Who is at the Mystic level?

The word Mystic can be interpreted many ways. On this site we are specifically using the word Mystic to denote the final, or most spiritually mature stage among four common possibilities. The first three common stages are Lawless, Faithful and Rational. The Mystic level is only reached after going through the earlier stages.

By including these living people as examples of the mystic level, or spiritual maturity, we cannot be certain they are in fact at the most advanced level of spiritual maturity, because of course spiritual maturity is much more complex than can be determined in a five minute video clip. And probably no one is so simple that they fall entirely into any one category. Rather most of us belong to several of these stages, but there is likely to be one that is predominant in each of us. Moreover, there is no need and no reason to judge a person on the basis of their spiritual stage. Because they may be at the mystic level does not make them a better person or more valuable to society.

Where the value in studying these clips lies is in helping us understand the message, to hear the difference between spiritual maturity and the more common spiritual immaturity that makes so much more noise in our society. We can learn a lot from these mystic level folks who are sharing their stance on these clips. Though on the surface they may sound very much like the traditionally religious person, their message really is much deeper. In listening to these clips or reading these quotes, look for signs of the key traits of people at the mystic level - compassion, inclusiveness, gratitude, forgiveness, humility (or ego dimunition) and a universal (everyone is included) or unitive (we all are one) worldview.

Sister Joan Chittister

Philip Yancey

Karen Armstrong - more from Karen Armstrong

Dr. Mehmet Oz

Brother David Steindl-Rast

Now - compare the voices you just heard above - with the sound of a less-evolved Faithful level person we have all heard of -

Pat Robertson.

Can you hear the difference? Pat Robertson's God is a very limited God, a punishing God. The religion he preaches is one the provides very definite answers. There are reasons for things that happen and they usually have to do with human malfeasance - punishment and blame are necessary. This is not a religion of love, but of separation, punishment and hate. This is the opposite of mature faith. It is the extreme LOW end of the Faithful level.

Less we be swayed by these less mature forms of belief, we need to be able to distinguish between mature faith and immature belief systems. That is the reason for this website. To explore how to make and recognize these distinctions. The older, less mature forms of religion need to be relegated to the status of curiosities we can all now ignore.

We should aim to take our inspiration from the most evolved, the more mature speakers, who can show us the way to move FORWARD in our faith. The Pat Robertsons of the world (and there are MANY in less obvious form!) can only move us BACKWARD!