Between Mysticism and Institutionalized Doctrine

searching for the Oriental Experience

Abstract

Studies show the deep influence of neoplatonic philosophies on occidental mysticism as those verified in Plotino and Proclo’s ideas. This paper aims to investigate the factors that may be the causes of the rationalization of religion experiences in latin churches which seems to transform those experiences into theoretical doctrines and institutionalization of faith. Was the scientific education developed in western world one of the reasons for the differences shown by those churches? This work will also try to understand why all rational and scientific improvement in societies did not affect the basic principles of oriental churches that seemed to strongly maintain the support of God’s experiences instead of emphasizing conceptual arguments.