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Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition
An eye-opening introduction to the complex world of esoteric Christianity—perfect for the general reader
This guide to mystical and esoteric Christianity speaks from a nonsectarian point of view, unearthing insights from the whole of the Christian tradition, orthodox and heretical, famous and obscure. The esoteric tradition has traditionally searched for meanings that would yield a deeper inner knowledge of the divine. While traditional Christianity draws a timeline from Adam's Fall to the Day of Judgment, the esoteric often sees time as folding in on itself, bringing every point to the here and now. While the Church fought bitterly over dogma, the esoteric borrowed freely from other traditions—Kabbalah, astrology, and alchemy—in their search for metaphors of inner truth.
Rather than basing his book around exponents of esoteric doctrine, scholar Richard Smoley concentrates on the questions that are of interest to every searching Christian. How can one attain direct spiritual experience? What does "the Fall" really tell us about coming to terms with the world we live in? Can we find salvation in everyday life? How can we ascend, spiritually, through the various levels of existence? What was Christ's true message to humankind? From the Gospel of Thomas to A Course in Miracles, from the Jesus Prayer to alchemy and Tarot, from Origen to Dante to Jung, Richard Smoley sheds the light of an alternative Christianity on these issues and more.
This guide to mystical and esoteric Christianity speaks from a nonsectarian point of view, unearthing insights from the whole of the Christian tradition, orthodox and heretical, famous and obscure. The esoteric tradition has traditionally searched for meanings that would yield a deeper inner knowledge of the divine. While traditional Christianity draws a timeline from Adam's Fall to the Day of Judgment, the esoteric often sees time as folding in on itself, bringing every point to the here and now. While the Church fought bitterly over dogma, the esoteric borrowed freely from other traditions—Kabbalah, astrology, and alchemy—in their search for metaphors of inner truth.
Rather than basing his book around exponents of esoteric doctrine, scholar Richard Smoley concentrates on the questions that are of interest to every searching Christian. How can one attain direct spiritual experience? What does "the Fall" really tell us about coming to terms with the world we live in? Can we find salvation in everyday life? How can we ascend, spiritually, through the various levels of existence? What was Christ's true message to humankind? From the Gospel of Thomas to A Course in Miracles, from the Jesus Prayer to alchemy and Tarot, from Origen to Dante to Jung, Richard Smoley sheds the light of an alternative Christianity on these issues and more.
292 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 29, 2011
I first read this book in 2004. And have been re-reading it sporadically ever since; each fresh review brings greater understanding. As a free lance esotericist, I have been exploring related subjects for more than 50 years.
But I am a 5th generation native of the Pacific NW, raised with the traditional views of the area. Meaning without religion at all. In addition, I am a left-wing labor populist. My view of Christianity was mostly that of the usual dismissive attitude of many activists. We just "knew" that this religion (or at least its institutions) was to blame for all of western society's ills.
Few realize that, logically, this is akin to condemning the entire idea of democracy because people are uninformed, the media trivializes or ignores important issues, and officials are more concerned with campaign money than the common good. Particularly in this era of economic determinism.
In my own case, the powerful environment of the NW always affected me in a way I would now call a form of nature mysticism. Late in life, I earned a degree in botany with a forestry minor. I soon concluded that ecosystem preservation could not be done without addressing the need for economic equity. Which is a matter of ethics and morals, the province of the world's religious traditions.
As an American, I had to learn how to present the case within the framework of western religion... Christianity. I already had an extensive background, both by experience and by research, in what Smoley calls the western esoteric tradition. A legacy that extends back to ancient Egypt. A legacy that I found to be, much to my surprise, also deeply at home within a Christianity rarely acknowledged by church hierarchs and virtually invisible to the general public. Although now an overworked cliche, it is, however, true that change in the greater culture begins with spiritual change in the individual self.
What Smoley has done is no less than situate what he calls inner Christianity within the whole arc of western civilization. By itself, that is a cure for the American tendency to live only in a limited present, as if context didn't matter. Yet he does much more. This book is also an appeal to the practical mind. He shows what works and why. And he does so by means of a terminology that separates difficult concepts into understandable levels in order that we are able to grasp some idea of the immensity of whole: the infinite divine.
Nor is the author content with leaving us at the psychological point of the beginner's feel-good encounters with light. He gives us the full truth. That this Way is hard work, takes time, and is sometimes dangerous. There's the dark night of the soul. It's not merely personal depression-- it's terrifying. It's to be lost and alone in a neverending now; no hope, no help, no end. Crossing that abyss is birth of the process towards spiritualized being. The legacy of a Christianity which recognizes the potential divinity within every human.
