Antonina Volkova

Mystical Experience Antonina Volkova

The offered work is one of the first attempts in Russia of academic comprehension of essence of mysticism, its cultural-historical value and its role in formation of an individual personality. In our opinion, the problem of mysticism still remains outside of scientific reflection and is often the topic of near-scientific speculation. Our study allows to show that mysticism has certain biological and psychological regularities and mechanisms, allowing to take it out of the category of miracle and mystery, to fit it into the framework of anthropological abilities of man as a species. Mystical experience is considered by us as a socio-cultural phenomenon (the basis for religious, philosophical, spiritual search), and as anthroposophical phenomenon (the basis of personal development and spiritual growth). The work provides data on the role of mysticism in creativity and innovation in various spheres of social activity, a classification of typical types of mystical experience, a description of possible psychobiological mechanisms of mystical phenomena. The monograph is of interest to specialists in the field of religious studies, philosophy and cultural studies. Separate ideas will be useful for psychologists and psychotherapists.