Events
Esoteric Christianity: Awakening to Inner Mysteries
In this four-part series, renowned esoteric scholar and teacher Richard Smoley, author of Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition, will explore some of the deeper mysteries beneath the surface of Christianity. Who was Jesus, and what was he trying to do? Are the Gospels historically accurate? Is Christianity the heir of the old mystery religions? And, most importantly, what use is it to us today?
Explore these and other intricacies of Christian mystical teachings as Richard walks you through the history, ideas, and politics of this intriguing tradition from its inception to the present, and learn the teachings that can lead you to inner transformation.
Format: Richard will prerecord the lectures, and they will be streamed at the scheduled times, during which you will be able to chat with the technical host and fellow participants. Thereafter, participants with questions and comments are invited to email Richard.
Richard Smoley is the author of nine books on spirituality, philosophy, and religion. His work has been praised as “lively, learned, and level-headed.” His other books include Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism, The Deal: A Guide to Radical and Complete Forgiveness, and How God Became God: What Scholars Are Really Saying about God and the Bible.Richard is also editor of Quest: Journal of the Theosophical Society in America and has been featured in numerous YouTube videos. Learn more at his website: www.innerchristianity.com.
Registration includes access to recordings of all the classes. For more information, click on the link below.
A new webinar by Richard:
Gnosis and the Gnostics: From Ancient Times to the Present
Today there is much talk of the Gnostics, the ancient visionaries, long-reviled as heretics, who may have possessed the keys to the deepest secrets of Christianity. Who were the Gnostics? Where did they come from? Did they leave any descendants? More importantly, what is gnosis and is it useful to us today?
In this four-part webinar, Richard Smoley will draw upon his book, Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism, to explore these topics. Individual classes will discuss: (1) The Gnostic Problem: the nature of the universe and the source of evil; (2) Ancient Gnosticism: Gnostic teachings and teachers from the first to the fourth centuries AD; (3) The Gnostic Legacy: whether and how ancient Gnosticism may have survived up to the present; (4) Gnosticism Today: Gnostic influences on culture from the eighteenth century on, with discussion of personal experience of gnosis.
Thursdays, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Central time [UTC-05]
April 12 - May 3 (4 classes)
Cost: $40 for members of the Theosophical Society; $50 for nonmembers