Mysticism

Question 1

Where does the word “mystic” come from?

Answer 1

The greek word for “hide” or “conceal”

Question 2

What word does “mystic” give us?

Answer 2

“Mystery”

Question 3

What does “mystery” mean?

Answer 3

Something hidden from our understanding

Question 4

Who said “who are you Lord?”

Answer 4

Saul

Question 5

Which key book did William James write in 1902?

Answer 5

The Variety of religious experience

Question 6

Who was Bingen’s famous daughter?

Answer 6

Hildegard

Question 7

What text on contemplation was well know in the 14th Century?

Answer 7

The Cloud of Unknowing

Question 8

What book did Julian of Norwich write?

Answer 8

Revelations of divine love

Question 9

‘Come be my light’ was collection of letters by whom?

Answer 9

Mother Teresa

Question 10

Where did St John of the Cross leave his cares?

Answer 10

Amongst lilies

Question 11

Who did Jesus “ordain to be a “mirror amongst men”?

Answer 11

Margery Kemp

Question 12

Who saw a “fiery light coming from the open heavens”?

Answer 12

Hildegard

Question 13

What was the first name of the Pseudo-Aereopagite?

Answer 13

Dionysius

Question 14

Who’s heart was “flooded with the light of confidence”?

Answer 14

St Paul

Question 15

Who described God as “wholly other”?

Answer 15

Rudolph Otto

Question 16

What was the name of St Therese of Lisieux’s autobiography?

Answer 16

Letters

Question 17

Who was the Author of ‘Scivas’?

Answer 17

Hildegard

Question 18

What is the meaning of ‘Scivas’?

Answer 18

Knowing the ways

Question 19

What kind of night did St John of the Cross experience?

Answer 19

A dark night

Question 20

How big was the “little thing” that Julian of Norwich was shown?

Answer 20

Size of a hazelnut

Question 21

Name the 3 things about God that Julian of Norwich learnt in his vision?

Answer 21

God made it;
God loves it;
God sustains it

Question 22

What shaped St Therese of Lisieux’s life?

Answer 22

Her profound experiences of God’s closeness in her life

Question 23

What text did St Therese of Lisieux write?

Answer 23

‘Story of a Soul’

Question 24

What causes Paul to fall to the ground?

Answer 24

“a light from heaven”

Question 25

What theme runs throughout Paul’s experience?

Answer 25

Light

Question 26

Why is light important as a theme in Paul’s experience?

Answer 26

Because it suggests a moment of profound divine revelation that energises Paul’s missionary zeal for the following 20 years

Question 27

What are the 4 key features of what William James considers an authentic mystical experience?

Answer 27

Ineffable;
Noetic;
Transiency;
Passivity

Question 28

Define Ineffable

Answer 28

Too great to be expressed or described in words

Question 29

Define Noetic

Answer 29

Something which although ineffable comes with a revelation and a sense of authority

Question 30

Define Transiency

Answer 30

The state of lasting only for a short time.

Question 31

Define Passibity

Answer 31

Where you are held by a superior being

Question 32

What was the name of William James’s book?

Answer 32

The Varieties of Religious Experience

Question 33

What year did William James write his book?

Answer 33

1901

Question 34

How did William James approach mysticism?

Answer 34

Four key characteristics

Question 35

Give an example of ineffability?

Answer 35

St Augustine of Hippo felt ‘light flooding [her] heart’

Question 36

What does Richard Swinburne classify mysticism as?

Answer 36

2nd Private Experience-There is a difficulty of putting into words