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Christian Mysticism/Questions Answered by Expert Dr. Jay Forrest
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Scriptures | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: As A Christian Mystic, how does one view, read and interpret scriptures (The Bible)? What is the ... A: There is what is called the devotional method of reading the Bible. This is when one reads the Bible ... | |
| Mysticism | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering what you consider some of the similarities and some of the differences between the ... A: The main difference is one of focus. The Reformation brought the Bible into the central position of ... | |
| Mysticism | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering what you consider some of the similarities and some of the differences between the ... A: They are both similar in focusing on union and communion with God in an experiential way. They both ... | |
| Christian view on resurrection & reincarnation | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could perhaps clarify this for me so I can settle a debate with my friend. ... A: The common view is that our bodies will be raised from the grave and united to our spirit/soul. See ... | |
| Struggles/Thorn in the Side | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: Dr. Forrest, First off I wish to apologize because I don’t think that my question is directly ... A: I understand your struggle. Unfortunately I can't give your a theological answer. It sounds like a ... | |
| Body Soul and Spirit | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: Reverend,I wish to ask what is the difference between Body Soul and Spirit? ANSWER: Hi Stanislas, ... A: Again this is only my opinion. I see the heart as the will or moral center of man. Good and evil ... | |
| Body Soul and Spirit | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: Reverend,I wish to ask what is the difference between Body Soul and Spirit? A: There are my opinions, but I am not sure there is an agreed upon definition. This is my take on it. ... | |
| Beginning the Path | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: Rev. Forrest, I am writing in regard to getting started. I have read a little on this particular ... A: The approach is simple, develop a relationship with God. Made Him your best friend. Talk with Him ... | |
| Important question | 6/16/2008 |
| Q: Do you worship Mary like the catholics? Do you pray to statues like the catholics? ANSWER: Hi ... A: How can you ask your pastor to intercede for you? Jesus is the only mediator. If you are going to ... | |
| Important question | 6/15/2008 |
| Q: Do you worship Mary like the catholics? Do you pray to statues like the catholics? A: Although I respect Mary and believe she was a wonderful example for women, I do not worship her. I ... | |
| how do i get started | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: how dose one get started down the road of cm? I'm a committed Christian of the evangelical anglcan ... A: It depends upon your starting point. Probably the best place to start is to begin to study the ... | |
| Christain questions | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: What is a Christain to you ? Do you believe Jesus is God ? Do you believe the only witness of the ... A: A Christian is a person who has made Jesus their Master and are trusting in His death to take away ... | |
| Saint Michael | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I emailed you two days ago on the meaning of the Vision of St. Michael. You said that you would need ... A: I am glad you clarified. I am not sure the angel was Michael or another angel, but the message is ... | |
| Mysticism and Charismatic/Pentecostal Experiences | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: How Christian mysticism relates to Charismatic and Pentecostal experiences? Do you consider ... A: Christian mysticism deals with the experience of God. The Pentecostal/Charismatic movement has an ... | |
| Homosexuality | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: Where does your church stand on homosexuality and the acceptance of homosexuals in your church ... A: We are a Bible believing church and therefore the leadership of the church views the practice of ... | |
| query | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: As Christians, we believe in the RESURRECTION, not in the hypothesis of reincarnation. But Gnostic ... A: Not all who claimed to be Gnostics believed in reincarnation (eg. Origen, Clement). But it became a ... | |
| How do I know its for me? | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: Jay, Blessings to you. I am a devoted catholic I just turned 21. I am still ... A: Do you really want to be a saint? Then forget about your own happiness and throw yourself utterly ... | |
| Is it a calling I should answer? | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: That awake vision that I had with Mary the Holy Mother of God. Well she also talked to me too become ... A: I really can't answer that for you. You need to decide this vey carefully. You can't name your ... | |
| Catholic Spirituality | 3/18/2007 |
| Q: Jay Yes Yes Yes! This is what I was looking for someone to believe me on what I see. ... A: So many questions, I will try to answer them all. Yes, the one that Mary came to me in the cemetery ... | |
| Spirituality | 3/17/2007 |
| Q: Hi I am a raised Catholic young woman. I am very spiritual. I had several unusal experiences in my ... A: If you have given all your heart to God, I would consider you a saint. The Bible refers to all true ... | |
