Is there an esoteric teaching of Christianity?

Question

Hi,

Judaism has Kabbalah, Islam has Sufism.
Do we know that there is one for Christianity too?

PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER WITH LINKS.

Thanks.

Answer 1

There's a host of them. For a long time Christianity didn't need a secret order separate from the mainstream. Christian Mysticism was a vibrant part of Christian life, especially in Greece and the Mediterranean. The writings of the Gnostics, the Desert Fathers, the Heysachts, the neo-Platonists of the Byzantine Orthodox Church all had massively mystical and esoteric aspects to them. I use the term 'esoteric' in its real sense meaning 'inner'. They focussed on the divine aspect of Man and the meaning of the Christ as being the connection between God and humanity. The Byzantine/Greek Orthodox Church subscribed to a Panentheistic view of God the Father - ie that God was immanent and transcendent of His Creation. They also believed that Man's destiny was to unite with God through the process known as Theosis.

Even in the Western branches of Christianity esoteric/mystical Christianity thrived until the Medieval period - Julian of Norwich, St Bonaventure, Joachim de Fiori, Meister Eckhardt (probably the greatest of Christian Mystics), Henry Suso, Johannes Tauler, John of Ruysbroek, Hildegard von Bingen all spoke openly about the mystical relationship between God, Man and Creation.

Other non-mainstream Christian movements also sprang up such as the Cathars, who preached similar ideas. Lay mystics such as Marguerite Porete and Hadewijch wrote extraordinary treatises on the transforming power of Divine Love as experienced in the heart of Man. But by this time the proliferation of such independent approaches to Christianity in Europe panicked the Church who feared heresy and spiritual anarchy. The Inquisition was instigated. Heretics were rooted out and burnt at the stake. During the Renaissance a new outburst of Christian esotericism & Mysticism broke out again - Ficino, Pico de Mirandola, Teresa of Avila, San Juan of the Cross etc. Some remained acceptable to the Church. Others, like Giordani Bruno, ended up burnt at the stake.

This lead to groups such as the Rosicrucians (meaning Rose Cross-ians), the Christian Hermeticists, Christian Alchemists developing. It is believed in some circles that these esoteric movements grew out of persecuted Christian sects such as the Cathars, the Templars, the Brethren of the Free Spirit, the Friends of God etc. A big influence was early Christian Gnosticism (prob via the Cathars). Another source was the discovery in Italy of the Kaballah, giving birth to a Christian Kaballah as figures such as Ficino and Pico began to see confirmation of the Christ message in the writings of the Jewish mystical tradition. A third influence was Alchemy, the ancient spiritual art of inner transformation into Immortal Light, again, interpreted by Christian Europeans along Christian lines, Christ being the embodiment of the end of this process of spiritual evolution. The final one was the Hermetica, a Graeco-Egyptian set of spiritual philosophy translated for the first time in Western Europe in Florence. The Hermetica preached a Divine Panentheism and identified God's inspiration in Man. Man's utimate destiny was to become one with God. The Christian Hermeticists, like the Christian Kaballists interpreted the Hermetica in Christian terms. The Renaissance was born.

But even then the Church was worried about these new developments. One of the Chief Hermeticists was Bruno, mentioned above. He ended up burnt to a crisp. And the Church didn't stop there, cracking down on Hermeticists, neo-Platonists, Kaballists etc - denouncing them as heretics, demonologists, sorcerers, satanists etc. It became too dangerous for Christian esotericists to stay out in the open. Thus secret societies and underground movements were born.

Of these, the Rosicrucians are probably the most famous and the most mysterious. They were a Christian movement who incorporated elements of Kaballah, Hermeticism & Alchemy as well as Christian neo-Platonism to create a new esoteric Christianity. They are mysterious because no one knows who they were originally. Many movements since have claimed to be reviving their ways - the Lectorium Rosicrucianum, the Rosicrucian Fellowship, AMORC etc. Their mystical/esoteric reading of the Bible is often very special.

Their central image was/is the Rose Cross, very simply: a normal Christian Cross but with a Rose blooming where Christ usually is. It is a multi-layered, inspirational image of spiritual resurrection - the Soul (Rose) blooming on the Body (the Cross)/ suffering transcended ie Joy (Rose) emerging victorious over suffering (the Cross)/ a New Consciousness growing out of the mundane/ the marriage of Masculine (Cross) and Feminine (Rose) etc.

