The Challenge of Mysticism: a Primer from a Christian Perspective
Sophia January 14, 2021 Daniel H. Spencer
This article argues that the study of mysticism presents a significant challenge for Christian analytic theologians and philosophers of religion. Mystical experiences, defined as strongly unitive, transcending everyday consciousness, and conveying epistemic certainty, plausibly imply one of two unpalatable conclusions for orthodox Christianity: either the experiences suggest metaphysical views that call key Christian tenets into question, or they represent an 'inner meaning' of Christianity that renders orthodox belief problematic, as evidenced in three Christian mystics discussed. The author concludes that Christian scholars have scarcely begun to ask the relevant questions.