Esoteric Christianity

Short description: Christian theology

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The Temple of the Rose Cross, Teophilus Schweighardt Constantiens, 1618.

Esoteric Christianity is an approach to Christianity which features "secret traditions" that require an initiation to learn or understand.[1] The term esoteric was coined in the 17th century and derives from the Greek ἐσωτερικός (Script error: The function "transl" does not exist., "inner").[2]

These spiritual currents share some common features, such as heterodox or heretical Christian theology; the canonical gospels, various apocalyptic literature, and some New Testament apocrypha as sacred texts;[citation needed] and disciplina arcani, a supposed oral tradition from the Twelve Apostles containing esoteric teachings of Jesus the Christ.[1]

Esoteric Christianity is closely related to Gnosticism, and survives in a few modern churches.[1]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Ancient roots
* 1.2 Present-day denominations
* 2 Concepts
* 2.1 Reincarnation
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 Further reading

## History

### Ancient roots

Some modern scholars believe that in the early stages of proto-orthodox Christianity, a nucleus of oral teachings were inherited from Palestinian and Hellenistic Judaism.[1] In the 4th century, it was believed to form the basis of a secret oral tradition which came to be called disciplina arcani.[1] Mainstream theologians, however, believe that it contained only liturgical details and certain other traditions which remain a part of some branches of mainstream Christianity.[1][3][4] Important influences on esoteric Christianity are the Christian theologians Clement of Alexandria and Origen, the leading figures of the Catechetical School of Alexandria.[5][need quotation to verify]

### Present-day denominations

A denomination of esoteric Christianity is The Christian Community.[6] It focuses on the experiential aspect of sacraments, with the Eucharist serving as "the Rite of the Consecration of Man".[6]

Scholar Jan Shipps describes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as having esoteric elements.[7]

## Concepts

### Reincarnation

Influenced by the Platonic doctrine of metempsychosis, reincarnation of the soul was accepted by most Gnostic Christian sects such as Valentinianism and the Basilidians, but denied by the proto-orthodox one.[citation needed] While hypothetically considering a complex multiple-world transmigration scheme in De Principiis, Origen denies reincarnation in his work Against Celsus and elsewhere.[8][9]

Despite this apparent contradiction, most modern esoteric Christian movements refer to Origen's writings (along with other Church Fathers and biblical passages) to validate these ideas as part of the esoteric Christian tradition outside of the Gnostic schools, who were later considered heretical in the 3rd century.[10]

## See also

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Guy G. Stroumsa (2005). Hidden Wisdom: Esoteric Traditions and the Roots of Christian Mysticism. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 90-04-13635-5
2. ↑ Oxford English Dictionary Compact Edition, Volume 1, Oxford University Press, 1971, p. 894.)
3. ↑ Frommann, De Disciplina Arcani in vetere Ecclesia christiana obticuisse fertur, Jena 1833.
4. ↑ Edwin Hatch, The Influence of Greek Ideas and Usages upon the Christian Church, London: Williams and Norgate, 1907, Lecture X.
5. ↑ Jean Daniélou, Origen, translated by Walter Mitchell, 1955.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Melton, J. Gordon; Baumann, Martin (21 September 2010) (in English). Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 620. ISBN 978-1-59884-204-3.
7. ↑ Shipps, Jan. The Mormons: Looking Forward and Outward. Christian Century, August 16-23, 1978, pp. 761-766.
8. ↑ Catholic Answers, Quotes by Church Fathers Against Reincarnation , 2004.
9. ↑ John S. Uebersax, Early Christianity and Reincarnation: Modern Misrepresentation of Quotes by Origen, 2006.
10. ↑ Archeosofica, Articles on Esoteric Christianity (classical authors)

## Further reading

* Anonymous (1985). Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey Into Christian Hermeticism. New York: Tarcher/Penguin. ISBN 978-1-5854-2161-9.
* Brown, Coleston (2007). Magical Christianity: The Power of Symbols for Spiritual Renewal. Wheaton, IL: Quest Books. ISBN 978-0-8356-0855-8.
* Duncan, Anthony (1996). The Lord of the Dance: An Essay in Mysticism. Sun Chalice Books. ISBN 978-0-9650-8395-9.
* Kirby, Richard S. (April 10, 1999). "The Focus of Esoteric Futures". http://www.wnrf.org/cms/esotericf.shtml.
* Knight, Gareth (2010). Experience of the Inner Worlds. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Skylight Press. ISBN 978-1-9080-1103-9.
* Knight, Gareth (2011). A History of White Magic. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire: Skylight Press. ISBN 978-1-9080-1104-6.
* Powell, Robert (2007). The Sophia Teachings: The Emergence of the Divine Feminine in Our Time. Aurora, CO: Lindisfarne Books. ISBN 978-1-5842-0048-2.
* Smoley, Richard (2002). Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition. Boston: Shambhala Publications. ISBN 978-1-5706-2810-8.

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