Inner Christianity : A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition

Rating:
Summary: ponderous psychology, not christianity
Review: I was looking for a book that would explore some of the non-traditional thoughts and philosophies of Christianity to help me with some of my own struggles. This is not the book. One has to wonder what, if anything, Smoley beieves is actually true and historic about Jesus and Christianity since his writing clearly indicates he feels the bible is all myth and legend. I'm not a fundamentalist, but I also don't accept that the bible teaches us nothing more than how to relate to our inner being through some pretty far stretches of interpretation. Psychologists who are willing to endure a ponderously written text in order to learn how to write off every significant aspect of Christian beliefs, without threatening their clients, may like this. But those looking for an insight outside traditional religious thought to grow their faith should look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: A balanced and useful guide.
Review: This is by far the best book I have read on the subject. For anyone wanting to understand the esoteric core of the Faith, you could confidently start here. Unlike many other writers on the subject, Richard doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater and believers will find plenty to explore here. It will however require an open mind, especially from those of a more evangelical background, where the esoteric is often felt to be alien to or even against the teachings of Christ. Coming from that environment, I found the book refreshing and reassuring.

Rating:
Summary: The Secret Church
Review: Unlocking the wisdom of esoteric Christianity
In 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.