As a Catholic at one time, I could never figure out the disparities I found in my religion Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/894059
Mysticism is very much misunderstood, for it is simply developing intimacy with the Divine within yourself, and entering Oneness herein. Essentially, the Mystic, as a spiritual lover, communes with God as the Beloved, for this is a divinely heartfelt relationship. Anything else you may hear is not genuine mysticism. The ideas of phenomenalism, the supernatural, magic, witchcraft, voodoo, Satanism, and so forth, primarily thrive in the mental or the psychic planes. These dark aspects have nothing to do with real Mysticism. That which thrives in and emanates from the Divine Reality is true Mysticism, wherein the true Mystic lives.
The Mystic knows that when he speaks of the things he mystical teachings feels and sees that reflect the inner Reality, especially to people that have no understanding of these things, he will be scoffed and ridiculed. They judge him as being strange if not downright crazy. This is why he often keeps to himself. He will speak of these things to others on the Mystical Path, for they will receive him, especially genuine seekers who yearn for the Truth and not just dogmatic ideas. What seems normal and true to him is often viewed as ludicrous to others. Likewise, the Mystic may view others’ beliefs as erroneous and absurd, if not simply shallow and lacking in genuine spiritual experience. For example, the typical fundamentalist Christian sees God as outside himself and far away. In fact, he has no idea where to locate God, which in ancient times was referred to as the Unknown God. Although God is unknown to many people, He is not by any means unknowable, for the path of the Mystic is to learn to know God within his heart, and to commune with Him.
Early Mystics spoke of becoming one with God, often referred to as Divine Union; however, fundamentalists might call this blasphemy, because they believe God is somewhere outside of their reality, which is, incidentally, not a very real reality, since it does not incorporate God being within it. They believe that people are supposed to be separate from God, and that they deserve this separation because of their despicable sins, but the Mystic sees this idea of separation from God as erroneous and detrimental to spiritual growth. He recognizes that evil is a concept that appears to be very real in the physical world, but in the greater Reality, evil is merely an illusion, another concept which defines mankind’s separation from God. From evil comes sin, which is simply people’s decision to disobey God, because they express themselves through free will. But this is the way people learn and grow, through trial and error, until they learn to hear the voice of God within, that they may reach harmony with God.