Mystics, in their pursuit of communion with God,
downgrade theology in favor of experience. Machen demonstrates the folly
of seeking communion independent of knowledge.
Mysticism
unquestionably is the natural result of the anti-intellectual tendency
which now prevails; for mysticism is the consistent exaltation of
experience at the expense of thought. But in actual practice mysticism
is seldom consistent; indeed it cannot possibly be consistent if it
seeks to explain itself to the world. The experience upon which it is
based, or in which it consists, is said to be ineffable;
yet mystics love to talk about the experience all the same. Dr. E. S.
Waterhouse quotes and epigram of Mr. Bradley “to the effect that Herbert
Spencer told us more about the Unknowable than the rashest of
theologians has told us about God.” So it may perhaps be said that
mystics are accustomed to express the inexpressible more fully than the
ineffable character which they attribute to their experience may seem to
warrant. Continue at Thirsty Theologian
No comments:
Post a Comment