DiscussMormonism.com

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It is not mysticism that makes gnosticism heretical. It is the doctrine of "salvation by knowledge".

You might find these two articles to be of interest:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06592a.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10663b.htm

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:) Catholic mysticism is not the same as Catholic dogma. Mysticism is the direct union of the soul with Divinity. It is something that is experienced, and knowledge is learned from it. It is not gnostic Christianity. The knowledge gained from a mystical experience will not save a person. Gnostics believed their secret knowledge would save them (Mormonism has an aspect of this as well.)

Maybe it will help to get to know a couple Catholic mystics. St. John of the Cross and St. Catherine of Sienna are two well-known Catholic mystics. They write of their experiences. "Dark Night Of The Soul" is a very beautiful work by St. John.

Other experiences are people with the stigmata. Prophecies such as those at Fatima are also mystical experiences.

In regards to gnosticism and Christology. The beliefs of the gnostics arose, and did not come from the Apostles.

Some view (including myself) St. Paul as a mystic. He is the one who warns us to test the spirits, and warns Christians of his time to not accept secret knowledge as a new gospel, even if it comes from an angel. But to stick to what they are being taught by the Apostles.

Within Catholicism, mystics have a spiritual guide, another person, who they confide in and seek guidance. A person who helps them test their experiences, write them down, and use them for the good of the Church.

Peace.

re: God as the Holy Mystery. :) I agree. Though, the modern notion of "mystery" is often one of, throw your hands up in the air, and say "it's a mystery!"

This is not the Christian understanding of mystery. A mystery is something that God has revealed, therefore, we know of it, or about it. However, our finite minds cannot grasp the Infinite. It is this inability on our part, to understand what God has revealed, that makes something a "mystery".

Mystics encounter the Infinite, the great I AM, and seek their whole lives to understand what has been revealed.

I was also thinking, perhaps a more modern Catholic mystic would be more interesting. Check out Padre Pio, a Capuchin who died in 1968 and was declared a Saint in 2002. He is very well-known among Catholics.

Peace.

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In the west, we are so wound up in definitions and meanings. Mystical experiences do not have to have any other meaning than what they are, and do not have to be puzzles to work out, but can be gifts to accept as they are.

Peace.

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Ezias, as an atheist, I dabbled in tarot. ha! I never viewed it as some sort of supernatural psychic phenomena. I viewed it as a tool, that brought out my subconscious into the conscious. I never made any important life decisions from that tool, but at times, it helped me clarify my own thoughts and experiences.

I don't trust another person telling me what my experiences mean, this includes psychics. Though I am open to discussion.

Belief is only dogmatic, I think, if you adhere to it for the sake of believing. That sort of belief is one I have never been able to muster up. But, I do believe certain things about God, and His interaction among us, because of experience. What a mentor calls, the encounter with the Infinite, who I understand is Jesus Christ.

My belief is not dogmatic, hypothetical or philosophical, though, those are tools that can be used in the effort of faith seeking understanding.

I messed around with tarot until a few months before I was baptized Catholic. Prior to that, when I was a Mormon, I had odd experiences that were always dark and fearful. As an atheist, I explained them away as something that didn't really happen. I imagined them, or, something odd going on inside my head. But I knew I was fooling myself.

As a Catholic, some of those type of unexplainable experiences have come my way, but never have they been dark. More very surprising and truly amazing gifts.

To go back to Joseph Smith "visions", the account he gives is dark, and who knows what sort of spirit he encountered? Or, if he made the whole thing up? If he didn't, I'm inclined to believe it was not a spirit of light and truth, but one of deception. Not least of being, the message delivered, but also, I don't believe that other people receive messages from God that are meant to be for anyone but themselves.

I believe Jesus Christ is God's Perfect and Final Revelation. I don't believe people who come along with additional information...I see them as deceived and/or deceivers.

Peace.

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