2. All the book written by the above mentioned authors. Beyond Catholic Mysticism, I recommend Lao Tzu, C.S. Lewis, and Evelyn Underhill. My favorite books are “The Dark Night of the Soul” by St. John of the Cross, “Letters to Malcom” by C.S. Lewis, and “The Way of Chaung Tzu” translated by Thomas Merton.

3. Gnosticism is VERY different from Christian Mysticism as it is, at it’s root, mostly secular and humanistic. Gnosticism is based in the belief that the things Jesus was “really” trying to teach are secret, and only smart people like them, can figure them out. They do not trust the Church’s portrayal of… anything, and consider fringe documents, like the gospel of Thomas, as more reliable than even Scripture. Of course, all this isn’t really about mysticism at all, but rather a theological issue.

Hope that helps!

I am just beginning my spiritual journey and I am finding myself drawn to Catholicism as a foundation and also find myself Drawn to Mysticism. Forgive my ignorance but would like to pose a few questions if I could?

1. Does the Catholic Community accept Christian Mysticism?

2. What books or resources do you recommend for beginners to this path?

3. What is the difference between Gnostic’s and Christian Mystics?

Thanks in advance I have searched for the basic answers to these questions but am not able to find answers that are not confusing. Thanks for the insightful posts and god bless.

I actually found your site after looking for a christian mysticism site to buy so that I can also write my own thoughts about these true christian mysticism as opposed to christian fundamentalism and it is nice to see that I am not alone in my thoughts.

“vanilla spirituality”!!!????? I prefer cookie dough.

have you even READ st. john of the cross?

i mean, where is the mystical part of your site? it sounds like vanilla spiritual teaching.

if you want folks to understand mysticism–demonstrate it.

i’m sorry. but your blog title is an oversell.

but maybe it’s a matter of semantics. i see ‘mysticism’ not as ‘pursuit of union with the divine’ or ‘understanding spiritual truths using other than reason’ but as something far more organic. mystics don’t necessarily ’seek out god.’ god just finds them. mystics don’t necessarily seek union with god—that’s what hermetecists theurgists do. mysticism is about imagery, visions, ecstatic experiences of god, yes. there is nothing PRACTICAL about it, is there? i don’t see it.

what you describe as mysticism seems co-extensive, in my view and in my read of your stuff thus far, as nothing other than vanilla spirituality. i’m sorry, but ‘mysticism’ is not just ‘intense spirituality.’ i don’t get you or your site (yet?????).

but i’ll kick the tires a little bit more and see what happens. but at the moment, i’m only slightly less irritated with you and your site than i am with those atheist journalists looking for the next free-loving, zen-tristic, anti-papist monks that occasionally pretend not to want to get interviewed for human interest stories.

perhaps next time i’ll tell you how i REALLY feel.

a.p.

In Peace always…