Abstract

Mysticism refers to religious traditions devoted to cultivating altered states of consciousness called “mystical experiences.” During these experiences, mystics feel “one” with a supernatural being, or they have other types of experiences in which they allegedly perceive unity through direct contact with some fundamental aspect of reality. Mystics tend to believe that their mystical experiences justify their religious beliefs. This essay reviews philosophical attempts to define mystical experience as well as arguments about whether mystical experiences justify religious beliefs.