Journal of Hindu-Christian studies
2017
Michael Stoeber
The paper begins by drawing out current issues that have been raised by critics concerning the contemporary practice of Hindu postural types of yoga in western and specifically western Christian contexts, with some illustrative reference to contemporary movements and schools, especially to Bikram Yoga. These are: cultural misappropriation; commodification; lack of moral pre-requisites;...
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion
September 3, 2015
Michael Stoeber
6 citations
Abstract The comparative study of mysticism began in the mid-19th century, with the development of the modern meaning of the word, which had begun to be used as a substantive, with the classification of “mystics” in the 17th century. This differed from the traditional Greek Christian use of the adjective mystikos, to qualify rituals, scriptures, sacraments, and theology as “mystical” contexts...
European Journal for Philosophy of Religion
2015
Michael Stoeber
This paper explores Christian contemplative meditation, focusing on the prayer of Recollection as it is developed especially by Evelyn Underhill and St. Teresa of Avila. It outlines the practice and explores possible theoretical and therapeutic dynamics, including some comparative reflections of this form of Christian meditation with Buddhist Samatha Vipassanā meditation and Mindfulness Based...
Journal of Hindu-Christian studies
November 19, 2013
Michael Stoeber
3 citations
Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) regards mysticism as the core of religion. All religions include various dimensions: scripture/ mythology, doctrine/ philosophy, ethics/ law, social/institutional features, ritual, material aspects, and personal and communal experience. For Underhill, personal religious experience inspires and influences the development of these other aspects of religion—the heart...
Toronto Journal of Theology
September 1, 2001
Michael Stoeber
3 citations
[…]mysticism is quite different from religious experiences in ordinary faith, where the relationship with the Divine is mediated through normal categories of experience given in a person's culture and history. This difference raises the question of the relationship of mysticism to ordinary religious experiences. What is the role and status of mystical experience in the spiritual life? What, if...
Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks
1994
Michael Stoeber
Although constitutive of extremely diverse theological and philosophical developments, the Christian and Hindu mystic traditions we have examined in the preceding chapters exhibit an experiential typology that stresses an identification with the Divine that is achieved in the transformative processes associated with monistic mysticism. Theistic experiences and activities culminate from the...
Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks
1992
Michael Stoeber
As we have seen in our introduction to mysticism and in Eckhart's theology, mystics claim in certain experiences to encounter a powerful consolatory force which significantly reduces or eliminates the negative force of evil. In such experience evil is often referred to as a non-reality, non-being or nothingness which no longer has power or influence upon the enlightened mystic. As R. C. Zaehner...