Introduction To Christian Mysticism

What is mysticism?  How is mysticism different from, or the same as, either a religious experience or spirituality?  If I have an experience of God, how do I define it?  How can I know what is true for me, and how can I act upon that truth and live it?  Is the experience today different from the experiences of three, four, or twelve centuries ago?

 

At this juncture of our history, we often feel that the world is coming apart at the seams.  Often it feels that we are left without a compass while on a journey.  Many seem to have lost their way altogether.  Indeed, the metaphor of the spiritual life as a journey, which implies that there is a point of destination, is itself subject to scrutiny.  Is the journey any longer a fitting description of the Christian way of life? Your challenge is to identify what defines your own relationship with yourself, others, God, and creation.   

 

By the end of this course the learner will understand the history of mysticism and be able to articulate a vision of how the mystical has or has not shaped his or her own life and relationship with God. 

 

The learner will examine the contributions made by various historical movements and persons and be able to articulate what these various visions have or do not have in common. The learner will be able to articulate the difference between mysticism and spirituality.