What is Christian Mysticism?

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My question is, what is christian mystcism? Christian pantheism? Any examples or insights? Opinions?
 
Thanks for t he post.
Do you think that these ideas go against the Catholic faith?
 
Not I would say it’s monastic worship and follows the ascetic tradition.
 
FightingFat said:
Why? She was a nun with strong ascetic influence.
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I’m sorry, I misread your response and I thought you were saying that no they do not go along with the faith, but I re-read the posts and I understand. Thanks
 
Mysticism is central to my spiritual life and while people often think of it as an eastern thing, Christianity in fact has a very strong mystic tradition, particularly the Catholic faith.
As Thomas Merton once said: 'a flight from the alone to the Alone!
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Solitude is an important mystic tool as you empty your self to recieve God. Loneliness is a blessed thing on the mystic path because you are not alone, you are Alone.
 
Gnosis said:
Mysticism is central to my spiritual life and while people often think of it as an eastern thing, Christianity in fact has a very strong mystic tradition, particularly the Catholic faith.

Solitude is an important mystic tool as you empty your self to recieve God. Loneliness is a blessed thing on the mystic path because you are not alone, you are Alone.
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Thank you for explaining this.
I understand what you mean
 
rayne100 said:
My question is, what is christian mystcism? Christian pantheism? Any examples or insights? Opinions?
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I strongly recommend Bernard McGinn’s three-volume history of Christian mysticism. I’ve never finished it myself, I admit (I’ve only gotten part way through the first volume!). But what I have read is good, and I understand that the later parts (closer to his area of expertise) are even better.

Mysticism is hard to define. It certainly does not necessarily include pantheism, although it does include an experience of union with God (not the same thing). Pantheism is incompatible with Christianity–at least with orthodox Christianity. “Panentheism,” however, is not (depending on how you define it–some versions certainly are heretical). St. Thomas Aquinas could be called a “panentheist” in a certain sense. All things exist by participating in God.

An excellent collection of primary sources is the volume Late Medieval Mysticism, in the Library of Christian Classics. There are a lot of great volumes in the series Classics of Western Spirituality as well.

Edwin
 
Sixtus said:
As Thomas Merton once said: 'a flight from the alone to the Alone! 😉
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Did he have echolalia, echolalia, or was he just trying to be cool?

Christian mysticism is the perceiving of the not-purely-rational elements in the universe, by Christians. It is similar to all other mysticism (Buddhist, Sufi, etc.), except that its end is the explication and worship of Jesus Christ, rather than, say, the explication of dharma with the aim of achieving release from the cycle of karma.
 
There are some good Quaker books that might help. My favorite is “Testament of Devotion” by Thomas R. Kelly. His chapter on the Light Within is outstanding. This is one of my favorite books…I have it with my Bible and read a passage or two at least once a week…it provides good thought to meditate on during personal devotions and as you enter into personal Meeting.

“Holy Silence” by J. Brent Bill is a good easy to read book. “Mind the Light” by the same author is good too.
 
I would try reading The Way of a Pilgrim or The Mountain of Silence for an Orthodox perspective. Two very good books.
 
Gnosis said:
Solitude is an important mystic tool as you empty your self to recieve God. Loneliness is a blessed thing on the mystic path because you are not alone, you are Alone.
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Did you know that St. Benedict wouldn’t let monks become hermits until they had learned to live in community?
 
No, I didn’t know that, but I certainly agree with the principle. The Christian vision is ultimately communal and while mystics will certainly be more proned to solitude and even hermitude, I think its important that we interact with others.

As many countless truths that you can discover in the heights of mystical comtemplation, you can discover from interaction and observance of people.
 
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