What is mysticism in Christianity?

To many modern Christians, words like "meditation," "mystic," and "mysticism" bring to mind Eastern religions, not Christianity. Certainly Eastern religions are known for their mysticism; however, mysticism is not only a vital part of the Christian heritage as well, but it is actually the core of Christian spirituality. Mysticism simply means the spirituality of the direct experience of God.It is the adventure of "the wild things of God.

"The direct experience of God is a kind of knowing, which goes beyond intellectual understanding. It is not a matter of "belief." It is marked by love and joy, but it is not "emotional experience.

" In many ways, it is better described by what it is not. To describe what it is, we must use metaphors—the marriage of the soul to Christ, the death of the "old man" and birth of the "new man," being the "body of Christ."Jesus proclaimed "I and the Father are one," (Jn. 10.30) showing the world what the union of God and man can be.

Christian mysticism is about nothing else but this transforming union. Christ is the sole end of Christian mysticism. Whereas all Christians have Christ, call on Christ, and can (or should) know Christ, the goal for the Christian mystic is to become Christ—to become as fully permeated with God as Christ is, thus becoming like him, fully human, and by the grace of God, also fully divine.

In Christian teaching this doctrine is known by various names—theosis, divinization, deification, and transforming union. A common misconception about mysticism is that it's about "mystical experiences," and there are many volumes on such experiences in religious literature. But true mysticism is not focussed on "experiences" (which come and go) but with the lasting experience of God, leading to the transformation of the believer into union with God.

This is only my opinion, but I think it has to do with the spirit-realm; for example, the "sons of God" that took the "daughters of men" as wives, whose offspring are said to be "giants" or Nephilim (based on the Hebrew definition of "giants") in the Genesis 6 account. Those who believe the sons of God were fallen angels rather than the line of Seth would believe in what is categorized as "Christian mysticism". Generally, any talk of fallen angels, demons and the like (based in Christianity) would fall into this category.

Otherwise, it would be categorized as general "mysticism", or prefaced by the religious foundation from which it is based (i.e. Ndu or Islamic mysticism, etc. ).

Mysticism to me means a personal experience and encounter one has especially with the divine which may not be adequately explained to another. You see, God, nature and everything in this world of ours is full of mysteries. If one claims to have full knowledge he would only end up with embarrassment.

I have learnt my lesson a long time not to claim full knowledge of the divine because at that point where you think you have altimate knowledge, you will discover things unknown to you from even an apparent fool. Many have thought that with academic and intellectual feats they can open wide their mouths in the symposiums and debates and expresively flaunt their credentials like my friend Fatfist who wants an explanation to the God and Jesus theory in the Bible.

"1. Belief in intuitive spiritual revelation: the belief that personal communication or union with the divine is achieved through intuition, faith, ecstasy, or sudden insight rather than through rational thought2. Spiritual system: a system of religious belief or practice that people follow to achieve personal communication or union with the divine3.

Confused and vague ideas: vague or unsubstantiated thought or speculation about somethingSo with this information I believe that myticism within Christianity is connected with the first two definitions. In regard to it being a "belief in intuitive spiritual revelation", there are several cases within the Bible whenever God gives someone knowledge and wisdom to what seems like average people, and in an instant they know more about God and his will than anyone else around them. Though now we usually learn from others and we learn over a larger period of time, there is still a point of enlightinment where it all seems to make sense.

Without this Christians would only be knowledgable and still not be saved because we don't have the faith and belief. So the spiritual revelation, that is smaller now than before within the bible, is a very important part in the life of Christians. Though this is not to say that a very large and very quick spiritual relvelation doesn't still happen today, because it does.

And with the "Spiritual System", Christianity is a spiritual system. We are to recognize that we are made by God and for God, and that he sent and sacrificed his son Jesus Christ in order for us to learn of him and turn from our ways . Jesus was sacrificed for our sins to be forgiven, and now we have the oppurtunity to become saved by the Lord our God and to one day enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Our cheif purpose is for the praise and glorification of the Lord our God. So mysticism in Christianity does not have anything to do with mystic things like giants, but instead has to do with the relationship we have with God and how we can learn from him and of him.

The Old King James Version says that angels did in fact have relations with human women and these women are said to have born..giants...the "nephilim" the "rephaim"...There are books in the bible that talk about conjuring spirits...In addition there are passages that talk about people having angels...Christian mysticism is by and large passages of scripture that don't generally have an explanation of the particular belief for its origins. Kabalah is Jewish mysticism...Apart from scriptures that are hard to interpret Christian Mysticism doesn't exist.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.