Esoteric Christianity

Esoteric Christianity refers to the occult study and the mystic living of the esoteric knowledge related to the inner teachings of early Christianity, seen as a Mystery religion. The term is originally associated with the Essenes and the Rosicrucians.

20th century Writings

• The Western world is undoubtedly the vanguard of the human race, and, for reasons given in the following pages, it is held by the Rosicrucian that neither Judaism nor "popular Christianity," but true Esoteric Christianity is to be its world-religion. (Max Heindel in The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception http://www.rosicrucian.com/rcc/rcceng00.htm, 1909; Rosicrucian Fellowship)
• This is the way of the Divine Wisdom, the true THEOSOPHY. It is not, as some think, a diluted version of Hinduism, or Buddhism, or Taoism, or of any special religion. It is Esoteric Christianity as truly as it is Esoteric Buddhism, and belongs equally to all religions, exclusively to none. (Annie Besant, Esoteric Christianity or The Lesser Mysteries http://www.theosophical.ca/EsotericChristianity.htm, 1914, Theosophical Society)
• In Christianity, too, especially as far as its central point, the Mystery of Golgotha, is concerned, we must make a distinction between exoteric conceptions and esoteric knowledge. An exoteric contemplation of Christianity, accessible to all the world, is contained in the Gospels. Side by side with this exoteric contemplation, there has always been an esoteric Christianity for those who were willing - as I have said before - to prepare their hearts and minds in an adequate way for the reception of an esoteric Christianity. (Rudolf Steiner, Exoteric and Esoteric Christianity http://www.uncletaz.com/exoeso.html, 1922, Anthroposophical Society)
• If this inner doctrine were always concealed from the masses, for whom a simpler code had been devised, is it not highly probable that the exponents of every aspect of modern civilization--philosophic, ethical, religious, and scientific-are ignorant of the true meaning of the very theories and tenets on which their beliefs are founded? Do the arts and sciences that the race has inherited from older nations conceal beneath their fair exterior a mystery so great that only the most illumined intellect can grasp its import? Such is undoubtedly the case. (Manly Palmer Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/index.htm, 1928, Philosophical Research Society)