The Mystical Heart of Christianity - Moving Beyond Literalism

The Mystical Heart of Christianity - Moving Beyond Literalism

1 - The Future of Esoteric Christianity. - Richard Smoley.
2 - Before Abraham Was, I Am. - Christopher Bamford.
3 - What Is Mysticism?. - Rev. Jon Mundy, Ph.D.
4 - Mystical Body, Man of Light: The Lost Secret of the Cosmic Christ. - Roger Woolger, Ph.D.
5 - The Return of the Absent Mother. - Rev. Carol Parrish, Ph.D.
6 - The Red Corner: The Creative Dimension of Folk Christianity in Russia and Beyond. - Cherry Gilchrist.
7 - Myth and Meaning in Christianity. - Robert Ellwood, Ph.D.

Richard Smoley
The Future of Esoteric Christianity

In his keynote address, Richard Smoley will discuss the dilemma of the outer versus the inner circle of religion. He will suggest how the external forms of the faith, understood literally, relate to esoteric truths, which point not to historical fact but to inner experience and awakening. He will describe some of the key teachings of esoteric Christianity, including the nature of the “kingdom of heaven”; the traditional esoteric division of the human entity into body, soul, and spirit; and the inner meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection. He will also show how these teachings can rescue conventional Christianity from many of its dilemmas and difficulties.

Richard Smoley’s latest book is Conscious Love: Insights from Mystical Christianity. He is the author of Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition and coauthor of Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions. Other recent books of his are The Essential Nostradamus and Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism. Richard is the former editor of Gnosis magazine and is currently editor of Quest Books.

Christopher Bamford
Before Abraham Was, I Am

Inner Christianity—like inner Judaism and inner Islam—begins with Abraham. This talk will trace the ramifications of his path through examples drawn from the three Abrahamic religions. In the process, we will explore practices such as affirmation, generosity, sacred hospitality, forgiveness, love, sacrifice, friendship, and surrender and see how they constitute a ladder that joins heaven and earth. We will also discover how we, too, can become bridges uniting the human, the angelic, and divine realms.

Christopher Bamford is author of The Voice of the Eagle, editor-in-chief of Steinerbooks and senior editor of Parabola.

Rev. Jon Mundy, Ph.D.
What Is Mysticism?

Exactly what is esoteric and what is mystical? How are they the same and how do they differ, and what does this mean in the 21st century? If you’re not Protestant and you’re not Catholic and you’re not Orthodox, but you have a strong urge toward the spiritual, what do you do? Do people know they have a choice beyond the divide of denominations? This talk explores the possibilities in esoteric Christianity, in interfaith groups, in New Thought, and in the individual path.

Rev. Jon Mundy, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor of philosophy and religion at Marist College and is cofounder of the New Seminary for the training of interfaith ministers and of Interfaith Fellowship in New York City. He is the author of Missouri Mystic and What Is Mysticism?

Roger Woolger, Ph.D.
Mystical Body, Man of Light: The Lost Secret of the Cosmic Christ

In this wide-ranging, sometimes startling exploration of lost traditions and little-understood teachings, using stunning slide-images, Dr. Woolger shows how the "Man of Light" pervades the universe in a human yet spiritual form. This image brings together ancient Egyptian doctrines, Platonism and Neoplatonism, and lies also at the heart of the Orphic and Mithraic Mysteries as well as early Gnostic Christian teachings. Dr. Woolger will show how a truly holistic vision of the Divine Cosmos mirrored in "The Human Form Divine" can replenish our empty spirituality and lead us to the great secret that unites heaven and earth, spirit and nature, body and soul.

Roger Woolger, Ph.D., is a Jungian analyst and specialist in past-life regressions and author of Other Lives, Other Selves and Healing Your Past Lives.

