Yes, very astute of you. From William of Ockham. To wit, when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better.
But Ernst Mach had his own version. "Scientists must use the simplest means of arriving at their results and exclude everything not perceived by the senses."
The problem with that is with the "senses". If they are clouded by agendas or biased in any way whatsoever then the theory will contain limitations.
That is why the use of strictly logic and reason can in many cases block the discovery of Truth.
As for God? I have barely an inkling of the concept. I prefer to concentrate on Truth. That concept is hard enough. And I suspect once Truth is understood, then the concept of God will be much clearer. And before we can understand Truth, it may be necessary to understand the concept of "knowledge".
One step at a time.
The esoteric teaching about knowledge and being refers to the fact that knowledge cannot be understood unless there is a corresponding development of being.
A man may know a great deal and understand nothing because his being is not equal to his knowledge.
As a consequence, no inner union can take place between his being and his knowledge . . . The man of poor being and great knowledge can only give out meaningless material that leads nowhere.
And not only this, but he can only complicate everything and make it unintelligible.
A new model for "mystical" probably is called for as you say, I just have not heard of one yet that fits our modern day sensibilities. Possibly "seeker on the path to Truth" is the best I can come up with. In any case, such a one generally isn't concerned so much with labels or models as they are with "change", since everything is in a constant state of change.
The true "seeker" never evangelizes, never tries to convince people they ought to achieve a higher state of being, never argues with a seed that it should become a plant. Rather, he simply makes available the knowledge that a seed can become a plant --- if it learns how to die to being a seed.
And there are many pitfalls as well as falsities, and also those who would pose as seekers of the Truth who really are not, thus leading many astray. But most of all there are the detractors and the ridiculers who can stifle ones growth toward Truth. So you first have to ask, what in a seed would keep it a seed?
- The assumption that it's present state of being is final and complete,
- Fear of what it means to die as a seed,
- The presumption that it is already a plant (there are many seeds, pretending to be plants),
- Su ion of the idea that seeds can become plants,
- Complete satisfaction with its present state as a seed,
- Laziness, lethargy, obsession with seed pleasures.
Any and all of this can impede ones progress.