Julia Rizza
Professor Drogula
Development of Western Civilization
April 8, 2014
Differing Accounts of Christian Mysticism
The Late Middle Ages saw great theological discrepancies through the progression of Christian mysticism. The exploration into spiritual practices and the unification of the soul during this period led to great philosophical works. The Cloud of Unknowing and The Imitation of Christ are two noteworthy texts that discuss one’s aspiration to attain union with God. The Cloud of Unknowing is an anonymously authored spiritual exercise that accentuates movement toward the contemplative life by acknowledging what is unknown by man. In contrast, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis is a spiritual guide which emphasizes that the way to be fully Christian is to live in the imitation of Jesus Christ. While many of the thoughts concerning human reason and withdrawal from the corporal world are similar in the texts, the two are inherently different as the account in The Imitation of Christ is more compelling due to its focus on a humanistic objective while acquiring union and salvation with God.
A key element of these mystic texts is how they are to be approached by the reader and what the reader is to achieve by going through this process. The Cloud of Unknowing and The Imitation of Christ both share the same ultimate goal of becoming closer with God and the soul’s union with Him. In order to accomplish this, both works warn that one must endure a laborious process. The Imitation of Christ states that if you do not endure the process willingly, “you create a burden for yourself and increase the load” (Kempis, 38). Kempis and the author of The Cloud of Unknowing mutually agree that if one is unwillingly, they should ...
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...nknowing and The Imitation of Christ contain similarities that connect the two works, but in truth, they are fundamentally different. The texts contrast in the way they are to be attempted, the way in which they explain how one should live earthly life, the realization of knowledge, and the attainability of God. The Imitation of Christ provides a more compelling account of how one may achieve unity of the soul with God because it is more humanistic. Kempis calls people to suffer and bear their cross as Christ bore His. Humans understand by reason and corporal objects, and this work gives people the ultimate perfection to strive toward even if one cannot be exactly as Christ is. The Imitation of Christ is a more compelling account of Christian mysticism because it focuses on how one can use outward imitation in a human manner to attain unity with Christ spiritually.
In her autobiography The Book of Margery Kempe, Margery Kempe tells the story of her spiritual journey in Medieval England over a twenty five year period. It recounts her quest to establish spiritual authority as a result in personal visions and conversations with Jesus and God that she has. It begins around 1393, with Margery’s self-acknowledged onset of psychosis that she calls as her spiritual crisis. In the work The Book of Margery Kempe, Margery shows symptoms of postpartum psychosis that causes her to directly communicate with numerous aspects of the divine.
To illustrate the teachings of these two works, one short passage from each is sufficient to give the kernel of the respective teachings on this subject:
The medieval theologian Julian of Norwich was a mystic, writer, anchoress and spiritual director for her time. She is gaining in popularity for our time as she provides a spiritual template for contemplative prayer and practice in her compilation of writings found in Revelations of Divine Love. The insightful meditations provide the backdrop and basis for her Trinitarian theology’s embrace of God’s Motherhood found in the Trinity. Her representative approach of the all-encompassing unconditional love of a mother who nurtures, depicts Christ as our Mother ascending to the placement of Second hood within the Trinity while giving voice to the duality of God.
Revelations of Divine Love is a 14th century masterpiece written by Julian of Norwich. This book is an account of St. Julian’s sixteen different mystical revelations in which she had encountered at a time of great suffering and illness. St. Julian focussed on the many “mysteries of Christianity.” Through her many revelations she encountered God’s vast love, the existence of evil, God’s heart for creation, the father and mother-heart of God, and the need to obey her Father in Heaven. Amongst these revelations the most powerful was the revelation of God’s love and character. Revelations of Divine Love is a wonderful source of revelation to connect a reader to the Father.
When working in solitude on his six Meditations, René Descartes wrote a first person narrative inviting his audience on a spiritual journey that is centered on the reader. Readers are encouraged to doubt all prior certainties such as reality, perception and even one’s own existence. Printed in 1641, Meditation I, subtitled "What can be called into doubt," asks meditators to reflect on everything believed to be true, then ruthlessly question that body of knowledge built up from these illusions.
