~~ Eso Terry
Esoteric means requiring special knowledge to understand; designed for only a select few. Esoteric Christianity, then, is a version of “Christianity” that can only be understood or practiced by those who have been properly initiated in secret knowledge. It is also knowledge that shouldn't be esoteric, but due to the world we live in has to be for the safety of its adepts.
Esoteric Christianity teaches that Christianity is a mystery religion and those with eyes to see, do see.
Now, before you run away because you just realized you are in the deep end of the spiritual swimming pool, let me tell you why there is an Esoteric Christianity, and I can do this in two words: Organized Religion, which began with the Christian persecution in Carthage, a major center in Roman North Africa, where the people were forced to denounce their Christian beliefs for the Roman emperor; this persecution continued on with the Christians who were labeled Heretics around 380 AD under Theodosius I who used the Roman church to enforce his, male-dominated, Christian orthodoxy through excommunication, confiscation of property, imprisonment, execution, etc.. Simply stated: anyone who had a different understanding of his teachings would at the very least lose their hands to write with, eyes to see with, and tongue to speak with in a gruesome public torture worse than any modern-day "slicer" film. Is it any wonder that many of the Christian monks swore an oath to silence in the days of the early Christian church?
Esoteric Christianity, is a form of the exoteric christian faith many early Christians had before those in power forced them into hiding. There are also those who kept the message in secret because they felt the people weren't ready for it. These adepts were the historical masters such as Pythagoras and Plato, (before Christ), and Meister Eckhart and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. (after Christ).
So Esoteric Christianity is not written in one book, although, we can narrow it down as a teaching that has more in common with Gnosticism, Theosophy, and Rosicrucianism than the genuine biblical Christianity. The common themes shared by these religions are that we are gods ourself, or as Jesus said, “... You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High” (Psalm 82:6).
Then, they also believe in reincarnation or as Jesus said: "Born Again" (John 3:3): Jesus told Nicodemus that one must be "born again,"and John the Baptist and Elijah (Matthew 11:13-14, 17:10-13): John the Baptist was "Elijah who was to come..."
Another theme you'll find in the Esoteric Christian teachings is that men and woman are equal, and both capable of leading a church. This is most notable in the teachings of the Tertullian, who was a lay theologian in Carthage church where woman were priest; conversely, they meditated, and believed in reincarnation too, yes, very Buddhist like indeed.
I said there wasn't a book on Esoteric Christianity, but there is one for those who want to know more, and you can find it free everywhere. It is 'Esoteric Christianity' by Annie Besant.
~~ Eso Terry