| mysticism? | 11/11/2006 |
| Q: Jay What exactly is christian mysticism? I never heard of it before. I have heard of Jewish ... A: All mysticism revolves around the idea of union with ultimate Reality. How one defines that ultimate ... | |
| Gregory the Great | 10/31/2006 |
| Q: Forrest, I recently signed up for this category. It seems that our interests are in accord, although ... A: Greetings, I think that brilliance is a subjective thing. Was Gregory a Thomas Aquinas, the answer ... | |
| Spiritual growth. | 3/22/2006 |
| Q: Most times I do feel led to share. But you are right, I need the spirit of humility. How do I ... A: You ask how to grow in humility and gentleness. I am not sure that I can really answer that fully in ... | |
| Spiritual growth. | 3/21/2006 |
| Q: I have been a christian for a while and discovered that when , I started to spend more time in the ... A: The more time we spend with God the more likely we are to hear His voice. God does still speak to ... | |
| meditation, contemplative prayer | 3/10/2006 |
| Q: Followup To Question -Why do you think it is that only a handful of people in any given age ... A: You said, "I found that the 'I' was the problem; the 'doer' was the problem." This is indeed ... | |
| meditation, contemplative prayer | 3/9/2006 |
| Q: Followup To Question - Why do you think it is that only a handful of people in any given age ... A: Yes, I think we would all be better off if we focused on the mystical elements within our respective ... | |
| meditation, contemplative prayer | 3/7/2006 |
| Q: Why do you think it is that only a handful of people in any given age realizes the importance of ... A: I think that that is the very answer that Gnosticism was trying to convey. The answer lies with - ... | |
| meditation, contemplative prayer | 3/7/2006 |
| Q: Why do you think it is that only a handful of people in any given age realizes the importance of ... A: I wish I knew. It is a mystery to me. You would think that many would want to know God first hand. ... | |
| Hello Jay! You wrote last... | 2/15/2006 |
| Q: You wrote last time that there are different levels of prayer (verbal, mental,spirit, contemplative) ... A: Prayer is a subject that could fill many books. Briefly verbal prayer is prayer that is said out ... | |
| Hello Mr Jay! What are... | 2/14/2006 |
| Q: What are the attributes one should have to call him a mystic? Is it just enough to pray quite often ... A: You ask a very good question. In a general sense, anyone who experiences union with Ultimate Reality ... | |
| eyes | 1/8/2006 |
| Q: I was able to experience an encounter with God about a month ago with my church. I received the ... A: I am glad to hear about your mystic encounter with God. There is nothing more important than first ... | |
| What kind of religion is Mysticism ? | 12/27/2005 |
| Q: I just wanted to know more about mysticism. Where does God and Jesus fir in this religion? A: Mysticism is not a religion, it is an aspect of religion, like theology. Let me explain. Theology ... | |
| MASONIC | 11/10/2005 |
| Q: ------------------------- i still don't get it , so does it mean they believe in the devil as there ... A: No, they don't believe in the devil as their god. The Masons are a diverse group, and their are ... | |
| MASONIC | 11/10/2005 |
| Q: WHAT IS MASONIC , AND WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE? A: Below is a qoute from Wikipedia on Freemasonry, which is also know as Masonic. After the quotes is ... | |
| whats going on | 3/8/2005 |
| Q: what is the meaning of life and when will it all end A: I believe that the meaning of life is not something that can be passed on intellectually from one ... | |
| ecstacy | 1/10/2005 |
| Q: Could you tell me about ecstacy? What is it, what is it like, is it a spontaneous thing that happens ... A: Ecstasy is any feeling of intense joy or delight. In Christianity it refers to rapture associated ... | |
| General Questions | 8/13/2004 |
| Q: My name is barrett and im 16 years old and i have alot of questions. I was born a christian and ... A: Having studied other religions, I found that Christianity better fit the facts of reality. I ... | |
| strange moon glow | 8/9/2004 |
| Q: I live in a rural area where I can see the stars and moon very well on a clear night. A little after ... A: Go speaks to us through nature. They are called natural parables. The cross is clearly an important ... | |
| mystical Christian groups | 7/21/2004 |
| Q: Joan Borysenko mentioned in an article that she belonged to a mystical Christian group. I am not ... A: The best place to start is at her web site www.joanborysenko.com But she doesn't mention which ... | |
Dr. Jay Forrest
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer any question dealing with mysticism, such as questions concerning the awakening call, the purgative way, the illuminative way, the unitive way, spiritual experiences, spiritual direction, spiritual disciplines, prayer, ecstasy, the rule of life, internal monasticism, asceticism, mystical theology, devotional helps, chanting, meditation, contemplation, hesychasm, kabbalah, sufi, tao, zen, theosophy, and more.
Experience
Dr. Jay Forrest is an ardent student of mysticism in all the major religions of the world (Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam). Jay was a Pentecostal/Charismatic minister for over 20 years, pastoring churches in Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, Arizona, and New Mexico. He is the author over over 150 articles and poems and several books. He holds a doctorate in ministry from Trinity Institute.
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