That doesn't really give me a clear picture.
How is this different from the Charismatic/Spirit Filled forum's focus?
Charismania is the opposite of orthodoxy or biblical theology, it relies on claims of divine healing, linguistic ability, visions, and have special feelings or 'encounters'. It's belief in continuationism (of the Holy Spirit's work since Acts) and typically includes a strong belief in supernatural special/divine revelation to that person exclusively. "I verb xyz, therefore Jesus xyz". Also commercialism, pay to play. -- Orthodoxy and reformed theology typically negates that as fraudulent gobbledigook. It's a fixation/idolatry of phenomenon, or 'miracles' as they claim.
Christian
Mysticism is a branch of theology, somewhere in between. It's a fantastical belief that there is a special connection to God
outside of the mainstream biblical narrative/thought. Divine transcendence, union with God. Perhaps hallucination induced, perhaps imagined. It's reaching a elevated or 'holy' place. Typically it relies on experiences and artefacts. Perhaps triggered by 'icons', pictures, paintings, music, chanting, prayer, fasting, self-deprivation, self-mutilation, and various monastic chores like gardening or repairing farming equipment with the bros. Anything can become a 'meditative' practice, including reading Scripture, over and over. Including, drinking tea, going for a long run, or simply working at the office. It's subjective, really. Whatever it is though there
must be a divine experience.
It was popular in the Early Church, patristics, desert fathers, and continued on in Eastern theology, some in Roman Catholicism. Many were mixed up with gnosticism and Arianism which was heretical, so the Western world separated itself from anything along those lines. There are also 'mystical texts' that are non-canonical, often mixed with the above problems, at other times agreeing with canonical texts.-- Orthodoxy and reformed theology argues that this is 'delusion'. And since it's not an exact science, not quite 'academic', there's no established 'university of mystics' to support their claims. But there
are many mystics within every branch of theology including Protestantism, albeit kept secret by the person, with a fringe following. It's taboo or heresy, so there's that.
If you see the Lord's Prayer as a divine sequence of words that communicates with the creator is magical, beyond human comprehension,
then Scripture can be understood as mystical text.
The metaphor of 'walking with God', evident with Adam, Enoch, Moses, are personal and intimate experience unique from the majority group at the time. 'Mysticism' goes to great lengths in attempt to replicate or achieve these experiences. People have nearly starved to death.
Some famous names: Evagrius Ponticus who influenced Origen, Ignatius of Antoich, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Iraneus, ... also Martin Luther... Blaisse Pascale, John Owen... Isaac Newton (mystic/occult).
There's also ancient roots in Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah... Which is an entire parallel reading of the bible, based on numerology, special numbers, pseudo-mathematics, real mathematics.
This is closely related to esotericism which is a full fledged 'science' and system of thought, that meets 'magic' biblically speaking. It is (was) a an ancient Eastern discipline.
Think about HOW could Daniel be interpreting dreams at Babylon. HOW God's hand could write on the wall. Joseph interpreting dreams at Egypt. Who were the Magi or 3 Wise Men who visited Christ. It is high science and special knowledge reserved for Kings of the various kingdoms of Persia and Central Asia. --Not far from Albus Dumbledore, Tolkien's world, the Red Priestesses of Game of Thrones, Dan Brown's DaVinci Code, etc.
Historically, it was for an elite class of theologians, maybe 'special classes' or clubs/societies. Nowadays, it would fall under an exclusive phd program in astrophysics, astronomy, physics, etc. The research at the Hadron Collider at Switzerland is kinda similar in that sense, where science is reaching into the supernatural world.
Somethings from the past we will never know about. There are little to no apprentices or masters in these fields for a reason. They died off for a reason. The Kingdom of Heaven operates by Christ, by faith, and not through these practices.
"When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to
pass through the fire, or that useth
divination, or an
observer of times, or an
enchanter, or a witch. Or a
charmer, or a
consulter with familiar spirits, or a
wizard, or a
necromancer." (Deu 18:9-11)
Blessings to all
