Esoteric Christianity is an ensemble of spiritual currents which regard Christianity as a mystery religion, and profess the existence and possession of certain esoteric doctrines or practices, hidden from the public but accessible only to a narrow circle of "enlightened", "initiated", or highly educated people.
These spiritual currents share some common denominators, such as:
- heterodox or heretical Christian theology;
- the four canonical gospels, various apocalyptic literature, and some New Testament apocrypha as sacred texts; and
- disciplina arcani, a supposed oral tradition from the Twelve Apostles containing esoteric teachings of Jesus the Christ.
Read more about Esoteric Christianity: Mystery Religion, Ancient Roots, Early Modern Forms, Modern Forms
Famous quotes containing the word esoteric:
“It is an esoteric doctrine of society that a little wickedness is good to make muscle; as if conscience were not good for hands and legs.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
Related Words