Connection 100—An Auto-Ethnography of My (Mystical) Connection Experiences
Religions October 20, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/rel13100993 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Autoethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism Mystical experience |
| Keywords | Explication Schema genetic algorithms Epistemology Connection principal bundle Ethnography Literature |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | A conceptual schema is presented to overcome nomenclature confusion and provide a basis for describing, analyzing, and discussing connection and connection experiences. |
Abstract
This paper provides an autoethnographic accounting and analysis of my own mystical experiences, called connection experiences in this paper. This account, which is structured around a description of my early experiences, attempts to weave together psychological, sociological, historical, and methodological themes into a coherent contribution that advances our understanding of connection experience. The paper includes an explication of the four stages of the research project that developed as a consequence of these experiences as well as an examination of the processes, tools (i.e., MediWiki), and emotional, psychological, professional, and scholarly challenges of collecting and analyzing the autoethnographic data of mystical experiences. The denouement of the paper is the presentation of a conceptual schema aimed at overcoming nomenclature confusion and providing a basis for description, analysis, and discussion of connection and connection experiences. The utility of the schema is demonstrated when it is used to provide a clear overview of my own connection experiences, and the connection experiences of others. In order to facilitate critical discussion of the conceptual framework, a glossary of terms developed and presented in this paper is provided at the end.