Definitions of the Mystical: the First Experience in their Exposition

Abstract

While mystical experience has accompanied religion from the most ancient times and the first attempts at its theoretical identifications can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the first experience in collated juxtaposition of its definitions dates back only to the border of the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Critical analysis of this collection of definitions offered by the Anglican theologian William Ralph Inge, which can be used also in contemporary discussions on the mystical (das Mystische), is being implemented for the first time in this article. In conclusion the author offers differing between three layers of this phenomenon, which, however surprising it is, are mixed up to the present, and he uses some analogies from Indian epistemology as well. Mystical experience as such (definite spiritual perceptions), mystical world-outlook and mystical sentiment are distinguished. The second layer is inherent in religious mentality, the third one can be separated from it, but both are to be included into “mysticism”. The author insists on much more emphasized differing between mystical experience and mysticism than what is predominant in philosophy of religion.