Esoteric Christianity, or The Lesser Mysteries
Esoteric Christianity, or The Lesser Mysteries
byAnnie Wood Besant
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74 total ratings, 19 with reviews
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jackel88
3.0 out of 5 stars interesting for some
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 2 March 2014
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To be honest, I couldn't get into this book. I find it difficult to find unbiased information about esoteric Christianity from an atheist. I don't have anything against atheists, I just think the subject could be better treated. Some others will definitely get more out of this book then I did. Besant is an admirable figure in history with some really good things that she accomplished in her life time, especially considering when they were done. I figure she must have a real thorn in some people's sides.
I guess that I was looking for a more open opinion then this. Or maybe I just wasn't getting the message, because I truly am interested in gnostic teachings.
I'm not saying this was a bad read entirely, just that there are other better books on the subject. For example, read any of Elaine Pagals books on the subject and I believe you will get a better understanding of the subject.
I would say that anyone who studys this subject in a more scholarly manner, might be more interested then I was.
But being that the book is free, you might get what you are looking for. After all, the price is right.
4 people found this helpful
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Phil Calandra
3.0 out of 5 stars Esoteric Study of Christianity and other Religions
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 5 May 2013
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This book is an examination of the historical record of religion which clearly shows that there is an outer and inner component to its teaching. In Christianity, it was shown that there was an effort by the Church to expunge the mysteries or inner teachings; however, the thread of these inner teachings has been seen throughout history through the writings of the great philosophers and mystics. This rebellion against the popular Christianity was due to the awakening and growth of the conscience in some of its members of the Church. However, according to the author, knowledge of deep spiritual truths must be obtained through the Divine and must be given by a teacher. The author's discussion of esoteric Christian mysticism is very interesting and provocative; however, the overall presentation of this book is somewhat confusing and muddled. This can very well be to that "mysticism" is largely out of the realm of the intellect and more its understanding for the spiritually advanced.
8 people found this helpful
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BB
5.0 out of 5 stars both with nothing good to say about 'the church' apart from the singing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 3 October 2014
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Brought up in a family with one parent RC one C of E, both with nothing good to say about 'the church' apart from the singing. This book is helping me place another brick on my path. My head hurts with the stretch that this and others are causing. The chapter on 'Prayer' alone has had a profound effect. NEXT! Thank you Annie Wood Besant over the years.
One person found this helpful
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David Lindberg
5.0 out of 5 stars Esoteric Christianity
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 31 May 2014
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Have you been disappointed by what is taught in most churches, or wondered if there might be more to Christianity than many Christians think? Esoteric Christianity offers a great deal more of what is deeper, like the Kabbala, the study behind Judiasm. If you are ready for something deep and mystical and transcendent and you can open your mind to embrace it--here it is.
5 people found this helpful
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caroline knight
3.0 out of 5 stars Easy reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 30 December 2014
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The style and contents gave a condensed view of how it was in the day. Patience and pausing a while to take in fully the deeper issues at work here
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MrBrown
2.0 out of 5 stars Typical "Occult" trash
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 28 January 2013
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Like a lot of other so-called "occult" works, this book spends a lot of time ranting about how "ignorant" everyone else is while hinting that there are "secrets" which the author knows...but doesn't divulge. In other words the entire book can be summed up as "I know something you don't know...nah, nah, nah, nah, boo boo". If you want to write a book telling me something I don't know, that's cool...but if you just wanted to let me know that you're privy to some great secret that I'm not cool enough to be told about, then go screw yourself.
2 people found this helpful
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Gramma
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Book
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 17 April 2013
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My Sunday school class is reading and discussing this book. The discussions have been very interesting even though the book was written almost a century ago
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sh
2.0 out of 5 stars Two Stars
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on 28 September 2016
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Not what I was looking for
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 24 August 2017
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This book really makes sense and has a lot of truths but if you are not very intelligent or you are ignorant this book just won't make sense to you
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jeremy pettus
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 26 July 2016
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Good reading...out the box
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