Esoteric Christianity: A Rose by Any Other Name

Okay, so there is another word for what I am, and that is an esoteric Christian. "Esoteric" means some kind of knowledge that is hidden or obscured. The literal meaning is "inner layer," but it's general usage isn't the literal translation from the Latin.

What an esoteric Christian is: someone who follows Christ, but makes use of knowledge that is not on the surface of the Christian tradition, some kind of mystical knowledge.

Now, we get a bad rap from a lot of people. Personally, I think there are limits to the kind of knowledge that is appropriate for a Christian. I will admit that I haven't always stayed in those limits. But from everything to the signs of Heaven (Genesis) to the mysteries of the Bible, I believe that there is a huge amount of knowledge beneath the surface that is available to the Christian who follows Christ's Way.

It's really just another way of saying the same thing. Esoteric Christians tend to be very eclectic, as I am, and I make use of everything from Jewish mysticism to Jewish Torah commentary to astrology to energy work (... and Jesus felt the power go out of him...) to Gnosticism, although I do think some Gnostic sects were appallingly un-Christian.

Not all esoteric Christians believe in it, but I believe in the Incarnation in the flesh. In fact, I'm right there with Luther in saying that Jesus used the latrine. As Origen said, everything that was taken on was saved, and the implication is that everything was taken on.

I think to dehumanize Christ is a mistake. I believe he was more than a man, but I don't think he was less than a man, if that makes any sense.

There are some really good books on esoteric Christianity, in particular one just called "Esoteric Christianity" by the editors of GNOSIS magazine, which is now defunct I think. It may be out of print, but I bet you'll turn one up used on Amazon or eBay.

Well, I'll be back. Good morning all, or whenever you're reading this. Guess what? I had someone tell me that they and their friends are very interested in what I have to say! I thought I was boring people to tears! Thanks for being so kind people!