Dimensions of Mystical Experiences

Introduction. Part 1 Conceptual Issues in the Empirical Study of Mysticism. Chapter 1 Conceptual Criticisms of Regressive Explanations of Mysticism. Chapter 2 The Relevance of Theologies for Religious Experiencing. Part 2 The Measurement of Mysticism. Chapter 3 The Construction and Preliminary Validation of a Measure of Reported Mystical Experience. Chapter 4 An Empirical Test of the Unity Thesis: The Structure of Mystical Descriptors in Various Faith Samples. Part 3 The Quasi-Experimental Elicitation of Mystical Experience. Chapter 5 Eliciting Mystical States of Consciousness with Semistructured Nature Experiences. Chapter 6 Anticipatory Set and Setting Stress Incongruities as Elicitors of Mystical Experiences in Solitary Nature Settings. Chapter 7 Quasi-Experimental Elicitation of the Differ-Entail Report of Religious Experience among Intrinsic and Indiscriminately Pro-Religious Types. Part 4 Mysticism, Religious Orientation, Eroticism and Death. Chapter 8 Religious Orientation and the Experience of Transcendence. Chapter 9 Gender Differences in the Description of Erotic and Mystical Experiences. Chapter 10 Toward a Theory of Death Transcendence. Part 5 Triggers and Evaluation of Mystical Experience. Chapter 11 Differential Triggering of Mystical Experience as a Function of Self-Actualization. Chapter 12 Social Legitimacy, Dogmatism, and the Evaluation of Intense Experiences. Part 6 The Veridical Nature of Mystical Experience. Chapter 13 Knowledge and Experience Criteria in the Report of Mystical Experience. Chapter 14 The Usefulness of the Indiscriminately Pro-Religious and Anti-Religious Orientation Categories. Chapter 15 Mysticism in the Psychology of Religion. Epilogue Chapter 16 The Empirical Study of Mysticism. References. Author Index. Subject Index.