This book, Inner Christianity, is quite simply the best manual out there.
But I am a 5th generation native of the Pacific NW, raised with the traditional views of the area. Meaning without religion at all. In addition, I am a left-wing labor populist. My view of Christianity was mostly that of the usual dismissive attitude of many activists. We just "knew" that this religion (or at least its institutions) was to blame for all of western society's ills.
Few realize that, logically, this is akin to condemning the entire idea of democracy because people are uninformed, the media trivializes or ignores important issues, and officials are more concerned with campaign money than the common good. Particularly in this era of economic determinism.
In my own case, the powerful environment of the NW always affected me in a way I would now call a form of nature mysticism. Late in life, I earned a degree in botany with a forestry minor. I soon concluded that ecosystem preservation could not be done without addressing the need for economic equity. Which is a matter of ethics and morals, the province of the world's religious traditions.
As an American, I had to learn how to present the case within the framework of western religion... Christianity. I already had an extensive background, both by experience and by research, in what Smoley calls the western esoteric tradition. A legacy that extends back to ancient Egypt. A legacy that I found to be, much to my surprise, also deeply at home within a Christianity rarely acknowledged by church hierarchs and virtually invisible to the general public. Although now an overworked cliche, it is, however, true that change in the greater culture begins with spiritual change in the individual self.
What Smoley has done is no less than situate what he calls inner Christianity within the whole arc of western civilization. By itself, that is a cure for the American tendency to live only in a limited present, as if context didn't matter. Yet he does much more. This book is also an appeal to the practical mind. He shows what works and why. And he does so by means of a terminology that separates difficult concepts into understandable levels in order that we are able to grasp some idea of the immensity of whole: the infinite divine.
Nor is the author content with leaving us at the psychological point of the beginner's feel-good encounters with light. He gives us the full truth. That this Way is hard work, takes time, and is sometimes dangerous. There's the dark night of the soul. It's not merely personal depression-- it's terrifying. It's to be lost and alone in a neverending now; no hope, no help, no end. Crossing that abyss is birth of the process towards spiritualized being. The legacy of a Christianity which recognizes the potential divinity within every human.
This book, Inner Christianity, is quite simply the best manual out there.
August 10, 2012
I discovered this book about 5 to 7 years ago. It's sort of a grounding tool for me. I am always able to understand the "deep" of Christianity, a bit better each time I pick it up. And my awe and reverence for the true nature of God awakens from it's complacency in me. I LOVE THIS BOOK!
July 18, 2008
Can you review a book you've not yet finished? I'm going to at any rate, and add my other cent once it's all done.
I originally found this book on Amazon, then picked up a copy at my local bookstore. It's a bit of a dry read, but so far is well worth the slogging. I had been searching for a book or books dealing with the other nuances of Christian worship. Most books seem to be of the "go to church every weekend and that's enough" mentality, which is fine and all, but it still seemed like something was missing. After growing up reading about saints, mystics, hermetics and their take on faith I couldn't help wondering what had happened to our own mystic tradition. A tradition that valued direct connection to God and experiencing (Both actively and passively) the Divine. A quieter tradition that focused on the daily, individual relationship between God and man, and not so much the social "Ain't our God nifty?" aspect.
What I have (So far, at least) is this book which I am very much enjoying. Right now it's still laying out the groundwork of defining mysticism, the various groups along the way, common symbology, history and a healthy bit of psychology. Like I said, this isn't an Oprah book club read-in-a-weekend thing, but something to be taken in doses and reflected upon. It has given me new insight to the Bible, reading it not simply as an account of what some folks did in the desert a couple thousand years back, but of the soul's own journey in metaphore. That alone was worth the price of the book!
I originally found this book on Amazon, then picked up a copy at my local bookstore. It's a bit of a dry read, but so far is well worth the slogging. I had been searching for a book or books dealing with the other nuances of Christian worship. Most books seem to be of the "go to church every weekend and that's enough" mentality, which is fine and all, but it still seemed like something was missing. After growing up reading about saints, mystics, hermetics and their take on faith I couldn't help wondering what had happened to our own mystic tradition. A tradition that valued direct connection to God and experiencing (Both actively and passively) the Divine. A quieter tradition that focused on the daily, individual relationship between God and man, and not so much the social "Ain't our God nifty?" aspect.
