The social dimension of mysticism

Abstract

The social “dimension” of mysticism concerns both the function performed by mysticism in society and its social manifestations and conditions. The article adopts the perspective of the sociology of knowledge in its classical sense. Attention will be paid to Christian mysticism studied on the example of the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and St. John of the Cross and other authors from the circle of Discalced Carmelites. It is quite common to believe that the works of St. John of the Cross are the pinnacle of Christian mysticism and its summa. Mysticism in the social perspective is perceived, firstly, as a model of cognition alternative to scientific cognition; Many of the “intuitions” born of mysticism permeate scientific cognition. The second dimension considered in the article concerns man and his transformation. The third dimension to which attention is drawn here relates to the critique of society in the context of mystical experiences.