Integrative Mysticism

People across time and cultures have speculated about the ability to make contact with God, gods, or the divine. The term "mystic" is often used to refer to those who come to be accepted as able to establish that contact. Though rare, those recognized as mystics often attain outsized importance within their society. This volume brings together scholars from a wide range of disciplines in order to explore societal, cultural, and neurobiological elements of mystical traditions. These scholars examine South American shamanism, Islamic and Christian mystics, as well as contemporary efforts at transcendence ranging from Aleister Crowley's magick to Jeffrey Kripal's erotic teachings. The result is an interdisciplinary and cross cultural examination of an important, if often misunderstood, element of the human condition.