What is Christian Mysticism?
I’m still learning that myself. They are words provided to me for a path that appears to be natural to me. A path that I have long been on but without much thought. Leaning more to wandering than focusing on and developing what is natural for me.
If you have to read this about 30 times to understand it, you’re doing better than I have. I think I’ve read this about 30 times but understand most of it now. But it has helped to give terms to the path I’ve been nudged into.
The path is wonderful, it has already changed my life. If things don’t work out for me here in the Philippines, I want to become a monk or go to a place where all I do is study about and think about God. I don’t know if that is possible and I don’t know if I can succeed, but it is what I want to do.
For Christians the major emphasis concerns a spiritual transformation of the egoic self, the following of a path designed to produce more fully realized human persons, “created in the Image and Likeness of God” and as such, living in harmonious communion with God, the Church, the rest of humanity, and all creation, including oneself. For Christians, this human potential is realized most perfectly in Jesus and is manifested in others through their association with Him, whether conscious, as in the case of Christian mystics, or unconscious, with regard to persons who follow other traditions, such as Gandhi. The Eastern Christian tradition speaks of this transformation in terms of theosis or divinization, perhaps best summed up by an ancient aphorism usually attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria: “God became human so that man might become God.”
Some of the terms involved with this are difficult for me to grasp and retain. After all, I have difficulty in remember my right from my left and I often get it wrong. :) Words like esoteric and exoteric are difficult for me to keep straight. It will take effort. If I don’t review and explore these ideas on a regular basis, i will have to relearn them.
Much like when I build a new computer, I have to refresh my knowledge of the names and types of components for each item. I have so much going on in my life, it is difficult to find the time. I suppose that is why almost all mentors say you must set a time aside to train. Most don’t call it training, they call it quiet time, study time, bible study time or other such words. That too is hard for me, a schedule is hard for me. That is why I retired early. My doctor actually explained to the officials deciding if I qualified for disability that I would have to be allowed to come and go as i please if I was to continue to work.
So do I give up before I start. Not me. I don’t like the idea of giving up. I gave up on life once and I was angry with myself for years over it but I couldn’t bring myself out of it. I hope that never happens again and this process will aid me with that.
Mysticism (from the Greek – mystikos- ‘seeing with the eyes closed, an initiate of the Eleusinian Mysteries; – mysteria meaning “initiation”) is the pursuit of achieving communion, identity with, or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the Other, divinity, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight.
Exoteric refers to knowledge that is outside of and independent from anyone’s experience and can be ascertained by anyone. It is distinguished from esoteric knowledge. Exoteric relates to “external reality” as opposed to one’s own thoughts or feelings. It is knowledge that is public as opposed to secretive or cabalistic. It is not required that exoteric knowledge come easily or automatically, but it should be referenceable or reproducible.
Esotericism or, more neatly, Esoterism, the holding of esoteric opinions, derives from the Greek (esôterikos), a compound of (esô): “within”, thus “pertaining to the more inward”, mystic. Its antonym is exoteric.
Esoteric knowledge is that which is available only to a narrow circle of “enlightened”, “initiated”, or specially educated people. Esoteric items may be known as esoterica. In contrast, exoteric knowledge is knowledge that is well-known or public; or perceived as informally canonic in society at large.
In Western, English-speaking societies today, the term does not necessarily refer to “esotericism” in the sense of mystical knowledge or practice but has come informally to mean any perception or knowledge that is difficult to understand or remember, such as theoretical physics, or else that which pertains to the minutiae of a particular discipline, such as “esoteric” baseball statistics.
The above appears to be implying that the path to enlightenment is only through esoteric means. If so, I disagree. There are other paths to become enlightened. The path that is right for you may not be the same path for me. When I say enlightened, I am saying in the light of God. In contact with God, perhaps in Constant Contact with God.
When I use the term esoteric, I am not using it in the meaning that is often implied in today’s western society. Instead, i am using it in the more original meaning. That is coming from within. While I think it is true, the more contemplative one is, the more enlightened they may become. I think there are other paths. This path is the one that is right for me.
[Mystic] traditions may include a belief in the existence of dimensional realities beyond empirical perception, or a belief that a true human perception of the world goes beyond current logical reasoning or intellectual comprehension. A person delving in these areas may be called a Mystic. Though the terms mystic and monk are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous as mysticism does not necessarily entail separation from mainstream society.
The above appears to be a very good definition of faith. Knowing what cannot be proven but still others can gain the same knowledge from within.
Mystics hold that there is a deeper, more fundamental state of existence hidden beneath the appearances of day–to–day living (which may become, to the mystic, superficial or epiphenomenal). For the authentic mystic, unity is both the internal and external focus as one seeks the truth about oneself, one’s relationship to others and reality (both the world at large and the unseen realm). The mystic’s motivation for such an arduous endeavor appears to be unique to the individual and culture, and sometimes a new religion, order or sect may be the legacy. Generally approached through the purification processes of prayer, meditation, contemplation (communion with Reality), ingestion of entheogens (to raise consciousness and loosen the ego), and a wide variety of other means, the mystic seeks to transcend any constraint to his direct experience of the divine.
This idea of purification or perfection has haunted me for years. A Methodist minister told me in order to become a priest they are asked a series of questions and one of them is something like “do you expect to achieve perfection in this life time?” Until the student says yes, they cannot be a Methodist Minister. The minister will not give me the answer. He just wont say that Christ dying on the Cross made us perfect is the correct answer. I also thought the answer was if one has found God and loves God and believes in God they will not die, they will have everlasting life. That seems like the right answer. He didn’t’ tell me these were wrong though. I just got the feeling I hadn’t got it yet. Maybe he can’t say or maybe the answer is not the same forever one. It would seem that prayer could be a part of the process of purification. By staying in contact with God, in perfect union with him, which is the goal, one would become literally perfect. I just can’t say that I expect to achieve it.
I have pretty large ego but not that large. :)
Popularity: 2%
“do you expect to achieve perfection in this life time?”
I find it odd that a Methodist Minister would ask such a question since the basis of the question seems to relate more to esoteric thought than exoteric . I base this on the fact that a fundemental tenet of esotericism is a belief in multiple lives or reincarnation . :-)
Not multiple life times within the same body form but multiple experiences within the physical by the ” soul ” . The physical form passes away but the ” soul ” is eternal and grows by gaining additional experience in repeated earthly environments .
Of course this tenent does not fit very neatly within the Christian concept of someone dying to absolve our sins but do we really know what Christ was teaching to the multitudes versus what he might have been teaching to those closest to him . Hence , the exoteric versus esoteric dilemma arises .
In the end perhaps its up to each of us to discover which path is best for us . For me there are many paths and my comfort level along one versus another may have more to do with my ” inner awareness ” versus my societal upbringing . I frequently relate to God or the Universe through nature but do not consider myself to be an animistic. I can also relate through the stories associated with Jesus but don’t consider myself as belonging to any religious organization either .
As i see it the problem with organized religion is the basic premise that theirs is the ” only way ” to find God . I don’t believe that to be so . Surely a God would not limit all of mankind prior to the formation of the Christian religion to not knowing him simply because the Christian religions were not present upon earth when they were . :-)
Just a view !
Wow, dang man, these words are so big and hard to follow. Not directed at you but the subject as a whole.
I’m not 100% sure I understood you but I think you’re saying an esoteric essential belief includes reincarnation. Neither I nor my minister hold that position. I don’t believe it is a fact that the word means that. While a religion or faith may be esotric in nature and include re-incarnation. Esoteric and Exoteric mean only coming from within or coming from outside.
And Christian mysticim is only one path to God. It is the thinkers way or for me the emotional path to God. For some, feeling close to God is about singing and praise, some it is by doing, seeing a problem and acting to fix it. Those are the people that are constantly giving more of their time than they really have but just can’t seem to stop. Nothing wrong with any path.
After talking to Rick, about some of my experience’s in life, not really religion he then told me about Frank Laubach.
I have struggled with this term Christian Mysticism quite a bit and talked to him about that. Then I thought it was better than the other ways and talked to him about that. Or he pointed out to me how it was one way, not the best way.
Rick is a friend, not just a preacher and thus I’ve been fortunate to get a bit more of his time than I have other religous people. I know that I’ve been told and believed what some Christian ministers have told me in the past only to later grow and toss those ideas away. Some are horrible, something I was told by a layperson teaching a Sunday School class told the class that black people had smaller brains than white people. I was told it was a fact. At 15 I believed it, though I never did draw the conclusion that made me smarter. Now I realize it was just a sick person. The church is like people it is made up of people. That’s all it is. And none of them are perfect. None of them have all the answers but it is good to find a place where you feel comfortable. You have no idea how hard that is for me.
I wont lump organized religion into any category, good or bad as all of them have their strong points and their weak. Just as the people that are made up of them.
Most Church of Christ are almost cultish in nature, but I wont put them all in that group though many would put me in a group. When I was baptized in a Methodist Church, she told me it was a waste of time as there was only ONE real church and they didn’t have music in it because there was no music in the New Testament.
She was an older woman and had a good but very confused heart. I enjoyed talking with her and considered her a friend. I still do though I’m sure she is no longer with us. But I liked to pick on her as I do most of my friends. So one day I walked up to her and asked her if she went to church on Sunday. She said she did. I asked if she drove herself there and she did. I said, there were no cars in the new testament. LOL She just smiled and said “you’re trying to get me going.” I was but I was also trying to make her think.
I heard another Methodist minister that was far more conservative than Rick and myself say that He would not presume to tell anyone that there was only one way to God. He said I do know of one sure way and that was via the Gift of the Cross.
I recently touched on this subject with my friend and how it fit in with methodism and it is not an issue at all. I don’t think many, if any, would believe in re-incarnation and I don’t know how the church would react to someone preaching that, the chruch he was in would probably handle it but I dont’ know. Anyway there are three requirements that someone entering into any methodist society are to meet. I will quote him here:
——————————-
What were the 3 simple rules?
1st is this: “1st, do no harm.” This is 1st thing you remember when you wake up in morning. “Today I am going to do no harm. I’m going to avoid evil of every kind in every place. I will do nothing that would knowingly hurt someone or disappoint God.”
2nd, “Do all good you can, everywhere that you can, of every kind that you can, in every place that you can, to every person that you can.”
3rd, “Attend to the ordinances of God.” The ordinances of God are things like Bible reading, fasting, prayer, worship, receiving Sacraments & other spiritual disciplines. But the reason for “attending to ordinances of God” was to help you stay in love with God. I like that way of saying it.
So 3 are:
1. Do no harm!
2. Do all good you can!
3. Stay in love with God!
——————–
I hope I have not come across as discounting anything you’ve said or putting you down in any way. Much of what you said were the same kind of concerns I had when he brought this subject up to me. He just said but just keep the word Christian in front of it.
Also, I have provided links to the discussion of these terms that are provided on Wikipedia. I recommend you look at who some of the Christian Mystics are. I think You’ll see some names there that are rather Christian. :)
I also hope you’ll keep this discussion going. It is something very dear to me.
One other point, I think I got it from a TV show not long ago. Just because someone is unable to meet the goals of a belief they hold does not preclude them from trying to get there.
A paraphrase: God, make me pure, just not right now. Saint Augustine.
A link: http://rustyferguson.com/?page_id=75
The question about perfection in this lifetime is asked of all Methodist Ministers at the end of their studies and before they are ordained. If they cannot answer yes they are no ordained. Exactly what it means may not be what it appears to mean to those of us that have not been through the schooling necessary to become a methoidist minister. I don’t think I’ve found the right answer, or perhaps there is no one right answer. I don’t know.
No affront taken . I am well aware of many of the Christian mystics and i would agree that the mystic might best be described as an emotional approach . However , i would like to point out that the mystic approach has been known to have been prevelent in many cultures prior to Christanity .
As for esoteric versus exoteric again i would agree by definition . Just not in actual practice . :-) What is prayer , or meditation ? Esoteric or exoteric ? For that matter does it really matter ?
As for reincarnation the reality is that the majority of the worlds people do believe in , in one form or another . The fact that the Christian Bible does not specifically mention the word reincarnation does not preclude such a belief in my view ( and in the view of many biblical scholars ) .
The Bible we know today was summarily ” edited ” by Constantine in the 300′s . There are however many texts attributed to the time of Jesus that have been discovered and expounded upon that do seem to indicate there WAS an esoteric tradition within the inner circle of Jesus .
The church does not actively teach this of course for obvious reasons . But then who and what is the church ? First and foremost Rome ; ie , the Catholic Church , the mother of all religions .
But who founded the Church ? Paul , sometime AFTER the time of Jesus . Do you not find it informative that the man Jesus is not quoted anywhere as having said ” build a church or a religion ” in my name ?
For me personally that’s how i come to grips with the terms esoteric versus exoteric . Prayer is private and can be done anywhere . The fact that it might be done in a church makes it exoteric i suppose but in essence it is an esoteric ( private , hidden , inner ) experience .
In the end i believe RELIGION has more to do with our background than it does with ” finding God ” . I always find it intriguing that many so-called non-believers in science find such a great degree of order in the universe . :-)
In the end i believe it comes down to personal experience . Mine may not be yours and vice-versa . But there is a reason for that . We are all of the human family but before that we are all spirit or soul and i believe that an intelligent ” something ” deemed it so .
For me there were far to many questions the Church could not answer through the years . Worse , simply ignored for lack of an explanation . So , where does one go to get the answers ? Within , and that’s esoteric . :-)
If you are up for some alternative thought :
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen03.html
I don’t think the terms exoteric and esoteric mean much to most people. For those of us that have trouble keeping right straight from left, I have too look up the words each time I use them. :) Maybe I can remember EXoteric is EXternal.
I thought I covered that what the meaning has come to mean vs what it really means in my post but perhaps I did that in another post. :) But it isn’t important to me.
I think prayer can be very external and public.
Answers? I’m so sure the looking to the church for answers is really a good idea but perhaps that is because I’m more esoteric in nature than exoteric. That is not the churches main function for me. It is a building, an organization, a place to add order to a group of like minded people. Like minded yes, but not even twins are in perfect union. however it is a good place to share ideas and get feedback from others, more experienced so you can get input into your thinking. Nothing says you can form your own opinions different from your minister. It is a good idea to understand that he/she has much more time to learn than I. Of course if you’re listening and following the wrong person (most TV preacher, prosperity preachers, exclusionary cult like ministers which would include the moral majority and like groups for me) then that may be a very unproductive church. I’ve found a far different experience even though, I really am a loner.
I’m not a big church going person. I didn’t set foot in a church for more than 20 years.
A church offers many things other than answers and I’ve never met a Methodist minister that would say he had all the answers. I’ve had the topic of re-incarnation come up in a bible study class led by a Methodist minister. Not that we are born and born again in the physical sense but with the idea that we were with God before we came to earth.
I just don’t think you can successfully lump all church experiences into any one category. It may also depend on where you live, your experience. If you live in a small Mississippi town going to a small Baptist church, your experience is going to be great deal different from going to a Methodist church in a large city like Memphis. For that matter, I find Methodist churches far different from ANY Baptist church I went too.
Do we need these buildings and organization to be Christian. Nope, but in countries where it isn’t allowed, people risk their lives just in order to meet.
For everything there is a time and a place or a season. And while we may excel at certain experiences and practices it would make us more whole to grow into those that we are not strong.
I’m not versed well enough to tell you what a church is but I believe it is defined in the NT. I believe it is Christ but that each of us are a part of it. And before this is all over we will come together as one. While I don’t believe everything is an illusion, I do believe in oneness.
I also believe there will be horrible suffering before this oneness comes to be.
What a church is for me is a place to share thoughts. The last one I was in was one of acceptance of those not like me at all. That was very heart warming. A lot of that has to do with the leadership of that church.
What a church should be and what a church are not going to be the same thing because those of us that make up the earthly church have not yet achieved perfection.
That brings me back to perfection in this lifetime. I tried to hint at what I thought it meant. I think the answer is in the basic Christian tenant which I think is in John 4:16? Aww I use to know the verse. It goes something like this, for whomever believes in Jesus will not perish but have everlasting life.
Everlasting….. That sounds like never ending to me. But we know there is a death, an ending of the body and a return to the elements. But we live. Where do we live, in heaven. What is heaven, well it is perfection and where we reach perfection.
I think this is already a pretty alternative path I’m going down. It is certainly way beyond what I learned in Sunday School as a child. :) When I took a strong Bible study course offered by the Methodist Church called Disciple where the entire bible is covered in about six months, we didn’t cover this kind of thing.
I’ll try to get to that link, so little time for much more thought. LOL :) If my current path doesn’t work out, should I end up back in the states living my life out there rather than here in the Ph, I’m going to seek a way that I can devote my life to the study of spiritual matters. I would love to go to a school where things didn’t matter. Where I could devote my time to studies. I didn’t get that chance when I was in college. I guess I should start looking for that now as a back up plan. I’m not likely to find anything at all that will take in a 9 year old guy that cannot teach meaning I would find it extremely unlikely I could ever be a minister so I don’t know how I would ever find a place that I could afford. But it is what I’d like to do if my current commitments should dissolve. I hope they don’t. I’d like to do all the things I plan to do. I want that high tech camera, I want to go rock climbing and scuba diving with sharks and other cool things and be with Jessie always. But should things turn out different, that’s my next goal.
Hi, Rusty!
Man, you’re deep.:)
A year after you’ve written that last entry/reply to Retired, any development on your quest?
I believe it is not perfection we should all strive for. It is EXCELLENCE–which in essence mean doing the best we can do. Doing your best means giving your heart and soul to any endeavor or task or relationship. And whatever your best is (which may not be perfect), then it is good enough.
This life is not perfect. It will never be.
Because this world is flawed. Heaven is not.
In heaven, everything is perfect.
Therefore there is no way one can achieve perfection in this lifetime while you’re in this world.
just my two cents’ worth.
–ENYA
I don’t know how to reach perfection, perhaps by being in constant contact with God but I think that is the calling of Christians.
I’m no bible expert but isn’t that what it calls on us to reach? Isn’t there going to be a perfect time according to Christianity when we all live as one?
I have a friend that is a Methodist Minister, to be come minister for the Methodist church, one must answer some questions and on of them is if you expect to achieve perfection in this life time.
The answer of yes is required, or was required, this could have changed now, I don’t know. He’s 60 something and hasn’t reached it yet, he’s a lot closer than myself though.
Still, I think the answer is in the passage of the bible that indicates that if you believe in Jesus, you shall not die. I don’t claim to know but for now, that’s the only thing that could make any sense to me since no one has achieved it yet.