Defining Teleological Mysticism

Abstract

Mysticism is a nebulous concept; defining it is difficult and in many respects an ongoing affair.¹ The problem can begin to be seen in its great scope of application. For instance, mysticism has been distinguished in terms of religious, non-religious, moral and amoral types. Although mysticism is traditionally associated with religion, the term has become something of a catch-all word that is used (and misused) to denote all manner of esoteric or exceptional experiences. Indeed, mysticism is often associated with artistic genius and aesthetic experience, even in cases where these are seemingly disconnected from formal religious themes and mediums, and it has been aligned with clearly immoral and anti-religious characters and practices.²