mystical paths of the world's religions - Summit University Press

An Experience That Transforms the Soul
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Origen of Alexandria
scriptures without communion with God. For Origen, interpretation
of the scriptures was a religious experience. Thus he was the
first to use “mystical” to describe a way of knowing God. Indeed,
a number of the great themes within the genre of mystical literature
go back to Origen.
In later centuries, Christians used the term mystical to indicate
the hidden and sacred presence of Christ in the scriptures, sacraments
and liturgy. The influential writings of the fifth- or sixthcentury
writer known as Pseudo-Dionysius established the word as
part of the Christian vocabulary. He didn’t just use it to discuss
the interpretation of scripture; he also encouraged the exercise of
“mystical contemplation,” leaving behind “the senses and operations
of the intellect” 3 in order to gain union with God. Eventually
“mystical theology” was used in the Church to denote knowledge
about God gained through contemplation.
Each Age Brings New Revelations of God
Those who long to know and see God are tapping into the
soul’s ever-present knowledge of the Higher Self and the higher