History and theory of religions. Mysticism (most important)

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History and theory of religions. Mysticism (most important)

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44. Mystic

Mysticism is in the nature of religion. Mysticism is unity with God on the basis of personal supersensible and superlogical knowledge, through an ecstatic impulse towards the Absolute, without the visible mediation of a church or a religious community. Mystical practice also includes physical actions and states (ascetic self-discipline, abstinence, bows, certain postures, special drinks, special ways of breathing, etc.), which purify the seeker of union with God and prepare him for the perception of "illuminating grace." The mystical component is present to some extent in every religion.

In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, mystical currents, opposed to the main doctrine, take shape on the periphery of the doctrine and sometimes quite late - like, for example, Kabbalah (VIII-XIII centuries) and the Hasidic movement (from the beginning of the XVIII century) in Judaism. On the contrary, in the East, abstract and "taciturn" mysticism is just the original core of the teachings.

Mysticism is a zone of freethinking, religious searches and possible discoveries. Mysticism is fraught with heresy, therefore the official church is always cautious in relation to mysticism.

Mystics tend to consider (proclaim) themselves as God's chosen ones, possessors of the knowledge of the Truth through extreme mental states and processes (ecstasy, trance, visions, prophetic dreams, inspiration, etc.). They are often distinguished by contempt for conventions to one degree or another - indifference to the canonical cult. Mystical teachings and doctrines are characterized by distrust of knowledge and the word.

If mysticism is opposed to religious rationalism and religious positivism, then the main features of the mystical attitude to the word can be presented as follows:

1) The Christian mystic will speak out in favor of an apophatic (negative) theology. Dogmatic theology takes a somewhat broader view: the divine essence is incomprehensible. Therefore, Christian theology recognizes, along with apophatic, kataphatic (positive) knowledge about God, however, it considers that apophatic knowledge is superior to kataphatic knowledge, and silence is even higher and closer to the Absolute;

2) the mystic is not satisfied with verbal communication and is looking for other channels of communication - including intuitive, non-rational, paranormal, pathological ones;

3) the mystic prefers simple and clear speech to metaphor, paradox, allegory, double meanings, blurred boundaries of categories, reticence;

4) the mystic does not seek to be understood. Perhaps he does not aspire to esotericism, but if his texts turn out to be incomprehensible, then he will not take a step towards the student.

Author: Pankin S.F.

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