Bernard McGinn

According to research there has been a revival of interest in mysticism – both in terms of daily spiritual practice – known as quotidian mysticism, and as mysticism as a subject for study and inspiration. Other terms might be ‘meditation’ or ‘contemplation’, and it is agreed that experiences of mysticism are far more common than we might think.

The theologian Bernard McGinn says about his recent book Modern Mystics: An Introduction:

“We need to understand that when we read the mystics it’s not an issue of ‘them’ (those wonderful mystics!) over against ‘us’ (the peons who can only admire them from afar). … If only in a limited way, we are all called to embark on the mystical path. What we need is desire.”

Speaking from his own long history of studying mysticism, McGinn comments that mysticism is more of a process of turning our minds toward God rather than waiting in hopeful expectation for ecstasies, raptures, and revelations to descend upon us from on high. It is the effect of this turning our minds towards God that then affects us, and can reshape lives in practical and real ways:

“The heightened forms of consciousness that many mystics speak of is only a tearing away of the veils of custom, selfishness, and obtuseness that prevent most of us from beholding the profound actuality of love—love of God and love of neighbour”.

In a recent interview McGinn says:

 “I say to them, there is no test of authenticity except for the effect on the person and the person’s relationships. … Anybody can say that God came to them in a vision and taught them something. It’s certainly possible, but what did it do for them?”

He uses six aspects of mysticism that can define what is meant by mysticism: that mysticism is a part (not the whole) of concrete religious’ traditions – in other words it usually takes place within some sort of religious framework. It’s also a process rather than a discrete moment or particular encounter. It essentially involves some kind of consciousness or awareness of an encounter with God; and that this awareness is direct or in some way immediate. Mysticism involves the presence of God – although paradoxically this can also be experienced as ‘absences’ in some times. It also requires some sort of way of being expressed and communicated.

And what does mysticism offer the world? The answer is wisdom. McGinn speaks of the mystics offering a wisdom that they’ve been given and that they’ve worked out.  This has been given as a gift from God to try to help us understand and live each day in a way that brings us closer to God:

‘it is possible to live within the presence of God and to have an immediate sense of God’s presence that can guide us.’

Referring to the famous quote by the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner that: “the devout Christian of the future will either be a ‘mystic’—one who has ‘experienced’ something—or he will cease to be anything at all.” McGinn adds that what Rahner meant is that a church that depends only on its institutional power is not going to grasp the future of religion: the need is rather for a personal and experiential approach.