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Mysticism: What Is It?

Mysticism: What Is It?

Last updated on: July 17, 2025 at 6:14 pm by Roger E. Olson

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Mysticism: What Is It? 2025-07-17T18:14:17-05:00 Roger E. Olson

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I recently said here, as I have often said to people, that I do not have a “mystical bone in my body.” That is simply my way of saying I’m not attracted to mysticism. But that always raises some questions because the word “mysticism” has so many meaning, especially in popular language. What do I mean by it?

First, it’s important for me to say that I am a religion scholar; I hold a Ph.D in religious studies from a major American research university (Rice). We religion scholars do not use words in the same ways as many people use them and we do not go by dictionary definitions. We try to speak into making of dictionaries but are not always successful.

Second, I co-taught a course about mysticism (Deity, Mysticism and the Occult) at Rice University. And have kept up a lively interest in mysticism ever since.

So, what is “mysticism?” To a religion scholar? Well, I can predict that some religion scholar will contradict whatever I say. However, I will stand by my definitions and descriptions here.

Ultimately, “mysticism” is any attempt to become “one with God” or “one with the universe (spiritually understood)” through some spiritual technology such as meditation, chanting, etc.

Oneness with the “All” or God or simply the spiritual depth dimension of all reality (“the universe”) is the essence of mysticism.

However, religion scholars are aware that the word “mysticism” has other meanings especially in the popular vernacular.

However, we argue against using “mysticism” for any and every spiritual experience. Speaking in tongues, for example, is not mysticism.

So what is “Christian mysticism?” An example would be contemplative prayer that aims at either becoming one with God, overcoming the seeming duality between God and the pray-er, or realizing the already oneness of the pray-er with God.

Some will object by saying that the Bible talks about our (Christian) “union with Christ.” Not the same thing. All branches of Christianity have always held to the ultimate difference between God, including Christ, and the Christian. Union with Christ simply means bonding with Christ in a personal union that does not obliterate the essential difference.

So what is an example of a Christian mystic? During the Middle Ages one would be Meister Eckhart who talked about becoming so one with God that all difference disappears.

So, my point is that true mysticism has an ontological component, at least in the background.

However, I acknowledge that “mysticism” is so often used of OTHER experiences of God or the Universe or something spiritual that I don’t always avoid using it in one of those many ways. When I say I don’t have a mystical bone in my body I certainly do mean that I do not embrace “ontological mysticism” that aims toward union of being with God that overcomes the duality of essence or being. But I also mean, confusingly, that I am not attracted to spiritual exercises and their outcomes that put someone in touch with God in a spiritual way that transcends all language or thought.

I don’t criticize or condemn Christians who are so attracted. I just don’t feel that attraction myself. I regard the Christian life, for me, anyway, as one of discipleship that can be expressed in words and actions.

I admit that I am curious about paranormal experiences, but I don’t seek them. I think I have had them, but I have no idea what was going on. One time I was sitting in my easy chair watching TV in the evening when I heard a noise through the wall separating the family room from the garage. I went into the garage to see what that might have been, suspecting an animal. There, lying on the garage floor, was a small, clear plastic bag containing a spool of string for a yard edger. (What some call a “weed whacker.”) it had been hanging on a hook on the wall above where it lay. The hook was still there, unmoved. It wasn’t leaning down. The small bag containing the string replacement part was closed; it had never been opened. How it fell or jumped off the hook was beyond any normal explanation I could think of. It HAD to have “jumped off” the hook to land on the garage floor. There was no other way.

I have had enough experiences of that type during my lifetime that I have to believe in the reality of “poltergeists.” However, I don’t think they are conscious spirits or demons or anything like that. I think they are simply unusual, even unexplainable movements of objects. Perhaps there is something to “morphic resonance,” although I don’t put any “stock” in that theory. I just consider it a possible explanation.

Is that mysticism? No. But some would call it that. I don’t and I think many uses of “mysticism” and “mystical” are beyond the pale of the real meaning of the words. I have learned, however, not to jump to correct people’s language. They never say “Thank you for that.” It always offends. So I do it here 🙂

*Note: If you choose to comment, make it relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*

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