dyanaprajna2011
Dharmapala
Besides the "salvation experience", does Christianity place any importance on mystical experience? If so, what? How does this play into the process of sanctification and spirituality/spiritual growth, if at all?
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Place of mystical experience in Christianity
- Thread starter dyanaprajna2011
- Start date
Orbit
I'm a planet
Christian mystics historically usually rode a fine line between being tolerated and being branded heretics. One example is Meister Eckhart (see Wikipedia for info). Others here are better qualified than I to speak to how this plays out today, especially the Catholics among us.
allfoak
Alchemist
History of Christian mysticism
Early church
Although the essence of mysticism is the sense of contact with the transcendent, mysticism in the history of Christianity should not be understood merely in terms of special ecstatic experiences but as part of a religious process lived out within the Christian community. From this perspective mysticism played a vital part in the early church. Early Christianity was a religion of the spirit that expressed itself in the heightening and enlargement of human consciousness. It is clear from the Synoptic Gospels (e.g., Matthew 11:25–27) that Jesus was thought to have enjoyed a sense of special contact with God. In the primitive church an active part was played by prophets, who were believed to be recipients of a revelation coming directly from the Holy Spirit.
Christianity -- Encyclopedia Britannica
Early church
Although the essence of mysticism is the sense of contact with the transcendent, mysticism in the history of Christianity should not be understood merely in terms of special ecstatic experiences but as part of a religious process lived out within the Christian community. From this perspective mysticism played a vital part in the early church. Early Christianity was a religion of the spirit that expressed itself in the heightening and enlargement of human consciousness. It is clear from the Synoptic Gospels (e.g., Matthew 11:25–27) that Jesus was thought to have enjoyed a sense of special contact with God. In the primitive church an active part was played by prophets, who were believed to be recipients of a revelation coming directly from the Holy Spirit.
Christianity -- Encyclopedia Britannica
roger1440
I do stuff
To sum up what Saint John of the Cross wrote in the link I had provided earlier a mystical experience is viewed as a gift to the mystic and the mystic should not dwell upon it. Spiritual pride is always at risk. Jewish mystics believe one should not study the cabala until they are at least 40 years old, probably for the same reason.
Dear Dyana,
Thank you for the thread and for the excellent question.
Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy both place great emphasis upon the mystical experience. Orthodox theology and liturgy is inherently mystical. Their understanding of salvation is synonymous with the idea of theosis. St. Athanasius described it best:
If one comes from a Protestant tradition other than Anglicanism or Lutheranism (where mysticism is present if one looks for it), this concept of salvation might appear somewhat alien, however it is the traditional patristic understanding.
The idea is fundamental to the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. In Catholicism our liturgy also evokes themes of deification, for example during the Communion or Eucharistic part of the Mass when the priest says over the cup: "By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity." Exact same idea. It was taught equally in the West as it was in the East. The doctrine is essential to the teaching of the Church Fathers, who held that "God became man, so that man might become God" [St. Augustine, Sermo 13 de Tempore].
The entire purpose of the divine economy whereby the Son of God became incarnate was for the deification of man.
Mysticism is for us a foretaste, in this life, of that glorious existence of the Blessed in heaven, whereby we participate in the divine nature and through the gift of infused contemplation become God by grace as He is by Nature.
Heaven is not a "place" for Catholics but rather consists of participation in the Divine Life of the Holy Trinity through direct seeing of the Beatific Vision (the Essence of God).
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Heaven can be tasted in this life through contemplation.
Consider Blessed Henry Suso's description:
If I could suggest two books for you to read -
1) For the "Theory" of Christian Myticism, this book from 1910 by the Anglo-Catholic mystic Evelyn Underhill is a classic:
Mysticism Index
2) For the "Practice" of Christian Mysticism, this book by Fr. Martin Laird (an Augustinian priest) is a modern classic:
Best
Thank you for the thread and for the excellent question.
Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy both place great emphasis upon the mystical experience. Orthodox theology and liturgy is inherently mystical. Their understanding of salvation is synonymous with the idea of theosis. St. Athanasius described it best:
If one comes from a Protestant tradition other than Anglicanism or Lutheranism (where mysticism is present if one looks for it), this concept of salvation might appear somewhat alien, however it is the traditional patristic understanding.
The idea is fundamental to the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. In Catholicism our liturgy also evokes themes of deification, for example during the Communion or Eucharistic part of the Mass when the priest says over the cup: "By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity." Exact same idea. It was taught equally in the West as it was in the East. The doctrine is essential to the teaching of the Church Fathers, who held that "God became man, so that man might become God" [St. Augustine, Sermo 13 de Tempore].
The entire purpose of the divine economy whereby the Son of God became incarnate was for the deification of man.
Mysticism is for us a foretaste, in this life, of that glorious existence of the Blessed in heaven, whereby we participate in the divine nature and through the gift of infused contemplation become God by grace as He is by Nature.
Heaven is not a "place" for Catholics but rather consists of participation in the Divine Life of the Holy Trinity through direct seeing of the Beatific Vision (the Essence of God).
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Heaven can be tasted in this life through contemplation.
Consider Blessed Henry Suso's description:
If I could suggest two books for you to read -
1) For the "Theory" of Christian Myticism, this book from 1910 by the Anglo-Catholic mystic Evelyn Underhill is a classic:
Mysticism Index
2) For the "Practice" of Christian Mysticism, this book by Fr. Martin Laird (an Augustinian priest) is a modern classic:
Best
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Today, certainly, Meister Eckhart is widely respected in the Catholic Church as having been one of our greatest masters of the spiritual life. Saint Pope John Paul II officially praised Eckhart in 1987:
The bull In agro dominico condemned 28 articles attributed to Eckhart on the basis of his writings. He himself was never actually branded a heretic in his lifetime and is not considered to be one. There were a lot of political wrangles underlying this sorry debacle, which has become something in the popular imagination of the "Galileo Affair" of Catholic Mysticism.
Blessed Henry Suso was one of closest disciples of Eckhart and his writings were officially approved by the church, Suso was beatified and yet in his writings he claimed that Eckhart was the "Master", as did his other prominent follower Johanes Tauler. Eckhart's writings influenced many orthodox mystics after this such as Cardinal Cusa, and through his recognised followers the entire church.
On the Catholic Answers apologetic website, Eckhart is again fully endorsed. See this answer from a CAF apologist to the question, "Was Eckhart a heretic?":
Where did Meister Eckhart cross the line? - Catholic Answers Forums
And elsewhere in the apologetics section he is actively encouraged for evangelization purposes in the case of a Taoist expressing interest in Christianity:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestio...izing-a-taoist
...So quite simply, "No", Eckhart is not viewed as a heretic.
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Nooj
none
tolerated? no. celebrated.
Since Scripture was not dictated in human words, it is through the mystical experience of others, Abraham, Moses, the Prophets, Jesus, and communicated to us that we come to 'know' God.