Esoteric Christianity

[Metadyjital]

Anyone have any experience or knowledge on what Esoteric Christianity is? I'd love to know, or even a website, book, whatever you can recommend

[theophilus]

Here is one description:

https://www.gotquestions.org/Esoteric-Christianity.html

[Heather Aine]

When I hear the term "Esoteric Christianity", I think of so many things, maybe some of them are not meant to be lumped into that category, but I think of Gnosticism (which doesn't necessarily have to be Christian), I think of Nag Hammadi scriptures, Manly P. Hall (and specifically his book The Secret Teachings of All Ages, which again transcends Christianity), Rosicrucians, and maybe even the Kabbalah, because the canon that became the "Bible" sprung from the essential Jewish canon and teachings. If you haven't been to www sacredtexts com - you can find some really interesting things across multiple topics. Wishing you well.

[LadyMay]

Christianity has the exoteric and the esoteric (like most religions). Exoteric is taking the myths as literal fact and following the commandments, it is externally focused. Esoteric Christianity is based on the inner truths of enlightenment that the myths and commandments point towards.

As Heather Aine said Christian Gnosticism is esoteric in nature, it is focused on the truth within and finding and experiencing that. It is knowledge based and not law based.

[Metadyjital]

I am struggling, I guess, with where I should begin.

[LadyMay]

Start with baby steps. Like anything. Read some of the gnostic gospels from the nag hammadi. The myths are a little strange but they are meant to be symbolic of the journey of the human soul, not literal events.

[LadyMay]

I also recommend reading the Corpus Hermeticum.

[Morpheus]

If humility is not at the center then there is nothing of value. "If we say we have no sin then we decieve ourselves, and the Truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins..."
Here is "knowing oneself"...
Otherwise, ego prevails, which is related with the devil.
Salvation must be prominent! That, on our own, we are helpless.

I recall that Paul spoke about concience. He said he knew full well that there is no God other than God Almighty, regarding eating food offered to idols, for example.
But that if it would offend a younger Christian to eat such, then... he would not eat!

He did speak though on the need to move from ingesting "milk", to eating, "meat".

At the center of everything must be love, not ego. Or, "Pride".

Understanding our need for the cross, on our behalf, is the power of the believer. Looking away from any supposed power of self, to the great sacrifice made for us.
Here is ego denied.

The JW will contest the cross as the method of atonement, but in that regard, it has little meaning.
The importance is atonement, which God Almighty instituted very long ago, in His mercy and grace.

Borne of His Love for us.

For, "God is love".

"Set your mind on things above, not on things below."
Say's His Word -
Here is a verse that transcends "religious" differences.
---------
"God is Spirit. And those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit, and in Truth".

[Zeke55]

Neville Goddard, and Walter Lanyon, two of my favorites, Bill Donahue wouldn't be classified Christian but has some good teaching that are similar, enjoy.