mysticism is not gnosticism. It’s not about a program for personal, private enlightenment.
- Christian mysticism is not pantheism. It refutes the idea that the universe is one with God.
- Christian mysticism is not monism. It rejects the claim that the self is one with God.
- Christian mysticism is not syncretism. It is not about blending Christianity with the wisdom of other paths, even though Christian mystics have historically been very open to learning from non-Christian wisdom.
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April 9, 2008 at 3:43 am
[...] 9, 2008 by arulba Thought this was interesting from The Website of Unknowing - what do you [...]
April 9, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I guess I am always a bit wary of when we try to impose our own preferred formulas onto Reality. Whatever formulas one chooses, whether monism, or pantheism or syncretism or what-have-you, they’re never going to be more than metaphors. Let’s not try to tell Reality what it is but rather try to open our inner eye and become receptive to IT. I think we might be surprised to find that Reality is both all of our metaphors and yet none of them.
April 13, 2008 at 3:07 am
well said Ned. agree.
among the points put forth, i can object on “Christian mysticism is not pantheism. It refutes the idea that the universe is one with God.”
from the teaching of Jesus Christ himself it contradict because esoterically when Jesus says, “I and father is One” and when we also understand that from christian theo-cosmological point of view, in the beginning was Word and Word was with God … ‘with’ stands for union and the self of Christ is representing the universe, then definitely it points to the inner reality that “The universe is One with God”.
peace!
April 13, 2008 at 5:36 am
What I take away from Ned’s comment is that it is possible to invert all of my metaphors; i.e. someone could come along and use the Bible and the Christian mystical tradition to argue the exact opposite of what I’m saying. Not just about pantheism, or monism, but all seven of my assertions. Fair enough. Mysticism breaks down as soon as we start to argue about it. I have friends online (mostly evangelicals) who love to get into these detailed arguments about the sovereignty of God, or the true nature of the ecclesia, or how best to unpack the Holy Trinity. My eyes always quickly glaze over whenever I encounter one of these threads. Not because I don’t think we should ask the questions — I think all questions are vital, including heavily theoretical ones — but because it seems to me that as soon as we stop declaring what we ourselves see and experience, and start to criticize what others are seeing and experiencing, then that fragile thing we call “living in the spirit” seems to immediately come under duress. Maybe others are gifted at living in a state of prodigal love and grace while criticizing and being criticized, but frail sinner that I am, I’m not there yet.
The purpose of this post — and the book I’m writing, and indeed this entire blog — is not to win arguments, or to declare once and for all what the Final Truth is regarding mysticism. As if any of us could package and trademark God! Rather, all of my writing is mainly a report on how the cosmos looks from behind my particular set of eyes. Thanks to everyone who shares how they see things differently. But please don’t get disappointed if I disagree with you but shy away from arguing about it.
April 13, 2008 at 6:35 am
[...] Theology and Mysticism Here’s an excerpt of a comment I’ve left on one of last week’s posts on this blog, in response to some other folk’s comments. I thought it was worth highlighting here on [...]
April 18, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Christian mysticism is not gnosticism. It’s not about a program for personal, private enlightenment.
This is not Gnosticism
“It is not possible for anyone to see anything of the things that actually exist unless he becomes like them. This is not the way with man in the world: he sees the sun without being a sun; and he sees the heaven and the earth and all other things, but he is not these things. This is quite in keeping with the truth. But you saw something of that place, and you became those things. You saw the Spirit, you became spirit. You saw Christ, you became Christ. You saw the Father, you shall become Father. So in this place you see everything and do not see yourself, but in that place you do see yourself - and what you see you shall become.”
This is Gnosticism
…………..
If you are going to play
“I’ve got the biggest shiniest stick, so I am superior, you aren’t”
…you should at least do your research before acting silly
Compassion and love are not mere luxuries. As the source both of inner and external peace, they are fundamental to the continued survival of our species.’
–The Dalai Lama
April 18, 2008 at 4:29 pm
re reading, I perhaps posted rashly, my apologies
Yet I feel you should get a more informed view of Gnosticism, than the one you have, I would suggest reading the gospel of thomas and philip, and the sophia of jesus christ
best wishes
Benjamin