There are several distinct and unfortunately separate literatures in the study of mysticism. Easily identified as theological, philosophical, psychological and empirical these literatures all have nevertheless addressed a common theme. The theme is the possibility that across religious traditions, there is a common core or unity to what otherwise is diverse interpretations of mystical experience. This chapter reviews the evidence for and against the common core thesis. While much of the debate is conceptual, especially in the theological and philosophical literatures, recent psychological work has added an empirical base to the debate that has long been lacking. It has now been firmly established that the report of mysticism can be reliably measured and that a common structure to the report of mystical experience exists across various faith traditions. This common structure may reflect a common neurophysiologic basis for mystical experience, as well as a common grammar for the report of mystical experience that all cultures share. This does not mitigate the diversity of expression of mysticism nor does it simply reduce mystical experience to a common core that denies the validity of the various faith traditions within which mysticism has been historically expressed.
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