Introduction to Christian Mysticism
Beginner • Minor order of cleric
Overview
Instructor: TBD
Course Code: MYS 101
Semester: Spring 2025
Course Introduction:
Welcome to “Introduction to Christian Mysticism: Encountering God Beyond Words”, a course designed to explore the rich tradition of Christian mysticism, where theology meets experience and the soul seeks direct communion with the Divine. Christian mysticism invites us to move beyond intellectual knowledge of God into the depths of experiential union with the Holy. It challenges us to engage in a journey that transforms our understanding of prayer, contemplation, and spiritual practice in ways that deepen our connection with God, the world, and ourselves.
This course will guide you through the history, texts, and practices of mysticism within the Christian tradition, from the early Desert Fathers and Mothers to modern mystics like Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day. Mysticism is often associated with a personal, interior experience of God, but in our progressive Catholic context, we will also explore how mysticism informs and empowers the Church’s call to social justice, care for creation, and solidarity with the marginalized.
Through this lens, we will examine how mystical experiences of God’s boundless love and presence can lead to transformative action in the world. Christian mysticism is not an escape from the world but a call to engage deeply with it, cultivating a sense of the sacred in all things. As we study the writings and lives of mystics, we will ask: How can mystical spirituality shape and sustain our commitment to a Church of justice, compassion, and inclusivity?
What You’ll Learn
- Understand the key themes, figures, and writings in the Christian mystical tradition.
- Explore the relationship between mystical experience, theology, and the Church’s mission in the world.
- Develop a critical appreciation for how mysticism can inform a progressive, inclusive vision of Christian spirituality.
- Engage in contemplative practices and reflect on how they can deepen personal spiritual experience and commitment to justice.
- Analyze how mystical theology can support spiritual renewal and social transformation in the modern world.
Key Topics:
-
- What is Mysticism? Defining the Mystical Experience in Christianity
- Early Christian Mystics: The Desert Fathers and Mothers
- The Medieval Mystics: Hildegard of Bingen, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich
- The Cloud of Unknowing: Contemplation and the Via Negativa
- Spanish Mysticism: Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross on Union with God
- The Mystical Body of Christ: Mysticism and Social Justice in Modern Catholicism
- Contemporary Mystics: Thomas Merton, Simone Weil, and Dorothy Day
- Mysticism and Creation: Ecological Spirituality and Contemplation
- Mysticism as Resistance: Prayer and Contemplation in Liberation Theology
Course Structure:
The course will be a blend of lectures, seminar-style discussions, and contemplative practice. Readings will include both primary mystical texts—such as the works of John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, and Thomas Merton—and theological reflections on mysticism from contemporary scholars and voices. We will also incorporate multimedia, including art, poetry, and music, to explore the diverse ways mysticism has been expressed throughout history.
Students will have the opportunity to engage in contemplative exercises, from meditative prayer to guided reflection, allowing for personal experience to complement academic study. Assessments will include reflective essays, participation in discussions, and a final project in which students will creatively integrate mystical theology with an issue of personal or social concern.
Why This Course Matters:
In a world filled with distractions, noise, and injustice, mysticism offers a pathway to encounter God in the depths of silence, stillness, and presence. This course will help you cultivate a spirituality that is contemplative and action-oriented, where mystical experiences of God’s love fuel a commitment to transforming the world.
Christian mystics teach us that spiritual intimacy with God leads not to withdrawal but to deeper engagement with the world’s suffering, and they remind us that profound inner transformation is the foundation for effective social transformation. By studying Christian mysticism, you will gain insights into how silence, prayer, and contemplation can deepen your understanding of justice, peace, and reconciliation in today’s complex world.
Together, we will explore how the mystical path can renew our spiritual lives, sustain our commitment to justice, and empower us to see the divine presence in all things. I look forward to sharing this sacred journey with you as we delve into the beauty, challenge, and transformative power of Christian mysticism.
MYS 101
Encountering God Beyond Words
$50.00
Details
Beginner
3 Months
Updated: 10/22/2024
Prerequisites
None
Lifetime Access
All Access Pass
All Access Pass
All Access Pass
Vivamus suscipit tortor eget felis porttitor volutpat. Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Proin eget tortor risus. Curabitur arcu erat, accumsan id imperdiet et, porttitor at sem. Donec sollicitudin molestie malesuada. Cras ultricies ligula sed magna dictum porta
Access to All Current and Future Courses For Life
$299
- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
- Donec sed finibus nisi
- Quisque aliquet velit sit amet
- In non pulvinar purus curabitur nisi odio vel
- Aliquam sodales nulla dolor sed vulputate sapien
- Curabitur non bibendum ligula
Get In Touch or Create an Account
Ready to Get Started?
Vivamus suscipit tortor eget felis porttitor volutpat. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
