Mysticism and Spiritual Experience
What is a spiritual experience and what might cause such? Manifestations of the Spirit: Psychomotor responses : uncontrolled movement ( being slain in the spirit ) Speaking in tongues ( glossolalia ) Visions and voices : seeing and hearing things beyond scope of the physical senses (visions of Mary) Miracles Feelings of ecstas y, “peak” experiences Feelings of peace and well-being Kinds of Spiritual Experience: Confirming : an undeniable “knowing” that what one believes is true Possession : being overtaken by a spiritual power (e.g. channeling , being “slain in the spirit”) Saving : deliverance from affliction or sense of wholeness Commissioning : being charged by the holy to accomplish a task, being given a mission Mystical : sense of being one with the holy Mysticism is the direct, inner experience of the One, All-Pervading, and Supreme Reality Mystical experience can be… Introvertive or Extravertive ( nature mysticism ) Theistic or non-theistic Spontaneous or induced (e.g....