From: Scott R (jse885@spinn.net)
Date: Sun Nov 17 2002 - 18:42:43 GMT
(This too was sent and disappeared, so here 'tis again.)
DMB,
Just a couple of remarks. First, in comparing western and eastern mysticism,
I don't think showing the similarities between Orpheus and Jesus is the
ticket. These similarities are similarities in myths, and that ground is
well-covered, as you say, by Campbell and others.
What is at issue, I think, is whether, say Eckhart and Shankara and the
Buddha and the author of the Cloud of Unknowing, etc. etc., are "talking
about the same thing" or not. I'm pretty well convinced they are, so on the
one hand I'm sort of in disagreement with Sam that they are different
(though since Christians, until recently, necessarily have to include the
saving factor of Christ's life on earth, the formulations have to be
different.). On the other, I'm a bit on Sams's side about the question of
Eastern superiority in the "technology of consciousness". Superior, yes,
because more effort has gone into it, and because the effort is mainstream,
but there are a lot of methodical manuals in Christianity. Orthodox theology
calls itself "mystical theology", after all.
On intellect, I see a strong tradition in taking an intellectual approach to
mysticism in Christianity up until the Reformation. The pseudo-Dionysius, a
mystical writer if there ever was one, was a major influence on Aquinas, for
example. (Luther thought he was a bad influence). And Augustine was heavily
influenced by the neo-Platonists.
So, I think your criticism is valid for recent times, namely the last few
centuries (Sam might correct me on this -- I just am not aware of any major
theologians in recent centuries who were "heavily into mysticsim", so to
speak). More recently, though, there has been a fairly large movement toward
using contemplative prayer (meditation in other terms) among, at least,
Anglicans and Catholics, maybe others.
- Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Buchanan" <DBuchanan@ClassicalRadio.org>
To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 1:34 PM
Subject: RE: MD traditions of mysticism
> Sam and y'all:
>
> DMB says:
> This conversation is about the relationship between Western religious
> tradition and the mystical experience, no? I'm afraid we might be talking
> past each other and want to make sure were on the same page with respect
to
> topic. The following comments made me wonder about that....
>
...
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