What I have (So far, at least) is this book which I am very much enjoying. Right now it's still laying out the groundwork of defining mysticism, the various groups along the way, common symbology, history and a healthy bit of psychology. Like I said, this isn't an Oprah book club read-in-a-weekend thing, but something to be taken in doses and reflected upon. It has given me new insight to the Bible, reading it not simply as an account of what some folks did in the desert a couple thousand years back, but of the soul's own journey in metaphore. That alone was worth the price of the book!
April 28, 2019
Fantastic overview and touchstone for further inquiry
I found Inner Christianity to be a fantastic overview of the deeper understandings of Christianity and a touchstone for further inquiry. I’m looking forward to following up on several books that were mentioned, and I also feel that I gained a good foundation to help me digest other materials. I highly recommend the book for those who are drawn to this topic.
I found Inner Christianity to be a fantastic overview of the deeper understandings of Christianity and a touchstone for further inquiry. I’m looking forward to following up on several books that were mentioned, and I also feel that I gained a good foundation to help me digest other materials. I highly recommend the book for those who are drawn to this topic.
November 10, 2016
I came to this book looking for a perspective on spirituality that didn’t involve institutional religion and dogma. The author gives a very balanced view of esoteric teachings, touching on everything from ancient insights into the nature of the cosmos and the doctrine of the Trinity to holy magic and secret societies of esoteric Christians through the ages. I found the distinction between mysticism— the focus on devotional practices that bring one into the presence of God — and esotericism — the pursuit of knowledge about the unseen realm— to be very helpful in informing my own spiritual journey. Also, the conclusions of the author in regard to the cost of following the esoteric tradition and its benefits. A good starting-point for anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of inner as opposed to outer Christianity.
December 27, 2024
Another great book.
February 28, 2022
Yet another author attempting to salvage some part of Christianity rather than abandoning the system wholesale. People have been attempting to do this for a long time once inconvenient facts started to come out about their origins & history being often violent or based on lies.
Despite the disclaimer in this book that it's not a book of Christian apologetics, the author seems to have a preference for an orthodox Christian perspective. I do believe the word "Christian" has a meaning: that you accept in total the version of Christianity that was created by Roman Emperors & bishops with their creeds, dogmas, and all the rest around the year 400. Otherwise, "Christian" becomes a meaningless word since it can be watered down to mean whatever you want it to be (e.g. "I believe in Jesus" or "I believe in The Bible" or "I obey the Pope"). In reality, there has never been unity in "Christianity" and it's more of a catchall term that applies to anyone who thinks Jesus Christ is the key connection to the divine. That's a very vague notion.
The author states definitions & history from the perspective of the orthodox churches, although much of that history has been criticized & rejected by scholarship since the 19th century, but especially since 1990. In my view, the "orthodox Christian" way of life has been shown to be fundamentally flawed, and the answer has been for the "traditional" or "orthodox" groups to double down, or for people to create a "liberal" version. Both of these options are dead ends, and it's obvious with declines across the board in the churches.
The concept of "inner Christianity" is pointless, when the word "Christian" implies a system of obedience to a hierarchy & canonical books. I can only take seriously a person who first rejects totally all the official churches & their limitations. He implies that inner Christianity is ecumenical & doesn't really care about divisions in systems, but this is dishonest. Orthodox Christianity absolutely teaches that Christ is the only path & that you must accept a list of dogmas. Anyone trying to downplay this isn't being honest about what Christians believed in the middle ages.
I think people hold on to the word "Christian" today because of historical baggage & fear. They believe their salvation hinges simply on checklists & obedience. I would just drop the word & follow your spiritual inspirations where they lead you. I don't care about a hierarchy, canonical books, checklists, or dogmas, so I'm not a Christian, despite my deep interest in things that have been historically labeled "Christian." The churches became a dead end some centuries ago, despite the numbers & money they still have.
I can't take seriously any "Christian" that has been cozy with The Vatican or Christian kings of the past. There has been endless reference to "the church fathers" such as "St. Augustine" or "Origen", but I really question why we need to be dragging out these names and discussing ideas from questionable historical figures from long ago, both of whom had a lot of bad ideas. I'm not really sure of the purpose of dragging out history, much of which is forgery or lies. Who knows what Origen and St. Augustine really wrote or said (or if they even existed), I just question the truth & validity in any of it.
Bias: I'm a former sedevacantist Catholic who left the churches because I felt they had become dead & lifeless. I'd first thought the problem was Vatican II, but I later learned these issues go back to the council & emperors, and the focus on obedience & checklists. I also looked into various orthodox & breakaway movements, but they also felt dead to me. This led me to looking into other ways of thinking and systems, and this book is part of that search.
