Perspectives on the Role of Mysticism as an Inter-religious Meta-narrative in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

COVID-19 has shown the inescapable connectedness of human beings. The virus does not defer to any geography, be it physical, mental or spiritual. Hard questions about collective and personal priorities and responsibilities loom in the face of disease, death and financial ruin. Mysticism is concerned with these questions, which highlight the boundary between life as we know it and the great Unknown. Many mystics embark on their spiritual journey as a result of severe crisis or trauma. Perennialism, social constructivism, and participatory theory are modern theoretical and philosophical perspectives on mysticism. These theories are presented and discussed in this chapter with the purpose of identifying arguments for or against mysticism as a unifying inter-religious meta-narrative in the context of COVID-19. The discussion and conclusion find a unifying narrative in its acknowledgement of altruism as a universal theme within the different mystical traditions.