Abstract

Since the beginning of the modern studies about mysticism in the secondhalf of the nineteenth century, defining the term “mysticism” has remainedone of the controversial issues in this field, and different authors has beenusing the term to refer to different subjects. Studying some major effectivesources in the field of mysticism, this article surveys the modern definitionsof mysticism and evaluates them according to their comprehensiveness. Italso tries to clarify the different classifications of mysticism by using thedimensional definition of the term.“No word in our language – not even ‘Socialism’ – has been employed moreloosely than ‘Mysticism.’ Sometimes it is used as an equivalent forsymbolism or allegorism, sometimes for theosophy or occult science; andsometimes it merely suggests the mental state of a dreamer, or vague andfantastic opinions about God and the world.”1 “There are almost as many definitions of the term [mysticism] as there arewriters on the subject.”2 “Mysticism continues to elude easy definition, and its nature andsignificance remain the subject of intense debate. The terms ‘mystic’,‘mystical’ and ‘mysticism’ have been used in an astonishing variety of waysby different authors in different eras.”3