Thanks David, interesting you mention travel guides. I wrote a whole post quite a while ago about theology being the maps drawn of terra incognito of those explorers who had gone before. Not original with me, but something that C.S. Lewis said.

As for theology vs mysticism or direct experience. In an earlier post I quoted Br. David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, who defined theology as intellectualizing that direct experience. Of course, intellectualizing it, or writing down one's thoughts about an experience, is not the same as the experience. But I also disagreed with the Brother as I think theology intellectualizes or systematically attempts to organize and explain not just direct experience, but a wide range of sources of knowledge, information and insight into God. Mystical experiences and direct experiences are definitely a part of that, but to me, not the whole thing. On a personal level, I may question the evidence, question the rationality, but when I observe the universe, my life, and my reflections on the meaning the overwhelming sense of beauty and goodness that seems essential to all that overwhelms the rational. As, I think, it was meant to be.