Intersecting Realms of Totemism and Spiritual Uniqueness: A Cross-Cultural Exploration of Mystical Experiences
Qeios October 25, 2023 DOI: 10.32388/onkxwc (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism Mystical experience |
| Keywords | Transformative learning Mainstream Viewpoints Psychoanalytic theory Religious experience Epistemology Psychoanalysis Literature Visual arts Theology |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that totemic belief systems are not primitive but serve as essential cognitive and emotional tools, and that totemic symbols and individual mystical experiences have a mutualistic relationship with spiritual and transformative significance. |
Abstract
This groundbreaking study addresses a niche area within mysticism research, exploring the confluence of totemic spiritual practices and distinct mystical experiences. Moving beyond conventional Abrahamic viewpoints, it interrogates mainstream frameworks that either marginalize or pathologize these spiritual occurrences. Utilizing a cross-disciplinary approach that integrates religious studies, anthropology, and psychoanalytic theory, the study synthesizes a rich array of sources including scholarly literature, firsthand indigenous accounts, and historical documents. The research reveals that totemic belief systems go beyond their oft-labeled 'primitive' status, serving as essential cognitive and emotional tools. Additionally, the study clarifies the mutualistic relationship between totemic symbols and individual mystical experiences, advocating for their spiritual and transformative significance. By augmenting existing models with insights into the cognitive and emotional utility of totemic symbols, this work also prompts a reexamination of underexplored spiritual experiences within the field of mysticism. It aligns with critiques emerging from postcolonial, postorientalist, and posthumanist perspectives.