Mysticism in the Twentieth Century
Medjugorje and the Supernatural April 19, 2018 Daniel Maria Klimek
This chapter examines influential definitions of mysticism and mystical experience from two major twentieth-century scholars, William James and Evelyn Underhill. It reviews James's four marks of a mystical state and Underhill's characteristics of true mysticism, then analyzes visionary and locutionary experiences, distinguishing between mystical and visionary phenomena. Critiques of both scholars' frameworks are presented, supported by brief case studies of three modern mystics: Maria Valtorta, Therese Neumann, and Gemma Galgani. The work argues that their experiences challenge and refine earlier definitions, suggesting that mystical and visionary experiences are more nuanced than previously described.