Assignment 3: Mystical Experiences
Without exception, all religions revere mystics and teachers who have had personal experiences of God beyond the ordinary, everyday reality. Such personal experience of God is called the mystical experience. The word mystical is derived from the Greek muo, meaning to conceal. In a sense, the real manifestation of God is concealed from all but the mystics.
Every religion acknowledges mystics who have reported such direct experience of an indescribable, overpowering reality of God, which cannot be named or spoken of in ordinary terms. Other religions refer to wise men that are adept at detaching themselves from the real world, called sages (Hindu and Buddhism).
The fact that these experiences, as reported, share a certain similarity across cultural and religious boundaries has led some philosophers of religion to speculate whether they may be, in fact, the same experience. Perhaps all religions share a common mystical core at their center. The difference between viewpoints has to do with whether a relationship with a personal god exists.
As used in this course, the term mystic means a person claiming direct experience with God (monotheism) or the Ultimate Reality (Hinduism). Mysticism, in this sense, has nothing to do with crystal balls, tarot cards, Ouija boards, magic, or superstition of any kind. Rather, it is the hidden heart of a major religious tradition.
Please complete an essay of approximately 500 words in length addressing the following questions. Please be sure to include at least one reference with your assignment and use correct APA format for your citations and paper layout.
Your response should be at least two pages long. All written assignments and responses should follow APA rules for attributing sources.
Assignment 3 Grading Criteria |
Maximum Points |
Complete exploration of mysticism in chosen religious tradition, including:
|
40 |
Significant critical analysis of the information requested in the assignment, which references the assigned readings and indicates an understanding of components of world religions. |
24 |
Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. |
20 |
Justified ideas and responses by using appropriate examples and references from texts, Web sites, and other references or personal experience. |
16 |
Total: |
100 |
What are the key elements of an essay
You may clearly understand what an essay is and have had the experience of writing a number. However, it is […]
Feb 25th, 2022
How to write a research paper fast
The day inevitably comes; you need to submit your assignment. You have been procrastinating on writing your paper until the […]
Feb 24th, 2022
220+ best humanities research paper topics
Choosing a paper topic can be a daunting task for any assignment. A student may face agony trying to come […]
Feb 24th, 2022
How to write a media analysis essay
The media is an integral part of modern society. Think of what would happen to the world if there were […]
Feb 23rd, 2022
Great tricks on how to write a hypothesis in 2022
A hypothesis is a statement that can be proven by scientific research. It proves the theory of action and reaction, […]
Feb 22nd, 2022