Words: Mysticism
Harvey Gillman continues his series on the meaning of words
The paradox of mysticism lies in its origin. Muein in Greek means to be silent about, to conceal. In ancient Greece, the sacred mysteries were ceremonies of initiation for the few. They led to ‘out of the world’ experiences which were not to be revealed to outsiders. The word ‘mystical’ is often used to emphasise the exotic and magical (in the sense of a manipulation of the natural world). As such, all this would hardly appeal to a group of people like Friends, who try to be inclusive and are committed to openness in the here and now and to living in this world for the betterment of its population and its sustainability.
You need to login to read subscriber-only content and/or comment on articles.