What is the relationship of esotericism and the Orthodox faith, and Christianity in general,, and whether it is at all? Can a man, who considers himself a true believer, eg, interested in esoteric? Not necessarily actively practice any spiritual practices, look for recipes how to make a spell and practice them, or be in a secret society? Or relate in general – to active or passive, let's call it like this, esotericism?
At first glance, the question may sound strange. – after all, seems to be, religion, in principle, rejects any secret knowledge, and even more so practices – almost all, apart from faith. Respectively, the only sacrament can be a church secret – i.e, let us say, mystery of confession or communion.
But everything, as it turns out, not so simple. And there are many such examples.. And not at the level of philosophical fabrications on the topic of, what “everything in this world is connected”, but on the example of specific facts. Esoterics, as a complex of different interpretations of reality, that is, that, what happens to us in life, so deep into this very reality, that few aspects of human existence are not in contact with it. Religion – not an exception.
Let's start off with, What is the Christian religion itself?, since its earliest existence, pretended to some mystery of what is happening between man and God. Actually, like any other religion, Christianity is a set of doctrines, judgments and systems of understanding the surrounding world, spiritual state and analysis or planning of our actions and the actions of others. Why not an esoteric scheme?
Since ancient times, and it's not a secret, schools, crafts and even new settlements arose and developed at monasteries – To some extent, this is still happening.. Sciences, secret knowledge, art – everything developed under the patronage of the church. Little of, the church and its adherents actively participated in and promoted these aspects of human life, which have already become history.
Powder – invention, changed the course of history, appeared thanks to the monks. In a secret, actually, in modern terms, laboratories. AND, by the way, for a long time, his recipe was kept secret. The most powerful societies of alchemists and single alchemists worked under the supervision of the church – although this fact was not specifically advertised – and many of them had to pay for their bold experiments and discoveries. acids, metal processing technologies, jewelry craft – we owe it all to them..
All of the above is esotericism in its purest form., if we analyze. And the artists of the Renaissance – appealing to high feelings? After all, the best artists and sculptors worked under the strict supervision of the church. She was the main customer.. AND, need to say, not only generously paid for the work of brilliant figures of its time, but also clearly followed the ideological content of the paintings. Virgin, Cupid, satyrs and other characters in the paintings of that time look quite frivolous, is not it? What is it, how not to try to manipulate people through their feelings.
And that's not to mention, how many secrets are shrouded in the rituals and ceremonies of the church itself. Election of the Pope, communion, confession, secret libraries of the Vatican, secrets of the baptism of Russia – all aspects, having an unknown and secret meaning simply cannot be counted.
In Christianity there is a concept, how hesychasm – ascetic system, in fact, some practice of self-denial, including prayer, self-contemplation and preparation of one's mind, hearts and essences “contemplation of God within and around”.
What is it? In fact – meditation practice, including a whole range of exercises and rituals, if you want to. Actually – secret knowledge, As one of the clearest examples, one can consider Athos monasticism – there are many such examples in the history of the Athos monastery.
In short, modern Christianity and Orthodoxy in particular, can be viewed from an esoteric point of view. After all, faith, and church, and religion – is the most complex system, including:
- psychology,
- science,
- a whole complex of rituals and systems, the meaning of which is already lost, or unknown to most believers.
Whatever religious beliefs a person adheres to, and no matter how he relates to the esoteric aspects of our life, both – path to self-knowledge and improvement. not contradictory to each other, as human history and modern life show.
