Mystical Spirituality
This class introduces Christians to their mystical heritage. As part of my doctoral studies in spirituality, I discovered the writings of Christian mystics throughout Christian history. I believe that every major reform movement in the Christian Church has been started by a mystic who recognized that the dominant church had moved away from its spiritual roots, and had created a religious and theology system that worshipped the structure of the church, or the beliefs of the church, while forgetting God. Like the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the church focused on rituals and rules, rather than on becoming open to God through them. I believe that Christ came to lead people back to a relationship with God.
The Christian mystics always recognized what Christ recognized: the church has lost its way by cherishing beliefs and practices about God more than they cherish a relationship with God. Christian mystics, equally men and women, have emerged in every denomination. They were people such as the Desert Fathers and Mothers, Gregory of Nyssa, Origen, Augustine, Benedict, Dorotheos of Gaza, Guigo II, Francis of Assisi, Patrick of Ireland, Meister Eckhart, Catherine of Genoa, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ignatius Loyola, John Wesley, George Fox, Hannah Whitall Smith, Evelyn Underhill, C. S. Lewis, Thomas Kelly, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, and so many more that are emerging today.
This class, workshop, or talk introduces people to the foundational insights of Christian mysticism, concepts such as faith, humility, surrender, living in the present moment, seeking divine union, prayer, discernment, and much more.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
John 15:1-8
Mystical Spirituality