In addition, in Kierkegaard’s “Practice in Christianity,” we are given the distinction between an imitator (a true Christian)
"EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 & 2." EXPLORING THEOLOGY 1 2. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.
What is Christianity and why has it been able to develop into a continuously growing and evolving religion?
The pagan and Christ share a great deal in common, particularly from a metaphysical perspective, and the profound influence of pagan philosophy on Christian theology and mysticism is well documented. Nevertheless, this essay will attempt to identify a few basic differences between pagan and Christian religion and religious practice. We will begin with a brief overview the pagan, using Plotinus as our exemplar, and then we will offer an account of how Christ fundamentally differed from the pagans.
Religious syncretism is a blending of two or more religious beliefs or practices into a new system, or the merging into a new religious tradition of beliefs from different traditions. This can occur for many reasons, but happens quite frequently in areas where multiple religions exist nearby to each other and are active in the culture. When a culture is conquered, the conquerors bring their religious beliefs with them, but do not succeed in entirely wiping out the old beliefs or practices as they are too engrained. Certain religious followers see syncretism as a betrayal of their pure truth. They feel by adding an incompatible belief ruins and changes the original concept and practice of the original religion, thus rendering it no longer true.
Kerr, H. (1990). Readings in christian thought (2nd ed.). H. T. Kerr (Ed.). Nashville: Abingdon Press.
Religious is an important part of life. As we live in a society where religious is first priority of people. Our democracy follows the religion Islam. So religious is necessary for us to live according to rules and norms of society and Government. Religion enhances our emotional well-being hope and emotional support during period of sufferings and when an individual feels alone. Religion promotes love, honesty, non-violence and discipline in human life. It provides a goal and way to live a meaningful life.
“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.” According to Buddha, everyone needs some form of spirituality to define his or her life and existence. Webster Dictionary defines spiritualism as “a system of beliefs or religious practices based on supposed communication with the spirits of the dead, often times through mediums.” Though this is one general definition of spiritualism, this concept is one that does not hold a conclusive meaning. Each and every single person has the ability and right to create and practice their own idea of spiritualism. From ancient times to present day, the term and practice of spirituality has transformed, particularly from region to region. Despite the discrepancies in practices and overall understanding of this idea, spirituality has had an effect and impact upon all of humanity since the creation of time. This religion that is believed to have been established in the early eighteen hundreds, after two little girls claimed to have the ability to talk to spirits, sparked interest in this spiritual movement, allowing it to spread rather rapidly over many geographical locations. Aside from being recognized as a religion, spiritualism is also believed to be a form of philosophy and a science in which spiritualists believe that there is life after death and try to demonstrate this through the ability of attempting to communicate with those that have passed on. Spiritualism was socially different from other religions in existence at the time because it presented followers with a more tolerant belief system that assimilated the principles and facts from a selection the world's religions. Spiritualism also made it acceptable for women to play a disti...
Spirituality can have many different definitions, depending on who is asked. It can be something as simple as looking for a higher meaning to life, or something so complex that one can base their beliefs, religion and overall life around it. There are several different ways to express one's spirituality; rituals, songs, dances, stories, and writings are all common methods of expression.
According to Hutchison (2015), “religion is symbolic patterns that consists of values, beliefs, behaviors and experiences” (p. 184). I personal conceptualize spirituality as a vital role in my life that helps me during a time of sickness, forgiveness, and needed guidance. Spirituality helps guide me throughout life during the difficult times I have encountered. Spirituality impacts my life in positive ways that influence and regulate my behavior and health. Health is very important to me; I believe the spirit can heal a person from their sickness. It seems that the spirit heals me every time I pray to be healed from sickness. The spirit gives me strength at a time of weakness. When I feel at my lowest point in life I call on the spirit to pick