What is a mystic?

[Neochristian]

I have a few definitions, but I would like to here others' input.

• A mystic is someone who has direct experience of God.

• A mystic is someone who considers personal firsthand experience to be the highest authority, especially regarding religious things, most especially God.

• A mystic is an unorganized philosopher.

• A mystic is someone whose understanding is bigger than their intellect.


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[Eudaimonist]

A mystic is someone who thinks that they have a way of knowing that is superior to rational thought.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Neochristian]

Yes, there is something I've heard of: pre-rational (or magical) thinking, rational thinking, and post-rational (or mystical) thinking.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Yes, there is something I've heard of: pre-rational (or magical) thinking, rational thinking, and post-rational (or mystical) thinking.

To be fair, it may have other meanings. Wikipedia discusses a few:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysticism


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Neochristian]

Nothing much extra or elucidating in there.


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[Eudaimonist]

Nothing much extra or elucidating in there.

Perhaps so. I think that I had gotten to the heart of the matter.


eudaimonia,

Makr

 

[Neochristian]

It said little about what one is.


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[durangodawood]

A mystic is someone who thinks that they have a way of knowing that is superior to rational thought...

Seems insufficiently decisive as a definition, as its open to any way of knowing.

 

[Neochristian]

I dunno, I'm gonna agree with that one for now.

What other ways of knowing are there? I'll start: intuition is one, mystical experience (I'll have to brush up on William James) is another. What else is there?


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[Neochristian]

I dunno, I'm gonna agree with that one for now.

What other ways of knowing are there? I'll start: intuition is one, mystical experience—which includes a noetic quality, or involves knowing something (I'll have to brush up on William James) is another. What else is there?


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[durangodawood]

I dunno, I'm gonna agree with that one for now.

What other ways of knowing are there? I'll start: intuition is one, mystical experience (I'll have to brush up on William James) is another. What else is there?

Sensory experience.
Book learning.
Trusted testimony.
Faith (according to many religious people)

 

[AGTG]

Sounds about right, which is why mysticism is antithetical to the Christian faith as we walk by faith, not by sight (or feelings and experiences).

The trouble with mysticism is that there is no baseline for truth. Everything is subjective, and it cannot be compared to scripture. This is why it's so dangerous for Christians to submit themselves to mystical experiences.

The devil is brilliant, and can deceive people through scriptures even. How much more through mystical experiences?

 

[Neochristian]

Sensory experience isn't rational.

Book learning is usually rational.

Testimonial is too deep for us to discuss.

Faith isn't learning.


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[Neochristian]

Sounds about right, which is why mysticism is antithetical to the Christian faith as we walk by faith, not by sight (or feelings and experiences).

The trouble with mysticism is that there is no baseline for truth. Everything is subjective, and it cannot be compared to scripture. This is why it's so dangerous for Christians to submit themselves to mystical experiences.

The devil is brilliant, and can deceive people through scriptures even. How much more through mystical experiences?

Paul had some mystical writing.

It is not the case that everything about
Mysticism is subjective.

 

[durangodawood]

Sounds about right, which is why mysticism is antithetical to the Christian faith as we walk by faith, not by sight (or feelings and experiences).

The trouble with mysticism is that there is no baseline for truth. Everything is subjective, and it cannot be compared to scripture. This is why it's so dangerous for Christians to submit themselves to mystical experiences.

The devil is brilliant, and can deceive people through scriptures even. How much more through mystical experiences?

Christians put a lot of trust in the writings of Paul, which all seem to originate in a mystical experience.

 

[Neochristian]

Sounds about right, which is why mysticism is antithetical to the Christian faith as we walk by faith, not by sight (or feelings and experiences).

The trouble with mysticism is that there is no baseline for truth. Everything is subjective, and it cannot be compared to scripture. This is why it's so dangerous for Christians to submit themselves to mystical experiences.

The devil is brilliant, and can deceive people through scriptures even. How much more through mystical experiences?

Whhaaaaat? Paul had some writings that can be xlassified as mystical. In no way are they antithetical. Except to fundaminstalist literalism.

No, dude. Not everything is subjective. What Paul underwent along the road to Damascus would be a mystical experience.

 

[Neochristian]

Whhaaaaat? Paul had some writings that can be classified as mystical. In no way are they antithetical. Except to fundaminstalist literalism.

No, dude. Not everything is subjective. What Paul underwent along the road to Damascus would be a mystical experience.

 

[AGTG]

Paul had some mystical writing.

It is not the case that everything about
Mysticism is subjective.

Paul had revelatory understanding of God's mysteries, but that's different from mysticism because what Paul wrote about was clearly witnessed to in other scriptures.

 

[Neochristian]

I'm not sure that's different,


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[AGTG]

Christians put a lot of trust in the writings of Paul, which all seem to originate in a mystical experience.

No, Paul's teachings essentially stem from Jesus' teachings found in the Gospel accounts. They simply required someone with a vast knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures, a humble heart, and a teacher's gifting to be obedient to the Holy Spirit to help him clarify and expand on what Jesus originally meant.