Rev. Carol Parrish, Ph.D.
The Return of the Absent Mother

Sophia (Wisdom) is the Greek name for the feminine principle of Creation. In this workshop, Dr. Parrish will describe how Sophia, although unrecognized for centuries, has continued to accompany humanity, appearing in intuitive flashes. She is entering our understanding today because only now are we ready to begin experiencing her in a more conscious way. Dr. Parrish will also discuss how Sophia provides the feminine insightfulness to partner with the Christ as the loving Master and how the wisdom and the love of Christ are one, showing us the way to a profound and authentic experience of the Christ within.

Rev. Carol E. Parrish, Ph.D., is founder and director of the intentional community of Sparrow Hawk Village, founding pastor of Light of Christ Community Church, dean of Sancta Sophia Seminary and a prolific author. A graduate of Gallup Leadership Institute, Carol has served on the President’s Council on the Status of Women in America and on the Board of Trustees of the International Council of Community Churches. The World Network of Religious Futurists Association presented her the Earl Award in 1998 for outstanding service in advancing the contribution of world religions to the future of humanity. In 2005 Carol received the coveted International Nebolsin Medal presented for outstanding service in the field of education for the common good of humanity at St. Petersburg, Russia. Long recognized as an inspired spiritual leader, Dr. Parrish has stimulated many people to rejoice in their oneness with God.

Cherry Gilchrist
The Red Corner: The Creative Dimension of Folk Christianity in Russia and Beyond

Russia is known as the country of “two faiths,” where Christianity and native traditions merge. Orthodox faith blends with ancient magical practices, and Christian saints take on the personality and powers of older gods. Even the home contains a combination of Christian and pagan elements, including the sacred “Red Corner.” Outside the formality of the church, Russian traditional spiritual culture is one of creative participation, with legends and folk narratives that include doing deals with the saints and the forces of nature. A spirituality that combines Christianity, local lore, and an awareness of nature is found in other traditions too, from England to Ethiopia. Rather than dismissing folk religion as unsophisticated, perhaps we can find a genuine spiritual path within it, one that offers a lively dialogue between our heritage and the tenets of Christianity.

Cherry Gilchrist is the author of nearly thirty books on mythology, inner traditions, alchemy, art, and culture. These include The Soul of Russia: Magical Traditions in an Enchanted Landscape (Quest: 2008) and Explore Alchemy (Heart of Albion 2007; formerly The Elements of Alchemy.) She is a graduate of Cambridge University, U.K., with a postgraduate diploma from the University of Bath Spa, and is a well-known lecturer for arts organizations, conferences, and cruises. She has studied the Western Hermetic tradition, astrology and Kabbalah for many years, and was a founding member of the Saros Foundation for the Perpetuation of Knowledge. She retains her roots in the Christian tradition, but is especially interested in the mysticism behind all religions, and meditation as a gateway to this. Cherry has a long-standing interest in oral history and traditional culture, including English folk song, the Silk Road, and Russia, which she has visited many times. At present she lives near Stroud, U.K..

Robert Ellwood, Ph.D.
Myth and Meaning in Christianity

Prof. Ellwood will briefly survey several major types of myth – creation, hero, eschatological, “charter” — with examples from Christianity; then he will explore major current theories of myth, from structuralist to psychoanalytic and archetypal, including Carl Jung’s and Joseph Campbell's “personalization” of myth. Prof. Ellwood will offer examples of how each theory could be applied to the Christian mythos, together with observations on both the strengths and dangers of mythic thinking. He will discuss the continued appeal of myth in our society as exemplified by The Wizard of Oz, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek. He will also suggest how esoteric Christianity could help create positive meanings for myth and enable people to work for individual and social healing.

Robert Ellwood is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion at the University of Southern California and a former vice-president of the Theosophical Society in America. He is the author of a number of books, including Theosophy: A Modern Expression of the Wisdom of the Ages; Frodo's Quest: Living the Myth in the Lord of the Rings; The Cross and the Grail: Esoteric Christianity for the Twenty-First Century; The Politics of Myth and (forthcoming) Key Concepts in Religion: Myth.

Lectures were given at the Theosophical Society of America.