Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition

To appreciate my comments it is perhaps necessary to tell you a itlle bit of where I am coming from. I was raised in an essentially non-practicing Eastern Orthodox family, where the church was more of a cultural and identity institution. Combine this with the innate belief in the supremacy of rationality, and I was at a point where I believed that Christianity was nothing more than a social institution with rituals to just perpetuate itself. Theologically, I felt that the doctrine of original sin was something I could not believe. I also became convinced of the reality of re-incarnation, that Karma is not a "punishment" meted out by a "judge", but a universal principle of justice flowing from the fact that we create our destiny because of what we will into our lives. I thought the "faith only" formula was a socially useful convention, but that it did not answer our needs as intellectually curious human beings. So overall, one can see that by this point, it was hard for me to say I was a Christian according to the orthodox definition. This led me to read a lot of New Age, Buddhist, Hindu, Gnostic and even some channelled literature. If there was a thread combining these, it was that we are spiritual beings, who can realize our true nature through internal contemplation. I found this book, curiously enough, in the metaphysical section at a Borders shop, and not among the other Christian literature. To my mind, the esoteric tradition described in this book starts by acknowledging the gnostic path. That is, inner knowledge of God is possible. It extends this by stating the inner journey is a journey back to our oneness with God and with our true nature. Hence, there is no difference between creator and creation, but there is the illusion of separation because of the exercise of free will. This book has allowed me to appreciate much more the Eastern Orthodox tradition I was brought up under. Even given its warts and all, the Eastern church focuses more on spiritual practice leading to inner knowing, on contemplation of unanswerable mysteries rather than on intellectual understanding. Perhaps one of the commentators below is right - it is perhaps more "pre-christian" than christian. But, to my mind, that gives it more value, not less, as it points to a universality that both pre-dates and post-dates the emergence of Christ. Overall, I really liked this book and would highly recommend it.

In this beautifully written book, Richard Smoley provides a clear introduction to the rich and complex world of esoteric Christianity. As stated in the introduction of this "guide," the intent is to provide an accessible entry to the deeply intellectual and intuitive area of esoteric Christianity for the person who is perhaps not an expert in this area. Each chapter is a window that allows one to look into an aspect of the esoteric Christian tradition, complete with examples and exercises. The author opens profoundly difficult topics and unpacks their many layers and meanings, making it possible for the layperson to understand challenging concepts. He then points to a selection of Christian esoteric classics, for those who wish to build further on the foundation that he carefully and thoughtfully provides. And if one wants to continue their study, the bibliography is rich with readings that will take many years to absorb. For this reader, the book is a delight of riches that continue to unfold even after multiple readings of the book. For the serious seeker, this book can begin a life changing journey that will only deepen if the reader seeks to explore the many layers provided by Richard Smoley. He is a great teacher who speaks with a language that is simple and calm on the surface, while holding great depths of meaning under the surface.

Unlocking the wisdom of esoteric ChristianityIn this thought provoking work, the author draws upon a wide spectrum of esoteric and mystical sources to demonstrate how multidimensional the Christian tradition really is. In simple language he brings to light the most profound wisdom of Christianity as a remedy for the loss of faith in these times. The book concentrates more on the esoteric rather than the mystical strain and claim that the Bible was always meant to be read on several different levels. It is certainly true that the universal truths of esoteric knowledge are expressed just as much in Christianity as in any other tradition. Part One explores the history of the hidden teachings with reference to hermeticism, kabbalah, Rosicrucianism, monasticism, the church fathers Clement and Origin, plus Rudolf Steiner and Carl Jung. He also looks at modern practitioners of inner Christianity like Stephan Hoeller. Part Two: The Vision, considers issues like The World and The Fall, Salvation and Gnosis, The Second Birth, Cosmology, The Gospels and the Works of Christ, and the Feminine Face of God. Part Three: Expressions, investigates spiritual practices, love, evil, forgiveness, symbols, sacraments and the secret church. The afterword includes a list of recommended books with comments, such as A Course In Miracles, Meditations On The Tarot by Valentin Tomberg, The Cloud Upon The Sanctuary by Karl von Eckarthausen, A Different Christianity by Robin Amis, The New Man by Maurice Nicoll and The Rose Of The World by Daniel Andreev. The book includes black and white illustrations, copious notes, a selected bibliography and an index.

I was at a point in my life where I could no longer hold to the evangelical tenants of faith which had underscored my spirituality for a lifetime. I felt as though I were in a vortex in the sea with the chunks of my faith floating around me. I didn't want to discard my faith; I wanted to find a new way to rebuild it. Richard Smoley's treatise on the inner way of esoteric Christianity answered every question that had been swirling around me. Inner Christianity was a guiding beacon in what had become a murky way, and I found myself on solid ground again. It is a book that I shall read again and again as I move along this continuum of faith.

Inner Christianity give a new, powerful view of the Christian faith, its history and the work of self-transformation found within its teachings. Not pedantic, not preaching, just a clear, calm , non-sectarian guide to the inner meanings of Christianity. I have found over the years that Richard Smoley, who edited Gnosis magazine for many years, is one of the very best writers on (sometimes difficult) esoteric spiritual subjects, making them understandable without sacrificing intelligence or balance. I highly recommend this book.