Understanding Religious Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Understanding Religious Experience - Essay Example In this paper, the role of mystic women in different religious philosophies will be tackled as well as the basic tenets of these religions as to fully understand mysticism as a specific type of religious experience. The etymology of mysticism can be traced from its Greek roots which literally mean â€Å"to conceal.† Revels contends that mysticism is rooted from something deeper which â€Å"goes beyond the senses, intellect, and imagination,† leaving it unexplained. It provides a conscious â€Å"extemporaneous experience† of connecting with the One. Martin stated that mysticism offers a difficult to describe event that often, the mystic would describe it in a negative way (155). According to Woods, mysticism is not a religion in itself, but an essential element of a religion (20). In Catholicism for example, a person is granted sainthood if he or she has lived a holy life, follows the ideals of the Catholic Church earnestly, and has offered at least two miracles after death. Several catholic saints have experienced mysticism during their lifetime, to name a few: there is Saint Joan of Arc, who had a vision of Christ from her childhood; Sister Faustina who had a vision of the abysses of hell; and St. Nicholas, who became a popular Christmas symbol. In contrast with Woods, Professor Caird defined mysticism as an â€Å"exclusive religion† wherein the â€Å"attitude of the mind is swallowed up† in order to reach a full relation to God (qtd. in Fleming 5). The nature of mysticism is constant with that of spirituality and provides a â€Å"revolt against cold formality and religious torpor† (Woods 20). Themes of mysticism are often associated with the presence of the Supreme Being felt by the senses. Underhill quoted the mystic experience as a point of departure into the world of spirituality and â€Å"denying the world in order that it may find reality† (2). A feeling