Medieval mysticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Medieval religious mysticism - Essay ExampleChristian mysticism had something to do with direct acquaintance with the divine in form of a vision of, or sense of union with God. Meditation, prayer or ascetic discipline usually accompanies it.In general, mysticism is a direct and immediate experience of the sacred, or the knowledge derived from such an experience. The experience is immediate and overwhelming, detached from the common experience of reality and is self-validating, without need of advertize evidence or justification. Outside the experience itself, one is incapable of expressing or understanding its essence. It is most-valuable to note that mysticism is not the same as magic, clairvoyance, psychic phenomena or occultism. Mystics are people who practice or believe in mysticism. They usually see their mystical experience as part of a big task meant to bring human transformation and not as the terminus of their efforts.In Europe, mysticism flourished especially in Germany , Italy, the Low Countries and England from mid(prenominal) 13th to mid 15th century. Such mysticisms of that time are the ones referred to as medieval mysticisms. However, there is variation in the dating of the edges of these periods depending on different scholars.One of the most important sources of medieval mysticism is Saint Augustine of Hippo. He was born in the city of Thagaste, Algeria, to a Catholic mother named Monica and he has contributed to the western philosophy by promoting stock by analogy. He is also the most important figure in the ancient western church that produced works of high spiritual quality. In roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, he is a doctor of the church known for his Christian mystical sermons and the patron of the Augustinian religious order. His ideas also influenced philosophers like Immanuel Kant and Blaise Pascal, and the reformation leaders such as Martin