Mysticism has been in the past and probably ever will be one of the great powers of the world and it is bad scholarship to pretend the contrary. You may argue against it but you should no more treat it with disrespect than a perfectly cultivated writer would treat (say) the Catholic Church or the Church of Luther no matter how much he disliked them.

Summary

This quote highlights the importance of respecting and acknowledging mysticism as a significant force in the world, despite personal objections. The author argues that it is not scholarly to dismiss mysticism, just as it would be uncultured for an accomplished writer to disrespect established institutions like the Catholic Church or the Church of Luther, regardless of personal feelings towards them. It suggests that even when disagreeing with mysticism, a balanced and respectful approach should be maintained.

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