Christian esoteric mysticism?

[MysticMonist]

Often I will describe gnositicism as a Christian cousin of Kabbalah and Sufism because all three are esoteric expressions of a mix between their parent faith and neo-platonism. They all have many simmilar elements between them. Of course, in the history of the church gnosticsm was supressed and was not given a distant tolerance that Kabbalah and Sufism have been given in their religions.
But I wonder if it’s unfair to say that gnosticsm is the only chrisitian parallel? There are many deeply mystical aspects and practices in eastern orthodoxy and some Catholic practices that are not widely discussed, though perhaps not secret, that would be very kabbalistic.
What do you all think? Can I find the same experiences and depth in other Chrisitians traditions,.that aren’t heretical,.other than gnostic stuff?

Thanks.
Christ is Holy!

 

[White_Tree]

I’ve taught Christian esotericism to a priest who was officially designated as a Censor Imprimatur by the bishop in his diocese.

He like my stuff so much he thereafter used it in his homilies.

Can all of it be considered Catholic? LOL, no.

But there is definitely plenty of space in the realm of Christian Esotericism for a Catholic to explore without stepping outside the bounds of the faith.

 

[MysticMonist]

Yeah I suspected as much. I find that some of the Marian devotion and things pertaining to the angels and saints can be very mystical and hands on. Some Catholics have small home altars, for example. Growing up in a Protestant church, I was never exposed to that stuff.
Maybe the type of practices and approach to faith I’m talking about that is in Kabbalah and other mystical traditions also exists within the church but it’s not a separate denomination. You could argue that Pentecostalism is a mystical practice. Really Kabbalah and Sufi practices are intergrated into Judiasm and Islam, so maybe I’m looking at the wrong way.

 

[Inbonum]

But I wonder if it’s unfair to say that gnosticsm is the only chrisitian parallel?

It’s not opposed to something like Hinduism or Buddhism in many beliefs (way of self saving/freeing, knowledge, enlightement, deities, etc.).
But for christianity I wouldn’t say that they are parallel but opposed. Because they aren’t going in same direction and their purpose isn’t the same. They aren’t even simmilar.
Christianity and gnosticism cannot be united, if united it’s gnosticism in the end.
There is no christian gnosticism.
To say it better as some example, what gnosticism is to christianity that is kabbalah to Judaism. Catholic Church teaches that these two cannot be compatible and I personally see gnosticism full of emptyness, dangerous and useless (personal experiences of years spent in occultism).

There are many deeply mystical aspects and practices in eastern orthodoxy and some Catholic practices that are not widely discussed, though perhaps not secret, that would be very kabbalistic

On which practices are you refering to?

Modern kabbalah has many variations and isn’t the same as Judaistic kabbalah.
Rosicrucians are one example where it is used in mix with astrology and interpretation of Holy Scripture.
One of the most known kabbalah “users” today (at least to me) is Madonna and example of Hollywood kabbalah.

Can I find the same experiences and depth in other Chrisitians traditions,.that aren’t heretical,.other than gnostic stuff?

According to your profile you are gnostic. No offense, but what are you looking for that isn’t heretical but is mystic, I am not sure I understand? Because if you are gnostic there is no fear of being heretic since you are already at the other side of fence.

 

[MysticMonist]

Thanks for the response.
I’ll reply to just a few of your points.
-there is no Christian gnositicism. There are dozens of gnositic texts and are several schools, some were very Christ centered, some not so much. Personally I like the Pistis Sophia and in my practice it is very “Christan” or pertaining to following Christ. But absolutely you can be a more hermericism leaning or you can be a sethian and Christ doesn’t play as big of a role.

-what do we mean by Kabbalah? It’s a good point that we shouldn’t confuse occultists who talk about kabbalah but who aren’t Jewish. I meant kabbalah as practiced by orthodox, particularly, Hassidic Jews. For them, Kabbalah is part and inseperable from their Judaism. So we agree there.

-yeah my being a heretic ship has already sailed. I disagree the idea of theological orthodoxy on principle and reject the creeds more because they are creeds than objections over their content. But I do like to be fair in my treatment of describing religions and I want to respect the holiness in the practice of others. I think some of the things that draw me to gnositicism can probably be found without being heretical. But at the end of the day, I’ll still read my forbidden texts. If nothing else because they are forbidden.

 

[Inbonum]

I’ll reply to just a few of your points.
-there is no Christian gnositicism.

Umm that’s basically what I replied to you in previous post…

what do we mean by Kabbalah? It’s a good point that we shouldn’t confuse occultists who talk about kabbalah but who aren’t Jewish.

Kabbalah is occult by default inside Judaism (since it is one stream of it) and outside it. There is no thing like non occult kabbalah.
Occult (latin-occultus-secret, hidden)
Kabbalah existed before Hasidic Judaism.
Citing from mine encyclopedia:

In general, Kabbalah means predicting the future based on numbers, letters, figures, or dreams; in a figurative sense, secret doctrine, secret association; intrigue, digging, etc.

…

But I do like to be fair in my treatment of describing religions and I want to respect the holiness in the practice of others. I think some of the things that draw me to gnositicism can probably be found without being heretical. But at the end of the day, I’ll still read my forbidden texts. If nothing else because they are forbidden.

I think you are trying to mix together all you like and/or follow and make them equal and completely right while together. That isn’t possible. You cannot reconcile all these things.
It is impossible to respect all things at the same time because one thing excludes another. Church rejects gnosticism as heretical since earliest centuries (example st. Augustine) and by following gnosticism you are actually being heretical. It doesn’t matter if you want to respect something and saying that, actions speak for themselves.
Just to mention that Catholic Church is rich in authentic mysticism and I understand that many people are actually looking for it but since they somehow didn’t find it inside Church they try to follow it somewhere else.

But at the end of the day, I’ll still read my forbidden texts. If nothing else because they are forbidden.

Is it some kind of revolt or you are attracted by something mystical, hidden, something that is forbidden or just because it is forbidden?

What are you searching for in depth of your soul, what do you want to find?
You somehow seem confused about all these things.