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date: 24 January 2021

Abstract and Keywords

The intensification of religious life, and the contact with what is conceived of as a spiritual sphere, are two main general features of mysticism, present in all of the Abrahamic traditions. Intensification is nevertheless applied to different particularistic ways of religious behaviour. This chapter attempts to explore some of the common denominators of the different mystical literatures and experiences while doing justice to the specific background of the various religions within which they emerge and to interactions between these mystical traditions. In all of the Abrahamic traditions, we find the use of similar mystical techniques, such as use of the divine name, as well as the common influences of sacred scripture and Hellenistic culture. Furthermore, all of them have an intense interest in mystical union and in personal redemption.

Keywords: Religious intensification, Kabbalah, hesyachism, mystical techniques, divine names, mystical union

Moshe Idel

Moshe Idel, Max Cooper Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

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