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Mystical Tradition: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam  By  cover art

Mystical Tradition: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

By: Luke Timothy Johnson, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Luke Timothy Johnson
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Publisher's summary

Each of the great three Abrahamic religious traditions holds the seeds for deep mystical contemplation. But what do most of us know about these mystics and the tradition they sustained? Explore this spiritual, literary, and intellectual heritage in these great faiths of the West as it unfolds over three millennia with these 36 enlightening, thought-provoking lectures that offer nearly unprecedented access to these seldom-studied traditions. By laying the mystical traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam side by side, Professor Johnson offers a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the many forms of religious experience in the West. Starting with the most ancient texts of the Hebrew Bible, Professor Johnson traces the emergence, growth, and persistence of mystical thought in many countries and in many ages. Bringing together the disciplines of philosophy, history, literature, and religious studies, these lectures offer a nuanced and insightful examination of Western spirituality-one that contributes not only to a fuller understanding of our religious traditions, but to our shared culture and history as well.

As you examine the mystical experience, you'll see how, again and again, Western mystics have sought the answers to a few fundamental questions: What is the nature of reality? What is the relationship between humankind and the divine? Can human beings ever attain full knowledge of creation? What emerges from exploring these potent spiritual and intellectual questions is a picture of Western mysticism as diverse, multifaceted, and ever-developing.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2008 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2008 The Great Courses

What listeners say about Mystical Tradition: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

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Powerful perspective

The course gives a powerful perspective of the three major monotheistic religions. It is very balanced and extremely respectful.
As a member of one of these mystical traditions, it was thrilling to hear about the other traditions, to witness the similarities and differences, but mostly feel great respect to fellow members of mystical traditions. It was also interesting to hear about my own tradition in a broad perspective.

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13 people found this helpful

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Good for the topic

This is a good overview of more religious people in the three religions. Best to think of it as an historical perspective of mysticism, which is what I wanted.

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12 people found this helpful

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Very Good History of Mystics

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening survey of the history, development and teachings within the Mystic tradition of these three world religions. I was amazed (enjoyed) the similarity of experience of each faith's mystics as well as each's different perspective on the mystic experience.

This was one of the best descriptions of "Mysticism" from a person who is not a mystic. Dr. Johnson does a good job describing a mystic without rendering his own judgement on mystic. This is someone that I rarely see in the other critiques of mystic. Even some mystic define mysticism to narrowly and if every other mystic has to conform to their image or trod their path. For a non-mystic to give an unbiased and honest characterization is refreshing to me. If all historians and theologians took Dr. Johnson's approach there would be a great understanding and acceptance of mystics and mysticism -- all a lot fewer dead mystics.

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about mysticism.

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11 people found this helpful

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Indoctrination?

While the Christian and Jewish segments we're direct and informative, I felt that the section on Islam tilted into the realm of indoctrination and fawning upon the beauty and insights. I would not recommend to any of my friends.

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9 people found this helpful

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I was looking for a thorough explanation

What I got was just quotation from the various people without much explanation of what the specific quotes meant.

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Some wrong information

Some information is wrong as the location of kufa which is in Iraq not in Iran

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Few observations regarding Jewish part.

Can speak to Jewish section only.
For a Christian academic it's still an amazing accomplishment, his understanding of Jewish tradition, and concepts is pretty impressive. As a quick overview decent source of a main points, all if not superficial, but well.. you can't do much more in this format.
Yet, multiple issues including pronunciation, I don't understand how someone who claim to have knowledge of Hebrew decides to use sounds that no Hebrew speaker would use. We have various pronations, but nothing to this effect. He only apologized to Muslim for mispronounciations and claim ro speak Hebrew. It's not Hebrew I know, I am a Rabbi, and I am used to Israeli, and Ashkenaz, maybe he tried to use Middle-Eastern Hebrew pronation but for anything in Europe that pronation is very unusual, and awkward. If that is how academics think Hebrew sounds he should explain that and give alternative version

On other hand very purely explain Middle-Eastern Jewish mistical traditions. Main Jewish diaspora was in Babilon not in Rome. Although there were communities all around including Africa. Speaking about listeners why assume we don't read those texts in original Aramaic? Assuming that nobody learned would listen to your classes is wierd... My general sense is that we can't take any ancient text as something unique rather this is what survived to our times.. Ancient texts helps us to understand what shapes our contemporary reality more than teaches us about the past. We don't pay enough attention to gaps in the knowledge, and misunderstand the past thinking that there is only to it what we can read in the texts available to us. When you start to read multiple ancient texts you see how much background information we are all missing. On that note it's very possible that at least some material in Zohar was orally transmitted exactly this same way as all Oral Torah was and it's possible that some writen notes existed as well. We know that there were multiple mystical texts that were lost. Of course if it was passed orally or even in notes Aramaic would be corrupted. People's memories are limited especially in case of languages people didn't speak any longer. Few we don't know here and there would go a ling way..
Didn't like way he spoke about Ukraine, Chmielnicki was a name of a person, not a place (pogrom in Chmielnicki 🙄). Baal Shem was a name of mistical profession - Tov meant that he was good at it. Biblical criticism isn't a base for Jewish experience or interpretation of thr Torah. Most Jews study and use Hebrew only in liturgy - there are translations of course, but no liturgical value in most Jewish movements.. There are mistical texts in Jewish prayer you don't need Dead Sea Scrolls for it open Amidah. It's very bias to Christian's historical perspective, called ancient Israel Palestine without explanation (Romans name used in order to take land from Jews so basically using language of occupation), clearly bias against ancient Israel.
Rant over.

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Good but gets some things wrong

As a Jew I was interested in the mysticism of Christianity and Islam. My only real knowledge on either are the Gnostics and Sufis and that is very basic. I was impressed with the Judaic mystics and background until he got to Chabad and spoke of them proselytizing to gentiles. They don’t. I pressed on and was good until the Christianity part when he said the things we *absolutely* know about Jesus is that he existed and was crucified. The only evidence of Jesus is the Bible and member writings associated with the church. There are zero third-party confirmations of Jesus even existing. After that I couldn’t continue. Now the presenter was a monk so I would expect him to be more versed in Christianity than Judaism or islam but come on.

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Marvelous, though somewhat biased

Loved 98% of it. kind of hated the moral superiority & close-mindedness of the final chapter, and here & there the bias of his snarky "oogy boogy" & the ableism in his discussion of mental & physical health.

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A great book

Well spoken, passionate, educated, and unbiased, giving respect to all three monotheistic traditions in this book. Thank you!

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