Encounters with the Holy

 

This chart accompanies the collection of texts describing mystical experiences. To compare these experiences, you may mark a check and make any notations to indicate which of the traits in the left column are part of the experience for each religion indicated. Which traits seem to be most common? Do you detect any patterns in these experiences?

 

 

Hindu
Arjuna
c. 3000 BCE

Jewish
Moses
c. 1300 BCE

Christian
Saul/Paul
1st cent. CE

Muslim
Muhammad
7th cent. CE

Mormon
Joseph Smith
1820's

Baha'i
Baha'u'llah
1852

Native American
Black Elk
1872

light
 

             

special way
of seeing

             

ineffable*
 

             

voices/
communication

             

mission received

             

low point
in life

             

request made for experience

             

emotions
 

             

physical response

             

inspires reverence

             

other
 

             

* ineffable means indescribable

Created by Laura Ellen Shulman 
Last updated: January 2002