The Rosicrucians believed in the creation of a New Man born out of inner transformation, Christ being the symbol of this New Man, fully unified with God. They also believed in a 'general Reformation' of mankind, bringing about a utopia of human joy, learning and discovery. Famous names associated with the Rosicrucian movement include Dr John Dee, Sir Francis Bacon, Goethe, Caspar David Friedrich etc etc. They had a huge influence culturally and spiritually on the esoteric development of the European Mind.

Check them out. I think you'll find them interesting.

Answer 2

Hi. The teachings of Jesus actually were mystical. They followed some traditions of Hillel (Jewish leader of the Pharisee school) in the teachings for example of the most important commandments being to love God and fellow human beings. This was not Jesus' original saying, but rather state of the art at the time. Jesus' teachings were controversial because they were mystical as well -- the of the tree of life, that he and Father were one, the keys to the Kingdom are all Jewish Kabbalistic concepts. If you try to read Christian interpretations through rationalistic Greek/Roman eyes much of the mystery is eliminated. Or, you can go back to the original. The whole concept of Messiah is Jewish esoterica! So, the closest esoteric teachings to Christianity are Jewish. The Jewish flavor of Jesus' teachings were actually outlawed at the Council of Nicea CE 325, where church canon (law) forbade all reference and celebration of the festivals Jesus celebrated and set up the persecution of Jews. Some so-called Christian Cabbala that grew up in the middle ages is basically magic and paganism with a little Christian terminology thrown in. Christian Cabbala/Quabala, might tend to take one further away from what Jesus communicated. On the other hand, Jewish Kabbalah might bring one closer. In the book "Keys to the Kingdom, Jesus and the Mystic Kabbalah" the author states Jesus was a master Kabbalist. This is not to say Kabbalah is Christian, but rather than Christianity is really Jewish.
I'd advise in general staying away from the Hollywood or cultish versions of Kabbalah, although they might be helpful to somebody. God can use anything....Good luck on your journey!

Answer 3

You can begin by examining the Gospel of Thomas. Gnosticism is esoteric in nature. A good book to read would be Elaine Pagel's Beyond Belief. Or the Stephen Mitchell translation of the Gospel of Thomas.

Answer 4

Some folks are more focused on the manifestations of the Spirit than others, so to a degree, within the framework of orthodox Christianity, there is.

The interesting thing, in my view, is that you find this across all denominations. Although the Baptists are attempting to eliminate one of the manifestations, speaking in tongues, the Spirit moves when, where and how He sees fit.

Answer 5

The Christian faith resulted in a great number of sects and apostates over the centuries.Many of which had an esoteric base. That is one reason, concerned and truly faithful Christians have a desire to return to the apostolic origins.

Answer 6

Some sects have a few esoteric practices. Take exorcisms for example, or Rosicrucians.

Answer 7

everybody would would choose to start up a faith with this ``one`` on the top of it would do properly to communicate of `` esoteric in spite of`` as a results of fact via doing so this ``one`` can nominate himself/herself as a results of fact the holder of this secret doctrine. for the reason that others are then meant to be unaware of such secret doctrine or ``mysteries``, they immediately can not choose them. ``The decrease can not see the better`` is their well-liked quote, they being the better of path. They then are previous and ethical sense ability not something to them. those self anointed persons, if we can nevertheless call them ``persons`` are extra healthful to become the worst sociopaths you may think of and insist finished obedience from their matters as regards any form of whim that crosses their twisted minds. everybody asserting that they tutor esoteric something or govern making use of esoteric wisdom, in my suggestions, ought to advance one hell of a substantial crimson flag. on the different area, nevertheless, we've the scholars of esoteric in spite of, frequently faculties, having not something of a existence being promised each and every thing, can not arise to falling prey to such minds. this actual time the place each and every physique is transforming into unemployed, transforming into bankrupt, dropping their residences, decrease than great rigidity, will grant those criminal minds with lots of fodder. there are a variety of of extra effective than ``One born each and every minute`` as a results of fact the asserting is going. the main ingredient right here's a feeling of ever-transforming into powerlessness. There seems to be not something to lose and each thing to income, so why not! ``seems`` is the operative word and it truly is an phantasm. The Universe is a source of properly being, of lots, and it truly is available to ALL. branch and separation is the sign of people who would greedily suck your souls. recognition and Oneness in Love and excitement, the sign of the real street. Cheers!

Answer 8

Gnostic Christianity is very esoteric.

Answer 9

Fundamentalists

Answer 10

there are many denominations in christianity, but i'm pretty sure we all believe the same thing...different denominations emphasize different secondary things but we're all in agreement about the MAIN thing. =]