Hello friends. I was introduced to Mysticism through one of my new emergent cohorts in Nebraska. I moved here recently and didn’t know many people. I found some friends through reading a book by Rob Bell, Love Wins. I was relieved to read another side of the Christian story, from the one I was taught as a child. I had left the church twenty years ago. I was excited to see this site and read some responses that I can agree with. The song, A Touch of Grey, describes my view points. Not in terms of absolutes, but searching….a touch of grey, if you will. Thanks from a newby.

Your post left me breathless! I suggest you slow down and take it all in a little more reflectively. You will find, in the mystical journey, that answers come slowly, like dawn, and you will understand things gradually as you come to know God differently.

I think that many of your questions come from a structured concept of religion, which promoted the knowledge of scripture as the basis for belief. A mystical take invites the use of scriptures as a way to know God. In other words, instead of having a doctrine one must justify, a mystic looks to find God for the sake of love.

As you can see, I am not answering any of your questions. That’s because you will find the answers within, as you learn to go within and find the Divinity you already possess, but have not discovered. As you find the answers, you will see that the most important things in your life stop revolving around the right and wrong concept, the good or bad, the black or white. Instead, you will gradually begin to see how life can become united and harmonious.

This probably doesn’t help at this point. But I encourage you to continue seeking. You will find, in time, the answers you need.

Dear Friend, hello there! Wow! What a wonderful place to be on your journey to knowing God more deeply. That’s what I have to say Also, you are asking some deep and important questions. I have to get ready for work, now, but I plan to come back and respond to what you wrote in more detail. I’d like to recommend a book to you: The Prayer of Silence: a Complete Course in Spiritual Transformation, by Dr. Bruce F. MacDonald. If you google it you can find it. My dad wrote it, and just published the finished copy earlier this year. He had a near death experience in the 60s and met Jesus at that time, and since then learned to seek God in the inner way, through what Jesus taught as the prayer of silence – Christian meditation – the same type of practice that Christian mystics throughout the ages have engaged in, being silent before the Lord, listening within in the quiet to the still small voice within you, like Samuel in the temple jumping up to say, Here I am Lord, your servant listens. And like Moses, who could talk to God ”as a man talks to his friend.” and like Jesus, who talked to God like his Dad (Abba). Jesus want/s/ed to teach us to have that loving deep close relationship to God that he has/had, and so if you seek him, you will find.

That’s been my experience, anyway. Have a great day! Remember that God is with you, always, even unto the end of time. Rachel.

I too am fairly new to the concept of Christian Mystisism. I just know that there is more, more than what is being taught in the modern church today. The scripture that comes to mind is: Phillipians 4:7-9 I would quote the whole passage, but I am sure everyone here has a Bible. It just basically puts these questions we all have into perspective for me, that the peace of God trandsends all understanding. I find great peace in that fact and I ask for wisdom and guidence, as well as protection because not everything we read or hear from others is the Truth. Everything must be put to the test, then and only then will we know that we are on the right path.