Traços de misticismo na vida e obra de frei Damião sobre a ótica de William James

Abstract

This study analyzes the presence of mysticism in Frei Damião de Bozzano (1898–1997) in light of the philosophy of William James (1842–1910), especially his concepts of mystical experience and religious pragmatism. The objective was to examine evidence of mysticism and the practical results of religiosity in the life and work of Frei Damião, according to the Jamesian conception of religious experience. The theoretical foundation is primarily based on The Varieties of Religious Experience, which describes the nature of individual religious experience and the four characteristics of mystical experience—ineffability, noetic quality, transiency, and passivity; and on Pragmatism, which emphasizes experience and action as fruits of faith. The methodology was qualitative, relying on bibliographic research and case study, with content analysis of the data. The results indicate experiences of Frei Damião that approximate Jamesian mysticism: difficulty in expressing intimate experiences, demonstrations of intuitive knowledge (such as predictions of illnesses), and an attitude of passivity and obedience to faith, although marked by controversies in his opposition to Protestantism. It is concluded that James’s perspective reinforces the understanding of Frei Damião as a mystic, since his concepts of personal religion and mystical experience resonate with the friar’s life. Furthermore, pragmatism values the fruits of faith, observable in the spiritual and social benefits attributed to him, reaffirming his place as an expression of popular Catholicism and broadening the understanding of his legacy.