Critics of Mysticism in «Letters of Spiritual Life» of Saint Theophan The Recluse
Keywords:
mystics, mysticism, Theosophy, revelation, visions, Mystical theology, Thabor Light, imagination, spiritual life, Quietism, asceticsAbstract
The article describes the principles of the relationship of St. Theophan to the analysis and identification of other religious experience, his assessment of Western mysticism is presented, the reasons for the errors of Western mystics identified by him are indicated and the shortcomings of their spiritual practices. This St. Theophan’s analysis of mystical «revelations» described from the standpoint of Orthodox asceticism, the concept of the “birth of Christ” in mystics is criticised.
