Mysticism: Difference between revisions

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{{Q|Mysticism is the acceptance of allegations without evidence or proof, either apart from or against the evidence of ones sense, and one's reason.  Mysticism is the claim to some non-sensory, non-rational, non-definable, non-identifiable means of knowledge, such as "instinct", "intuition," "revelation," or any form of "just knowing."|Ayn Rand, "Faith and Force: The Destroyers of the Modern World", ''Philosophy: Who Needs It'', p. 62}}
The Christian perspective is that the issue of man's survival is irrelevant to the question of what the purpose of man's survival is. Our earthly values- whether in our career, family, friends, or any other are in themselves meaningless. The very things that make life on earth possible and pleasurable are meaningless to him. Instead, our actions should be focused on a higher, unearthly realm, which contains the answers of our existence. "Unless you assume the existence of God, the purpose of life is meaningless," [http://www.rationalmind.net/2004/12/20/the-purpose-driven-life-a-review/ he says], thereby voiding our selfish happiness as a worthwhile purpose to existence. Instead, he argues that "We were planned for God's pleasure, so your first purpose is to offer real worship." According to him, man's purpose is to be a sacrificial offering (sacrificial, because we are to sacrifice earthly values) to an invisible, unknowable entity, who's only proof is an ancient myth and the fact that we have not yet uncovered all the secrets of nature. The very fact that the target of our sacrifice is unknowable is justification for greater faith (that is, belief without evidence) in it.
==Further Reading==
*[http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/mysticism.html "Mysticism" in the Ayn Rand Lexicon]

Latest revision as of 23:40, 27 August 2010

“Mysticism is the acceptance of allegations without evidence or proof, either apart from or against the evidence of ones sense, and one's reason. Mysticism is the claim to some non-sensory, non-rational, non-definable, non-identifiable means of knowledge, such as "instinct", "intuition," "revelation," or any form of "just knowing."”
   ~ Ayn Rand, "Faith and Force: The Destroyers of the Modern World", Philosophy: Who Needs It, p. 62

The Christian perspective is that the issue of man's survival is irrelevant to the question of what the purpose of man's survival is. Our earthly values- whether in our career, family, friends, or any other are in themselves meaningless. The very things that make life on earth possible and pleasurable are meaningless to him. Instead, our actions should be focused on a higher, unearthly realm, which contains the answers of our existence. "Unless you assume the existence of God, the purpose of life is meaningless," he says, thereby voiding our selfish happiness as a worthwhile purpose to existence. Instead, he argues that "We were planned for God's pleasure, so your first purpose is to offer real worship." According to him, man's purpose is to be a sacrificial offering (sacrificial, because we are to sacrifice earthly values) to an invisible, unknowable entity, who's only proof is an ancient myth and the fact that we have not yet uncovered all the secrets of nature. The very fact that the target of our sacrifice is unknowable is justification for greater faith (that is, belief without evidence) in it.

Further Reading