Exploring Religion - What is Mysticism?: An Afternoon with Dr. Bernard McGinn | Library at Home

Join distinguished historian Dr. Bernard McGinn as he delivers the Chair of Christian Thought Swanson Lecture on Christian Spirituality. McGinn considers the meaning of mysticism, a word that for many indicates something bizarre, uncanny, peculiar. He argues that mysticism means an ever deepening awareness of God’s presence in everyday life.
This presentation is part of our “Exploring Religion” on-demand programming, where experts discuss the meaning, history, and extent to which religion informs our culture.
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[@SeekersofUnity]

Lecture begins at 6:53

[@benjaminlquinlan8702]

Lol

[@danielnewman7723]

I am a mystic, that is one that has engaged in and knows God in direct personal and intimate relationship. Dr. McGinn's presentation is an intellectual presentation based on his thinking. If you want to read one's presentation or study the same - good presentation. If you want to know God beyond our finite intellect and limited rational mind, then you must turn DIRECTLY to him opening yourself to God in your spirit/heart NOT your mind. God is real and longs for you and all mankind to know him personally and intimately.

[@marthawissmann8268]

Thank you so much Professor McGinn . Also I read and reread your book on Erchart. Just beautiful.

[@anthonyliner1614]

One of christianism with the777 the holy 😍 catholic universal church...

[@pattylancaster4110]

Mysticism is the art of union with reality- Past thought to the pure apprehension of Truth. According to Evelyn Underhill. Mysticism is: Artists that work with human life. The want to heal the disharmony.. understanding of transformation needed in this life to leave the knowledge to find the wisdom. Human need to control needs to cease. Trust in mysticism, the spiritual self. The reality of source. Thank you

[@TaishiArts]

Love a Underhill reference

[@michaeldillon3113]

Glad you gave Evelyn Underhill a mention. 🙏

[@ravivaradhan4956]

I liked the characterization of mysticism as the "attentive gaze upon the highest principle"

[@realmsbeyond6053]

Living as we do, there are forces mounting beyond the horizon. Prepare for a hero's journey. The quest is enormous. Follow me to the depths. I will lead you to an awakening. The Mystic Eye will guide us. I am waiting to listen to your subliminal message.

[@dalehilltopfarm]

Outstanding! Thank you!

[@ravivaradhan4956]

A mystic is not irrational; she is trans-rational. Mystical intuition shines brightly in the depths of human experience where rational thinking is denied access. Can a lover rationally understand and describe the blissful union with his beloved? Can a mother rationally understand and describe the joy of caressing her newborn?

[@mela8863]

신비주의 사상에 대해서 눈을 뜨게 해주셔서 고맙습니다. 버나드 맥긴 교수님.

[@MrMarktrumble]

Thank you

[@michaeldillon3113]

A low point for the public image of mysticism in the UK was when Mystic Meg used to try ( always incorrectly) to predict the National Lottery numbers on the BBC ! Mysticism has ( in my humble opinion ) been given a rational and scientific basis by the Idealist Bernard Kastrup ( PhD PhD) . I regard him as the Galileo of Consciousness .✝️🕉️

[@richardbadoraya8985]

Musticism is the direct awareness of God.

[@ZeroGravityFuneral]

Or a specific god

[@bellakrinkle9381]

The Mystic of the 21st Century will be dissimilar from all previous Mystics.

[@rofo121]

In what sense..?

[@samiserhan6296]

"the christian of the future will either be a mystic or will not be a christian at all." there are no christians then. this may be a redundant rhetorical question, since this is your scholarly work, but mysticism explored through the lens of christianity, given how institutionalized and rationalized it is, how part and parcel it is of the ruling order it undeniably is (its relation to other power structures and its role in perpetuating them), you even describe institutionalization and intellectualism as integral parts of its making, how then can this understanding safeguard a true exploration of mysticism? asserting that christian institutions stand at an equal footing with mystical experience is why christianity is not only at odds with religious mysticism, it is an active enemy of it and there is no way to salvage it.

[@daimalishar6926]

Blessings ❤️ from Sindh Pakistan

[@s.koileken369]

I can't get that name right - is Van Hugo or what? - googling leads nowhere. And the books by Julian Laerch, Julien Larach, Julian Larch - please help with these names.

[@fraserreich9452]

Friedrich von Hügel (1852 - 1925) Julian of Norwich (1343 - c1416). She was an 'Anchoress' who lived at St. Julian's church in Norwich in the East of England. Nobody knows her name and so she is simply known as 'Julian of Norwich'. Her famous work is 'Revelations of Divine love). I recommend the Penguin Classics version from 1998 translated by Elizabeth Spearing

[@s.koileken369]

@@fraserreich9452 Thanks.

[@deuterium2718]

It's easy to see as something "paranormal" and "elite", easy to dismiss as irrational "magical" thinking, relatively rare and seemingly paranormal experiences are unsurprisingly good catalysts for contemplative thought. And unsurprisingly mistrusted in the modern age of literary definitions and diagnostic tools that can more easily "demystify" the catalyst (the cause), but i would argue means very little to the effect itself (which isn't immune from being irrational nonsense, but isn't obligated to be so by proxy either).

[@anthonyliner1614]

John the ✝️...Joel goldsmith. The mystical 👁...Miranda brewer is inspired by this crazy 🤪friend who is this situation with 804.691.8393 and is inspired me too with the tartan McCracken of the Irish Klang with Bill Yates and ross

[@JimOverbeckgenius]

If one hasn't met God face-to-face = had the Personal Interview with Christ Almighty = been inducted by Transfiguration back into the Heavens as a god, I'd think everything less is MORTAL BLATHER.

[@anthonyliner1614]

Christism is the only way to work with meeting the trinityof 777

[@kuningaskolassas4720]

This should really be titled something like "Mysticism and Christianity" or "What is Christian Mysticism?" as it focuses on mysticism solely from a Christian subject, which I was very disappointed by. Given the tremendous diversity and complexity of mysticism, it seems a disservice to only give attention to one tradition's interpretation of it.

[@devoradamaris]

🕊🌎🕊🕊sharing🫂thankYOU

[@TaishiArts]

Contemplation (meditation) is not Mysticism. It is an activity. Perhaps in the service of Mysticism practice. This came at the beginning of this talk. and was only one of many suspect statements. I am disappointed.

[@curtis6919]

Contemplation is not meditation; contemplation is a higher act than meditation. Further, contemplation is the object of mysticism, yes, but only considered from the sense where contemplation is an act and mysticism a school. Bernard's overall thought, however, is that mysticism truly is contemplation and contemplation is truly mysticism--that they are intrinsically linked: where you have a mystic, you have a contemplative; where you have a contemplative, you have a mystic.

[@TaishiArts]

@@curtis6919 Contemplation is not the object of Mysticism. The object of Mysticism is the union of or with the Divine (however you choose to define that). It is an experiential objective. Contemplation or complaintive prayer (Fr Keating readings are excellent) is something we do to attain these. It is not more (or less) then Meditation. There are plenty of mystics in the Asian traditions where meditation practice is more prevalent. I do agree with your last statement. A Mystic is generally going to be Contemplative. And a Contemplative is on their way, if they are not already there.

[@curtis6919]

@@TaishiArts contemplation *is* union with the divine; St. Thomas writes on this saying that contemplation is the act of being with the divine and that all the Saints are contemplating