Why Some Christians Distrust Mysticism (History Corner) episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 4, 2026 · 34 MIN

Why Some Christians Distrust Mysticism (History Corner)

from The Pocket Contemplative · host Dave Schmelzer

"I dunno, that seems kind of out there to me" is a sentiment that has shadowed Christian conversations from the start. Dave Schmelzer takes us on a journey to the second century when early attempts to define orthodoxy made consequential choices about how much our experience might inform our understanding of who God is. He introduces us to key figures like Irenaeus and to a consequential debate that perhaps we haven't heard about: whether the fourth gospel would be John's or Thomas's.Mentioned on this episode:Journey to the Heart: Christian Contemplation Through the Centuries, edited by Kim NatarajaYou can sign up for Dave's "Thursday Notes" hereSome resources about The Gospel of Thomas you might enjoy:The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated & Explained, by Stevan DaviesBeyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, by Elaine Pagels

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 4, 2026

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"I dunno, that seems kind of out there to me" is a sentiment that has shadowed Christian conversations from the start. Dave Schmelzer takes us on a journey to the second century when early attempts to define orthodoxy made consequential choices about how much our experience might inform our understanding of who God is. He introduces us to key figures like Irenaeus and to a consequential debate that perhaps we haven't heard about: whether the fourth gospel would be John's or Thomas's. Mentio...

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Why Some Christians Distrust Mysticism (History Corner)

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