The phenomenon and the explanation

[jacknife]

That's true with most mystical trajectories.

Is mysticism a religion or more of a type of spirituality?

 

[Subduction Zone]

Is mysticism a religion or more of a type of spirituality?

It could be either, neither, or both. I don't think that there are any hard rules on mysticism and religion.

 

[dlamberth]

Is mysticism a religion or more of a type of spirituality?

It can be both in the sense that it is often practiced as the more spiritual aspect of a religion. In the same breath, religion is not required for mystical experiences. My own sense is that it's a basic human experience.

 

[dlamberth]

Is mysticism a religion or more of a type of spirituality?

When it comes to religion, it's my belief that when the mystical aspect is brought in, that's when the Divine becomes real for a person. The reason why is that direct personal revelation that comes through a mystical experience gives a person insight and wisdom directly from the experience rather than from mental concepts. It's a different kind of knowing.

 

[jacknife]

When it comes to religion, it's my belief that when the mystical aspect is brought in, that's when the Divine becomes real for a person. The reason why is that direct personal revelation that comes through a mystical experience gives a person insight and wisdom directly from the experience rather than from mental concepts. It's a different kind of knowing.

That makes sense, thank you for explaining it to me. (These conversations are why i miss world religion)

 

[Eloy Craft]

@Ophiolite

They indicated they don't know what Divine revelation is.

 

[Eloy Craft]

They are.

They seem so to ..well those who don't know

 

[Bungle_Bear]

They may have gods, but AIUI they're not based on divine revelation. If having gods was the criterion, the list would be shorter

Who said anything about divine revelation? I simply said religions have gods or controlling powers, and so far confuscianism is the only exception anyone has mentioned.

ETA I will add Jainism to the list of exceptions.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

They seem so to ..well those who don't know

You haven't demonstrated that they're not.

 

[Eloy Craft]

When it comes to religion, it's my belief that when the mystical aspect is brought in, that's when the Divine becomes real for a person. The reason why is that direct personal revelation that comes through a mystical experience gives a person insight and wisdom directly from the experience rather than from mental concepts. It's a different kind of knowing.

Hi Dlamberth, the mystical experience varies as religions do. The eastern religions teach a discipline that leads to mystical experience. Buddhists commune with nothingness. Nirvana. Christian mysticism is not sought out at all. It just happens.
A mystical experience for Christians is union with another rational being, who happens to be God.
Buddhists do well at destroying the ego, losing the self.
Christians experience a finding of self. These are radically different mystical experiences.

 

[Eloy Craft]

You haven't demonstrated that they're not.

How God created differs in that Hindu theology teaches that God used a part of himself to create all that is. That's why everything is divine to them. The Judeo-Christian tradition believes God brought everything into being out off nothing. Ex-nihilio. So God is omnipresent for Christians but isn't everything like for Hindus.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

How God created differs in that Hindu theology teaches that God used a part of himself to create all that is. That's why everything is divine to them. The Judeo-Christian tradition believes God brought everything into being out off nothing. Ex-nihilio. So God is omnipresent for Christians but isn't everything like for Hindus.

Uh huh. As I said, religions differ in the detail. That's all you're showing. There's still a god or controlling power involved which was what I said was the common theme of religions.

You'd do better to look back at others' posts where 2 exceptions have been identified.

 

[Eloy Craft]

There's still a god or controlling power involved which was what I said was the common theme of religions.

They all worship something greater than themselves. Of course religions tend to do that.

How about this one. They all have answers to the questions that plague mankind. Death, suffering, evil, meaning of life etc.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Who said anything about divine revelation? I simply said religions have gods or controlling powers, and so far confuscianism is the only exception anyone has mentioned.

ETA I will add Jainism to the list of exceptions.

The divine revelation requirement was Eloy Craft's in his post #167, describing why he thought Christianity was different from the others.

OTOH, I may have misunderstood what he meant...

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

... God is omnipresent for Christians but isn't everything like for Hindus.

God is omnipresent for pantheists and panentheists too...

 

[Bungle_Bear]

The divine revelation requirement was Eloy Craft's in his post #167, describing why he thought Christianity was different from the others.

OTOH, I may have misunderstood what he meant...

That was how Eloy chose to differentiate Christianity from other religions. It was not a requirement of all religions.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

They all worship something greater than themselves. Of course religions tend to do that.

That's what I said was the commonality between religions, so it appears we agreed they are the same - until a couple of religions were identified that do not worship such an entity.

How about this one. They all have answers to the questions that plague mankind. Death, suffering, evil, meaning of life etc.

No, they don't. Those are some of the areas where religions can differ.

 

[jacknife]

Hi Dlamberth, the mystical experience varies as religions do. The eastern religions teach a discipline that leads to mystical experience. Buddhists commune with nothingness. Nirvana. Christian mysticism is not sought out at all. It just happens.
A mystical experience for Christians is union with another rational being, who happens to be God.
Buddhists do well at destroying the ego, losing the self.
Christians experience a finding of self. These are radically different mystical experiences.

Buddhism has a rich spirituality to it that i'm kind of sad you sorta hand waved away.
Edit: in fact the Buddhist idea of the lose of self or lose of ego upon death, ive always thought it was a refreshingly realistic way to view death. It even helped me form my current spirituality.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

That was how Eloy chose to differentiate Christianity from other religions. It was not a requirement of all religions.

Yes, I know. You responded to my post on a sub-discussion derived from Eloy's post concerning religions that do or do not involve divine revelation.

 

[Eloy Craft]

The divine revelation requirement was Eloy Craft's in his post #167, describing why he thought Christianity was different from the others.

OTOH, I may have misunderstood what he meant...

You didn't misunderstand. The distinction is divine revelation.