Mysticism Evelyn Underhill Analysis

Mysticism is commonly known as becoming one with God. As broadly defined, mysticism can be found in all religious traditions and faiths. Many have written about the spiritual path and tracked its infinite experiences and faces of development. Evelyn Underhill is an author whose writing from early in the twentieth century, creates a guide to the experience. In her work Mysticism, she presents the spiritual path as a series of crucial stages necessary for a mystical life. These steps demonstrate how mysticism works in life and spirituality.

In modern religion, this broad sense of thought has often left our places of worship and been replaced with a purer form of prayer which is less contemplative and sincere. For someone unlike myself who wishes to reclaim these aspects of religion, Underhill’s typology is the place to start.

Underhill discusses the term of "awakening." One wakes up, and to put it quite simply and suddenly, the world is filled with brilliance and spirituality. Underhill says that after such an awakening a person is filled with the realization that an individual is a part of an enormous Life, in which everything is connected to everything else.

Underhill also discusses “purification” as a way to develop mysticism in your life. In this instance, one eliminates the obstruction of …show more content…
He is famous for his opinions on the new era of religion, spirituality, and mysticism. He suggested the new modern era is worse to a large extent to the belief system of spiritually of prior generations and that the world as a whole is now worse off. After reading Webster’s novel, I am conflicted about whether or not I agree with him. He makes numerous exciting points on the problems with being spiritual, but not religious, and the resulting issues that arise. I find myself sitting on the fence between saying his remarks are valid points and being content with letting others choose the path best for them in a free