"This unique comparative overview begins with a definition of mysticism and a discussion of its place within religion as a whole. Soltes then explores the history of mysticism from Biblical times through the present day, highlighting the emergence of mysticism within the three traditions and how beliefs and practices converge and diverge over time. The final chapters discuss the growing interest in mysticism today through practices such as Kabbalah and how people publicly express their private encounters with God through art, literature, and other modern media."--Jacket.

Introduction: what is mysticism? -- The birth and development of the Abrahamic faiths -- The roots of Judaism and Christianity -- The emergence of Jewish mystical thought -- Early Christian mysticism -- A third player on the stage: Muslim mysticism from the Qur'an to Ibn 'Arabi -- Medieval Jewish mysticism form Merkavah to Kabbalah -- Medieval Christian mysticism from Assisi to Avila -- The spread of and variety within Sufism -- Variations within Jewish and Christian mysticism from the Renaissance through emancipation -- Still searching: the persistence of mysticism in the modern era -- Unfinished epilogues.