A Comparative Study of Mystical Experience Among Christian, Muslim, and Hindu Students in Tamil Nadu, India

Hood developed a Mysticism Scale based on the theoretical work of Stace. The scale was tested by Hood and others in a comparative perspective. Using an abridged version of Hood's Mysticism Scale, we join the debate with a study of a much larger number of Christian, Muslim, and Hindu respondents...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for the scientific study of religion 2010-06, Vol.49 (2), p.264-277
Main Authors: Anthony, Francis-Vincent, Hermans, Chris A. M., Sterkens, Carl
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Buddhism
Christian mysticism
Christianity
Christians
College Students
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Comparative Analysis
Comparative religion
Comparative studies
Consciousness
Hindus
History and sciences of religions
India
Ineffability
Islam
Measurement
Muslims
Mystical experience
Mysticism
Religious sciences
Scale analysis
Studies in religion
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu, India
Traditions
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Summary:Hood developed a Mysticism Scale based on the theoretical work of Stace. The scale was tested by Hood and others in a comparative perspective. Using an abridged version of Hood's Mysticism Scale, we join the debate with a study of a much larger number of Christian, Muslim, and Hindu respondents (1,920 college students) living in Tamil Nadu, India. Our empirical analysis yields a moderately reliable model of mystical experience that permits comparison between the three religious traditions. We argue for the usefulness of a comparative model of vertical mysticism that combines with the complementary common characteristics of noetic quality and ineffability. Vertical mysticism has a revelatory, ineffable character and is comparable in the experience of adherents of the Christian, Islamic, and Hindu traditions.
ISSN:0021-8294
1468-5906
DOI:10.1111/j.1468-5906.2010.01508.x