Despite the disclaimer in this book that it's not a book of Christian apologetics, the author seems to have a preference for an orthodox Christian perspective. I do believe the word "Christian" has a meaning: that you accept in total the version of Christianity that was created by Roman Emperors & bishops with their creeds, dogmas, and all the rest around the year 400. Otherwise, "Christian" becomes a meaningless word since it can be watered down to mean whatever you want it to be (e.g. "I believe in Jesus" or "I believe in The Bible" or "I obey the Pope"). In reality, there has never been unity in "Christianity" and it's more of a catchall term that applies to anyone who thinks Jesus Christ is the key connection to the divine. That's a very vague notion.
The author states definitions & history from the perspective of the orthodox churches, although much of that history has been criticized & rejected by scholarship since the 19th century, but especially since 1990. In my view, the "orthodox Christian" way of life has been shown to be fundamentally flawed, and the answer has been for the "traditional" or "orthodox" groups to double down, or for people to create a "liberal" version. Both of these options are dead ends, and it's obvious with declines across the board in the churches.
The concept of "inner Christianity" is pointless, when the word "Christian" implies a system of obedience to a hierarchy & canonical books. I can only take seriously a person who first rejects totally all the official churches & their limitations. He implies that inner Christianity is ecumenical & doesn't really care about divisions in systems, but this is dishonest. Orthodox Christianity absolutely teaches that Christ is the only path & that you must accept a list of dogmas. Anyone trying to downplay this isn't being honest about what Christians believed in the middle ages.
I think people hold on to the word "Christian" today because of historical baggage & fear. They believe their salvation hinges simply on checklists & obedience. I would just drop the word & follow your spiritual inspirations where they lead you. I don't care about a hierarchy, canonical books, checklists, or dogmas, so I'm not a Christian, despite my deep interest in things that have been historically labeled "Christian." The churches became a dead end some centuries ago, despite the numbers & money they still have.
I can't take seriously any "Christian" that has been cozy with The Vatican or Christian kings of the past. There has been endless reference to "the church fathers" such as "St. Augustine" or "Origen", but I really question why we need to be dragging out these names and discussing ideas from questionable historical figures from long ago, both of whom had a lot of bad ideas. I'm not really sure of the purpose of dragging out history, much of which is forgery or lies. Who knows what Origen and St. Augustine really wrote or said (or if they even existed), I just question the truth & validity in any of it.
Bias: I'm a former sedevacantist Catholic who left the churches because I felt they had become dead & lifeless. I'd first thought the problem was Vatican II, but I later learned these issues go back to the council & emperors, and the focus on obedience & checklists. I also looked into various orthodox & breakaway movements, but they also felt dead to me. This led me to looking into other ways of thinking and systems, and this book is part of that search.
Read
August 3, 2011Too Academic...couldn't finish.
July 27, 2016
This book is very thought provoking. Didn't always agree with it but found it very profound.
February 11, 2021
nothin' new under the sun
March 20, 2024
I would not recommend this book to most people. The book is a summary of esoteric Christianity. It focuses on the inner, mystical, or hidden meanings of Christian teachings, often focusing on personal spiritual development and the pursuit of deeper spiritual knowledge and experience.
On the one hand, there are some beautiful insights that would be particularly interesting to those of the latter-day Saint Faith. Esoteric Christianity tries to look at the original teachings of Christianity, many of which align more closely with Latter-day Saint teachings, then with Catholic or protestant teachings.
However, esoteric Christianity often underemphasizes the need for the physical experiences and manifestation of the church. As a result, it misses a massive amount of key insights found within a faith that embraces both esoteric and exoteric Christianity.
For those studying comparative Christian religion, I would a couple of this book with the book, All Things New (Givens), and Know the Truth (Milne).
On the one hand, there are some beautiful insights that would be particularly interesting to those of the latter-day Saint Faith. Esoteric Christianity tries to look at the original teachings of Christianity, many of which align more closely with Latter-day Saint teachings, then with Catholic or protestant teachings.
However, esoteric Christianity often underemphasizes the need for the physical experiences and manifestation of the church. As a result, it misses a massive amount of key insights found within a faith that embraces both esoteric and exoteric Christianity.
For those studying comparative Christian religion, I would a couple of this book with the book, All Things New (Givens), and Know the Truth (Milne).
