The role of mysticism in cults and religion

Summary

Mystical experiences in religious and cultic contexts differ in how they interpret the divine. In religious traditions like Mormonism, the divine is uncontainable, dissolving the self; in cultic traditions like Happy Science, the divine is contained within an individual leader. This distinction offers a philosophical tool for differentiating religions from cults, based on whether the divine is seen as transcendent or immanent within a person.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article examines the parallels and distinctions between mystical experiences within religious and cultic contexts, using Mormonism and Happy Science as case studies. The study begins with a clarification of the theoretical framework, rejecting logical positivism and acknowledging the truthfulness of beliefs as held by followers. Definitions of religion and cults are explored, highlighting the challenges in distinguishing between them. Religion is defined through the lens of transcendent belief in God, offering solutions beyond the natural world, while cults are characterised by their non-traditional beliefs and the presence of a divine element within an individual leader. The similarities between cults and religion are discussed, emphasising the human need for meaning and orientation beyond empirical evidence. Mysticism is defined as an experiential phenomenon transcending the physical world, often involving telepathy, clairvoyance, and union with the divine. The article then presents the mystical experiences of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, and Ryuho Okawa, the founder of Happy Science. Smith’s vision is portrayed as a transcendent experience, marked by paradoxical elements and a dissolution of self, aligning with traditional religious mysticism. In contrast, Okawa’s experience is contained within the physical realm and emphasises the divine within the individual, reflecting characteristics of cultic experiences. The article concludes that the interpretation of the divine as either uncontainable or contained serves as a philosophical tool for distinguishing between religious and cultic traditions, respectively. This framework provides a basis for further research across a broader range of religious and cultic contexts.

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