Mystic or nothing.

I’ve talked a lot about the mystics. In fact, back in Branches’ days, I did a whole series: “Jesus was a Mystic”".

But, just the other day it hit me: I’m a Mystic. As in, when people ask me if I’m a Christian anymore I say “No, I’m a Mystic.”

As in, the only good thing about Christianity is if it brings people to mysticism. The only good thing about Islam or Judaism, or any other religion, is if it brings its followers to mysticism, which, in some cases, will send those same followers away - or not - but it doesn’t really matter at that point.

As in, Jesus was most definitely a mystic. I’d argue Mohammed, Buddha, and all the great founders.

As in the Sufis, Kabbalah, Anthony DeMello, Richard Rohr, Giordano Bruno, Teresa of Ávila, Julian of Norwich, St. Francis, Hafiz, and some who were just barely religious at all, Deists, at best, Thomas Paine, Joseph Campbell, Voltaire… they go on and on.

They are not any single religion. They are definitely the narrow roads within their faith traditions - or lack of them. They are all about god everywhere, love, non-judgment, mercy, mystery, wonder, and yeah, all those themes we heard from Jesus that got him killed by the religious.

They are the ones that found the water and don't worship the wells.
They are the ones that say the more you know the more you don’t.
They are the ones that don’t worship books, but the divine.

They are the ones worth listening to and following.
And, when you do, they will not lead you to religion.