Read
February 12, 2018Starts promising, with lots of Bible quotes. Possibly to appease Christians. Mostly on a level ground until it gets to the chapter on evil. Then it continues on a slippery slope. I struggled to finish it after that as it’s no longer Christianity. Let alone inner. It should have the last chapters at the beginning, that would have been more transparent and therefore honest. I am not against gnosis - or Wisdom as I’d prefer to call it - but not without a firm footing in a tradition. Although this book uses lots of quotes from the Christian tradition, they are selective and sometimes pulled out of context in service of the argument.
December 22, 2022
I have this as a printed copy and also an audiobook. I found the audio version very helpful in understanding the many concepts which are back grounded in the book. The fact that it is read by the author is always much better, in my opinion, as they speak with authority on the text and add the correct emphasis where required, although it has to be said that Richard Smoley isn't the most animated of speakers but he has such a vast knowledge of the subject. Sometimes I had to slow the audio down to be able to hear some of the more detailed passages more clearly.
I gained much from this text and both in expanded awareness and avenues for future reading and study.
I gained much from this text and both in expanded awareness and avenues for future reading and study.
June 21, 2019
This is a reread for me. It is an interesting approach to Christianity but some of it is too far out there. There is plenty to take away from this book though. Great bibliography and referenced texts noted throughout.
July 3, 2019
Great book for those Christian’s sincerely seeking the truth.
A clear organized overview of Internal Christianity. Good starting place for anyone interested in the esoteric side of Christ and his teachings.
A clear organized overview of Internal Christianity. Good starting place for anyone interested in the esoteric side of Christ and his teachings.
August 18, 2017
I don't think the problem is with the book, it's with me. I couldn't take it seriously.
January 22, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this read. Not sure I'd read it twice though.
February 16, 2019
A wide ranging overview on esoteric, magical and mystic traditions in Christianity sure to be helpful to the general seeker of something deeper.
June 1, 2013
I am impressed by Richard Smoley. This is the second book of his I have read, besides a chapter from another recent read, and he seems to hit the nail on the head concerning a number of concepts I have realized but not articulated in writing myself.
First he recognizes a deeper understanding to the "Christian" message, Gospel and reality than is perpetrated in the ussual Orthodox (Catholic, Evangelica, Fundamentalist) community. There is a truth that is there, though "hidden", unless one is realy of an apptitude to do the work of searching it out and consequently applying it to one's life. Second, many concepts, such as "love", which only has one word in English but at least four in the Greek, is understood not as being alienated and exclusive of each other, but 'inclusive' and part and parcel of what is the totality of understanding love in the human experience.
In general, I found Smoley's explanation of a deeper Christianity to be paralell with my own experience and would recommend reading him to any who are looking for means to salvage a 'faith' that seems to have lost its connection with its source and floundering ... directionless. He confirms the possibility of hope the Church may yet 'grow up'.
First he recognizes a deeper understanding to the "Christian" message, Gospel and reality than is perpetrated in the ussual Orthodox (Catholic, Evangelica, Fundamentalist) community. There is a truth that is there, though "hidden", unless one is realy of an apptitude to do the work of searching it out and consequently applying it to one's life. Second, many concepts, such as "love", which only has one word in English but at least four in the Greek, is understood not as being alienated and exclusive of each other, but 'inclusive' and part and parcel of what is the totality of understanding love in the human experience.
In general, I found Smoley's explanation of a deeper Christianity to be paralell with my own experience and would recommend reading him to any who are looking for means to salvage a 'faith' that seems to have lost its connection with its source and floundering ... directionless. He confirms the possibility of hope the Church may yet 'grow up'.
December 7, 2019
Kind of a witchy, trippy work on gnostic Christianity.
August 9, 2012
Smoley offers a great esoteric interpretation on the Christian tradition. For those interested in esotericism but not comfortable completely abandoning the Christian tradition, this book is a must-have. On a personal level, this book was a fantastic introduction to a more esoteric approach to my Christian faith and tradition. Smoley blends the traditions of hermeticism, gnosticism, qabbalah, and alchemy while maintaining a focus on the teachings of Christ and some of the more basic Christian principles (e.i. does not propagate an evil demiurge as the creator.)
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December 30, 2013A+ survey of Christian Esotericism, tantalizingly cursory but necessarily so.
March 29, 2017
This is a scholarly work. It provides a solid foundation leading to a greater understanding of the esoteric thoughts outside the boundaries of most Christian religions. It provides some guidance but it is more of a "what is" rather than a "how to" book. It could easily be required reading for a college or graduate school setting.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews