Mysticism and Christianity - Research Paper Example

?Mysticism and Christianity: Out line Pages Introduction.......................................................................................................... 2. What is mysticism?............................................................................................... 3. Christian Mysticism............................................................................................... 4. The relationships between mysticism and Christianity......................................... 5. How much is Christianity different from mysticism?............................................. 6. Conclusion............................................................................................................... Thesis Statement: Religion and Mysticism are complimentary in nature, and Christianity has very closer association with Mysticism that stresses the need for prayer and meditation in one’s life. Introduction Mysticism has often been regarded as concept with a deeper level meaning in almost all religions of the world. It is the close association mysticism with religion that very often leads many to consider it as quite equal to some of the religions. But a closer analysis will certainly unveil mysticism as a different perspective from religious teachings. Even a mere observation will be sufficient enough for unearthing this close association and it is identifiable that some of the religions are proclaiming some of the aspects of mysticism. Among the religions that are very much associated with mysticism Christianity stands to be a supreme one. Many researchers have clearly recognised this close association and have affirmed the closer relationship of Christianity with mysticism. The proximity between Christianity to mysticism had led many to think to supplement one with another. In a closer look one can find out that these two are different even though some apparent similarities are there. The closeness of mysticism and Christianity paves for the analytical study between these two. The proposed study is aimed to explore the close association between Christianity and Mysticism. Various factors concerning both Christianity and Mysticism will be analysed in the paper and specifically, the researcher will endeavour to establish the fact that religion and Mysticism are complimentary. The essay takes note on the relationship of Christian teachings to mysticism and will analyse the major components of mysticism and Christianity through comparative studies intended to expose their relation. Therefore, the study proposes the thesis that, religion and Mysticism are complimentary in nature, and Christianity has very closer association with Mysticism that stresses the need for prayer and meditation in one’s life. What is mysticism? Researchers have often been expressed their difficulty in properly defining mysticism. Of course, the word mysticism is originated from Greek culture. Some regard it as quite similar to asking a foolish question like what beauty is. However, different religions attribute different aspects to mysticism. Many have observed it as more difficult to define than socialism and the words of William Ralph Inge makes it crystal clear when he reveals the various attributes of Mysticism. He says, “Sometimes it [mysticism] is used as an equivalent for symbolism or allegorism, sometimes for theosophy or occult science; and sometimes it merely suggests the mental state of a dreamer, or vague and fantastic opinions about God and the world” (Inge, 16). It clearly indicates the fact that defining mysticism is not easier as one thinks. The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines mysticism as, ‘the belief that knowledge of God and the real truth can be found through prayer and meditation rather than through reason and the senses.’ A more acceptable fact regarding mysticism can be identified with Margaret Smith when she rightly commented thus, “Mysticism itself represents something much wider than its derivation: it represents a spiritual tendency which is universal, for we find it in all religions worthy of the name and in all true faiths, and it is often the most vital element in such faiths” (Smith 2). The author further affirms on the supremacy of mysticism over religions. She, in her book, Studies in Early Mysticism in the Near and Middle East states that religions make a “distinction between the Divine and the human, and emphasises the separation between the two; Mysticism goes beyond religion, and while still making a distinction, refuses to recognise the separation, and aspires to intimate union with the Divine, to a penetration of the Divine within the soul, and ultimately to the disappearance of the individuality, with all its modes of acting, thinking and feeling, in the Divine substance” (Smith 3). Regarding the perception of Smith about mysticism, one can see that the author considers mysticism beyond religion faith. Anyhow, the author stresses on the fact that mysticism cannot be separated from religion. Thus it affirms the fact that mysticism is an aspect that had its firm associations in all religions of the world. Christian Mysticism: Many regard Christian Mysticism marked it full growth during the sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries. The words of Santhosh Thomas make it clear when he rightly observed it thus, “Christian mysticism attained full maturity between the sixteenth and the seventeenth century with St. John of the Cross, Santa Theresa, molinos, Mme. Guyon and others. The contemporary Christian mysticism is best represented by the disciples of Fox, known as the Friends or Quakers” (Thomas, p.41). Many regard Christian mysticism is concerned with Jesus Christ who proclaimed “I and the Father are one," (Jn. 10.30).” it has been inferred as Christ actually showed what the union of God and man can be. Thus it is said that, “Christian mysticism is about nothing else but this transforming union” (What is mysticism?). Analysing this, one can certainly say that Christian Mysticism has wider implications, as such; one can identify various meanings to Christian Mysticism. Here one should note that “Christ is the sole end of Christian mysticism” (What is mysticism?). Therefore, the purpose of a Christian mystic is to become Christ. Considering Christian Mysticism, one should not that “... Christians have Christ, call on Christ, and can (or should) know Christ, the goal for the Christian mystic is to become Christ—to become as fully permeated with God as Christ is, thus becoming like him, fully human, and by the grace of God, also fully divine” (What is mysticism?). Theosis, divinization, deification, and transforming union are the different methods adopted for teaching the Christian doctrines. But one cannot entirely agree with the concept of regarding mysticism as “Mystical experiences” and one can agree with the comment that ‘mysticism is not focused on “experiences”. 4. The relationships between mysticism and Christianity: The relationships between Christianity and mysticism are many and varied that one can identify various studies clearly stating these relations. The very close study of it reveals that the basic principles of Christianity have fixed their roots in mysticism. Though mysticism cannot be considered as unique to Christianity, one can see that it Christianity has contributed much to mysticism and vice-versa. Linda Woodhead in her book, Christianity: a very short introduction writes, “Jesus himself may exemplify a tendency towards a mystical ‘internalization’ of the Jewish religion, and the tendency could claim some scriptural backing” (Woodhead 72). When reading through this sentence, one is sure that mysticism and Christianity are closely linked. The laws insisted by Jesus to Christianity to lead his fellow humans to redemption has also been regarded as mysticism. This is to be noted that “Paul also displays some mystical tendencies, though his mysticism is best described as ‘Christ-mysticism” (Woodhead 72). His mysticism is at its peak when he says, ‘it is no longer I who live’, ‘but Christ who lives in me’ (Woodhead 72). Another example for mysticism in Christianity can be seen with Paul who believed that “all baptized Christians are filled with the spirit of Christ” (Woodhead 72). Mysticism and its varieties, naturalistic, supernaturalistic, theosophical, and pantheistic mysticism, have been identified as searching for the knowledge of God in human feelings, which they absorb in their life as the most trust worthy or the most direct source of the knowledge of God (Warfield). The different mystic theories have been identified as presenting various diverging concepts that may entertain the origin of the religious feelings. In his online article entitled; Mysticism and Christianity, Benjamin B. Warfield makes a clear distinction between the different mystic theories and how they are connected with one’s religious beliefs. One of the most important among them is Naturalistic mysticism which appeals to "the natural religious consciousness of men, as excited and influenced by the circumstances of the individual" (Warfield 4). This makes clear the bond between religion and mysticism. The second one, the Supernaturalistic, deals with the effects of operations of the divine Spirit in one’s the heart, and Warfield remarks thus, “the human spirit moving only as it is moved upon by the divine.” The third type of mysticism, according to Warfield, is Theosophical mysticism which presents a very different picture of religious feelings and presumes that the religious feelings are the footprints of Deity moving in the soul, and as, therefore, immediate sources of knowledge of God, which is to be obtained by simple quiescence and rapt contemplation of these His movements (Warfield 4). The final mystic variety called Pantheistic mysticism is proposed to advance a complete identification of the soul with God, who is therefore to be known by applying oneself to the simple axiom: "Know thyself" (Warfield 4). Thus, one can see that these theories of mysticism are smacked with religion and as such they unveil the obvious link between religion and mysticism. After analysing the four theories, one is quite sure that the supernaturalistic mysticism has the closest affinity with Christianity. Warfiled (4-5) makes it crystal clear when rightly puts it thus; “Christian mysticism accordingly, at its best, takes this form and passes insensibly from it into evangelical Christianity, to which the indwelling of the Holy Ghost the Christ within ! is fundamental, and which rejoices in such spiritual experiences as are summed up in the old categories of regeneration and sanctification ! the rebegetting of the soul into newness of life and the leading of the new-created soul along the pathway of holy living.” It may lead one to many inferences regarding the birth and death of God for the salvation of humanity in a mystic way. Christianity considers mysticism as a means to express their religious feelings that can be used in search of God. This mysticism will facilitate one to contemplate within the soul the movements of the divine Spirit and attain partial or an entire spiritual satisfaction. Thus it is to be noted that “The characteristic of Christian mysticism, from the point of view of religious knowledge, is therefore its appeal to the "inner light," or "the internal word," either to the exclusion of the external or written Word, or as superior to it and normative for its interpretation, or at least as coordinate authority with it, this "inner light" or "internal word" being conceived not as the rational understanding but as the immediate deliverance of the religious sentiment” (Warfiled 5). All these factors make one envisage the strong bond between Christianity and mysticism. 5. How much Christianity is different from mysticism? Analysing the history of Christian Mysticism, one can comprehend the fact that the thought of mysticism appears in Christianity during the time when the followers of Christianity began to look within to search for God. Distinction between Christianity and Mysticism paved the way for relevant discussions and researches. Christianity interprets all religious experience by the normative disclosure of God documented for the believers in the Holy Scriptures, books, and guides. These religious experiences and activities often corrected from its Scriptures and ensure a harmony between human life and God’s blessings. In case of Mysticism, religious experience can substitute for the objective exposure of God mentioned in the Scriptures, as the resource from which it derives its knowledge of God. Followers of Mysticism believe that external revelation is disheartened one. Therefore real and direct source of knowledge of God is lies one’s own religious experience. Mysticism does not give much importance in recorded principles and religious activities. 6. Conclusion: To conclude, one can infer that mysticism has an integral role in religion which can enlighten the lives of humans. It provides them an insight to the religious laws and belief systems and enables to strictly implement in day to day lives. The relation between Christianity and Mysticism is obvious that the basic principles of Christianity are rooted in mysticism. It is the supernaturalistic mysticism which is closely associated with Christianity dealing with the effects of operations of the divine Spirit in one’s the heart. Therefore, the study is concluded by stating that religion and Mysticism are complimentary in nature, and Christianity has very closer association with Mysticism that stresses the need for prayer and meditation in one’s life. Works Cited: Inge, W.R.Christian mysticism. Reprinted edition 7. Plain Label Books, 1956. Book. Smith, M. Studies in Early Mysticism in the Near and Middle East. Reprint edition, Kessinger Publishing, 2003. Book. Thomas, S.Studies in religious mysticism: Christianity and Buddhism. Mittal Publications, 2005. Book. Woodhead, L. Christianity: a very short introduction. Illustrated. Oxford University Press, 2004. Book. What is mysticism? jon zuck, 2008. Web. 02 Apr. 11 http://www.frimmin.com/faith/mysticismintro.php Warfield, B. B. Mysticism and Christianity. ReformedLiterature.com. 1991. Web. O2 Apr.2011. http://www.reformedliterature.com/warfield-mysticism-and-christianity.pdf Read More