As an “umbrella category,” the notion of mystical experience leaves a shit ton to be desired, IMO.
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Replying to @Kalieezchild
Don't worry there's tons of academic books written in the topic Jody. I was referring to Jeff's article that the mystical is not the ethical
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Replying to @agleig
I know. However, much of what is referred to as “mystical” is based in the folk ideas that enlightenment = being one with God, being one with everything, or being nothing as in a kind of non-existence. They are all poppycock, but they still define and drive the category.
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Replying to @Kalieezchild
Maybe for practitioners but as the co-chair of the Mysticism group of the American Academy of Religion, scholars are doing a lot of different things in the subfield. To be honest though, I'm not much interested in non-duality these days
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Replying to @agleig @Kalieezchild
Out of curiosity how much of your studies are acedemically oriented vs practice oriented? Only reason I ask is because it seems the more people I meet in acedemia in this feel the less seem to have an actual practice and it boggles my mind!
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Replying to @SilasDay9 @Kalieezchild
Honestly the topic is complicated and fraught about the relationship between practice & scholarship. We call it the " insider -outsider" debate. There's a multiplicity of stances and all have strengthens & limits IMO
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Replying to @agleig @Kalieezchild
Really? I'm surprised there is such a complication tbh. Why wouldn't the acedemics want to understand through practice the methods and teachings that they are looking into, if you don't mind me asking
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Replying to @SilasDay9 @Kalieezchild
Lots of reasons! One is that religious studies grew out of theology and wants to distinguish itself as the critical study of religion and not a faith commitment. Practice commitments can threaten that
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While most academicians may disagree, I'd like to believe practice commitments can [though don't always] strengthen the [constructively] critical study of religion. Practice, imo, ought to tear the status quo asunder, uproot sources of oppression, and yield exemplary scholarship.
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well there's plenty of practitioners in the field too. some feel less able to be visible cos others can look down on it. religious studies is really diverse in orientations & methodologies basically. alright -gunna have to draw a line with this convo, too..cos TIME!
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Understandably—I left a science program due to the hostility I received for actively practicing what I was researching (meditation) in a religious manner, now checking with prospective programs in religion about whether they too frown upon practitioners. Thanks for your insights.
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