Christian mystic says modern church too literal and polarizing

Mysticism is a dirty word for some Christians.

“They think of it as the bizarre,” said Bernard McGinn, a retired religion professor at the University of Chicago’s Divinity School. “But that is an unfortunate misreading of (the Christian) mystical tradition.”

McGinn will be discussing this tradition in a Friday lecture at Colorado College and this weekend at First Congregational Church.

For McGinn, mysticism is not simply a part of Christianity. Mysticism is imperative to its survival. “The Christian of the future will be a mystic or not a Christian at all,” McGinn said.

Mysticism within the Abrahamic faiths is about seeking an experiential, rather than a solely intellectual, relationship with God. This is achieved, mystics say, through various types of meditation and a contemplative reading of sacred texts.

In Judaism, the mystical tradition is chiefly found in the writings and teachings known as the Kabbalah. In Islam it is within Sufism.

But what about Christianity? At first glance, Christianity appears to be a religion without a mystical element. Yet within it is a rich mystical tradition, found, for example, in elements of the Eucharist, the central ritual of the faith, and passages in the Gospel of John, Revelation, the Psalms and other books of the Bible.

A common trait of Christian mystics, such as the fourth-century Desert Fathers and St. John of the Cross of the 16th century, was to try to penetrate beyond the letter of Scripture. The Desert Fathers, for example, wrote not only of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection as a historical fact, but also as an inner spiritual journey — suffering in life, death of ego, resurrection of the spiritual self.

This is McGinn’s approach, as well. “The letter is important,” he said, “but the Bible has a deeper inner meaning.”

At the local talks and workshops, called “Love: Active, Contemplative, Essential — Insights into the Mystics,” McGinn will read from Christian mystical texts, and talk about mystical spiritual practices and the deeper meaning of Bible passages on love.

He’ll also discuss contemporary Christianity, which he says has become too literal, doctrinal and polarizing.

Mysticism, he believes, can help return Christianity to its essence.

“God really lies beyond anything we know,” McGinn said. “The mystic reminds us of the mystery of God.”

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To read more of Barna’s interview with McGinn, go to his blog, The Pulpit, at www.thepulpit.freedomblogging.com.

Christian Mysticism events

What: “Love: Active, Contemplative, Essential -- Insights from the Mystics,” with Bernard McGinn

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Colorado College, Armstrong Hall, 14 E. Cache La Poudre

Cost: Free

All-day mystic workshop (lunch not included), with Bernard and Patricia McGinn

What:  “Modes of Loving God Among Mystics,” 9 a.m.; “Love of God and Love of Neighbor” 1 p.m.

When: Saturday

Where: First Congregational Church, 20 East Saint Vrain St.

Cost: $40 each at the door

What: “The Transfiguration and Our Spiritual Transformation,” with Bernard McGinn

When: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday

Where: First Congregational Church, 20 East Saint Vrain St.

Cost: Free

Etc. Call First Congregational for more info at 635-3549