Richard Smoley is editor of Quest: The Journal of the Theosophical Society in America. He is also former editor of Gnosis Magazine. His books include Hidden Wisdom: The Guide to the Western Inner Traditions, Inner Christianity: The Guide to the Esoteric Tradition, Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism, The Essential Nostradamus, Conscious Love: Insights from Mystical Christianity, The Dice Game of Shiva: How Consciousness Creates the Universe, The Supernatural: Writings on an Unknown History, The Deal: A Guide to Radical and Complete Forgiveness, and How God Became God: What Scholars Are Really Saying About God and the Bible.

Here he notes that Gnosticism originated among faith communities of Christian believers in the earliest years, suggesting that it was based upon original teachings that Jesus shared with some disciples. Gnostics apparently communicated with other schools of esoteric thought, including hermeticism and astrology. Eventually it was persecuted by the Church and almost entirely eliminated. The teachings of Gnosticism relate to discovering spiritual truths within oneself, rather than from external authorities. In recent centuries there has been a revival of Gnostic thought. One of the most prominent Gnostic thinkers in the modern era is the eighteenth century poet and artist, William Blake.

(Recorded on August 6, 2016)

Published on September 5, 2022