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religious mysticism

religious mysticism

9.3
A spiritual practice that seeks a direct personal experience of God or the sacred
  • noun
  • /rɪˈlɪdʒəs ˈmɪstɪˌsɪzəm/
translation icon : misticismo religioso
  • The ancient philosopher wrote about religious mysticism as a means of reaching true enlightenment.

Examples

  • Many cultures practice religious mysticism as a way to connect with the divine.

  • He became interested in religious mysticism after reading about the lives of famous mystics.

  • Many traditions of religious mysticism emphasize meditative practices and spiritual contemplation.

  • In her search for truth, she explored various forms of religious mysticism.

  • Many artists find inspiration in religious mysticism, drawing on its themes of transcendence and divine connection.

  • The monk spoke about the importance of religious mysticism in understanding one's relationship with the divine.

  • In several traditions, religious mysticism plays a crucial role in the pursuit of enlightenment and inner peace.

Synonyms

mysticism
vsreligious mysticism
11 9.4

Belief in direct personal contact with the divine through deep prayer or meditation

emphasizes achieving direct personal contact through intense spiritual experience rather than belief

Antonyms

16 6.8

The idea that religion should not be part of government, schools, or public life

How Mystical

religious mysticism
9.3
spirituality
71 6.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

religious + mysticism

The compound is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'religious' (pertaining to religion) simply qualifies 'mysticism' (personal contemplative communion with the divine), so the combined meaning is directly derivable from the parts. This is a common, cross-linguistic compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would reliably infer the phrase's meaning.

Etymology

Religious mysticism comes from old practices where people went into quiet places to meet the divine, so the word mysticism is tied to a private, inner experience. Picture someone alone in silence feeling a strong inner presence—this image explains why the phrase means 'seeking a direct, personal experience of God'.