Description

This course will look at the diversity of practices and types of experience that count as “mysticisms,” primarily making use of the distinction made by Peter Berger (The Heretical Imperative) of “mysticisms of personality” (especially in Western religions) vs. “mysticisms of eternity” (especially in Eastern ones); and will then focus on the latter type in both Eastern (Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist) and Western (Christian, contemporary yogic) contexts. Relatedly, this course is interested in what Berger (again) has called “religions of interiority” as it becomes increasingly apparent that some religions, and/or religion in general, may be moving in that direction (cf. the ‘new’ “spiritualities”).