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

• Published in: Journal for the scientific study of religion Vol. 49; no. 2; pp. 264 - 277
• Main Authors: Anthony, Francis-Vincent, Hermans, Chris A. M., Sterkens, Carl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.06.2010; Wiley Subscription Services; Wiley; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Buddhism; Christian mysticism; Christianity; Christians; College Students; Comment and Reply; 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; India; Tamil Nadu India; Christian; Mystical experience; Hindu; Comparative study; Muslim
• ISSN: 0021-8294; 1468-5906
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5906.2010.01508.x

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.