Ancient WisdomAncient WisdomRELS 225: Cults and New Religious

Movements

RELS 225: Cults and New Religious Movements

Slide 2.

The Ancient WisdomThe Ancient Wisdom• Kaballah• Knights Templar• Rosicrucians• Freemasons• Hermetic Order of

the Golden Dawn• Theosophy• Neo-Paganism

• Should these be considered religions?

Slide 3.

RosicruciansRosicrucians• Occult-cabalistic-theosophic

"Rosicrucian Brotherhood", described in the pamphlet "Fama Fraternitatis R.C." (Rosae crucis), which was circulated in print in 1614

• Addition: "Allgemeine und Generalreforation der ganzen weiten Welt"

• Beginning with the fourth edition in 1615, "Confessio der Fraternitat", was also added to the "Fama".

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According to these documentsAccording to these documents

• founded in 1408 • Christian Rosenkreuz

(1378-1484)• Concern: names in the

Book of Life• Alchemy• secret study of Nature• annual meeting

Slide 5.

Masonic RosicruciansMasonic Rosicrucians• invited "scholars and rulers”

to apply• Hoax• Like Luther's motto: "Des

Christen Hertz auf Rosen geht, wenn's mitten unter'm Kreuze steht"

• Pseudo-Rosicrucian societies• propagated by Freemasonry, • Since 1866 "colleges" of

Masonic Rosicrucians• Only Master Masons are eligible for

membership.

"the aim of the Society to afford mutual aid and encouragement in working out the great problems of life and in searching out the secrets of nature; to facilitate the study of philosophy founded upon the Kabbalah and the doctrines of Hermes Trismegistus, which was inculcated by the original Fratres Roseae Crucis of Germany, A.D. 1450; and to investigate the meaning and symbolism of all that now remains of the wisdom, art, and literature of the ancient world".

Modern Rosicrucians: AMORCModern Rosicrucians: AMORC• Is AMORC a Religion? No. • Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis does not require a specific code of belief

or conduct. • Includes metaphysics and mysticism.

• by applying natural laws which enable Divine Consciousness.

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FreemasonryFreemasonry• The official birth of

Freemasonry is conventionally set at the founding of the Grand Lodge in 1717

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Freemason beliefs / practicesFreemason beliefs / practices

• Private: • modes of recognition amongst

members• "secrets of Freemasonry", are the

signs, tokens and words associated with recognition in each degree

• elements within the ritual• Each lodge is independent, and can

set its own rituals.

• central preoccupations:• charitable work in the community• moral uprightness

• belief in a Supreme Being• Developing fraternal friendship

Slide 9.

Anti-Masonry Conspiracy theories

Anti-Masonry Conspiracy theories

• Secretive• conspiracy accusations:

• liberty, equality, fraternity, separation of church and state

• Religious tolerance toward Jews (Nazis)• Jewish front for world domination (forgery

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion)• 1786 Disclosure of the System of

Cosmopolitan Politics claimed a conspiracy of Freemasons, Illuminati and Jesuits were plotting world revolution.

• 1797 John Robison pamphlet Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe, carried on in the secret meetings of Freemasons, Illuminati and Reading Societies.

Christian anti-Masonry

Christian anti-Masonry

1.This theory was repeated by many Christians2.other conspiracy theories claim

•all the US Presidents were Masons •Masons were involved in the JFK assassination•there are Masonic symbols in federal buildings and architecture.

3.Charles Finney, The Character, Claims, and Practical Workings of Freemasonry

4.Some Protestant and Eastern Orthodox denominations discourage joining Masonic lodges, ranging from mild concern to accusations of devil worship.

5.The Roman Catholic Church punishes membership in the Masons with barring an offender from the Sacraments.

Slide 11.

Freemasonry and ReligionFreemasonry and Religion

• Freemasonry is not religion• nor is it a substitute for religion. • Requires belief in a Supreme

Being • provides no system of faith of its

own. • open to all religious faiths. • discussion of religion at meetings

is forbidden. • Freemasonry lacks the

basic elements of religion. • a) no theological doctrine, and

prevents one from developing • b) no sacraments. • c) does not claim salvation by any

means.

Slide 12.

Freemasonry and ReligionFreemasonry and Religion

• The Supreme Being • no separate Masonic God; a

Freemason's God is the God of his religion.

• Volume of the Sacred Law • The Bible is “the Volume of the Sacred

Law”, open at every Masonic meeting.• The Obligation of Freemasonry

• Masons swear on the Volume of the Sacred Law (to keep secret, to follow Freemasonry).

• The secrets of Freemasonry are concerned with modes of recognition.

• Freemasonry Supports Religion

• Expects faith, and to place duty to God above all else

But Masonry teaches, and has preserved in their purity, the cardinal tenets of the old primitive faith, which underlie and are the foundation of all religions. All that ever existed have had a basis of truth; and all have overlaid that truth with errors. The primitive truths taught by the Redeemer were sooner corrupted, and intermingled and alloyed with fictions than when taught to the first of our race. Masonry is the universal morality which is suitable to the inhabitants of every clime, to the man of every creed. It has taught no doctrines, except those truths that tend directly to the well-being of man; and those who have attempted to direct it toward useless vengeance, political ends, and Jesuitism, have merely perverted it to purposes foreign to its pure spirit and real nature. (Pike, 161-162)

Slide 13.

IlluminatiIlluminati• Founded on May 1, 1776, in

Ingolstadt (Upper Bavaria), by Adam Weishaupt

• Freethinkers. AKA "Perfectibilists".

• pledged obedience to their superiors

• three main classes, each with several degrees.

• Secret societies banned in Bavaria in 1784

• Ended in 1785.• Blamed for the French

Revolution.

Slide 14.

Modern Illuminati theoriesModern Illuminati theories

• Dan Brown merges them with the Freemasons, as a resurrected society.

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Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

• One of most influential Western occult societies (around 1900)

• Members: W. B. Yeats, Aleister Crowley

• Founded 1887 by Rosicrucian William Westcott

• Obtained “ancient” manuscript from Mason A. E. A. Woodford, with parts of rituals

• Occultist friend Samuel Mathers filled in the gaps

• Westcott, Mathers, and W. R. Woodman (Supreme Magus of Rosicrucian Society of Anglia) Second Order

Slide 16.

Golden DawnGolden Dawn• Hierarchy (10 degrees, 3 orders

each)• Mather’s rituals based on

Freemasonry• 1896: Mathers claims the “Secret

Chiefs” initiated him into 3rd order• 1897: members realize Westcott

didn’t really “discover” the Golden Dawn. Resigns.

• 1898: Aleister Crowley joins. 1899: demands 2nd order. Gets it.

• 1900: Crowley tries a coup. Crowley and Mathers expelled.

• Crowley publishes some of the rituals

Slide 17.

Golden DawnGolden Dawn• Yeats takes over.• 1903-05: splits• 1940’s Israel Regardie

(Crowley’s secretary) publishes secret rituals

• Influences:• Kabbalah• Egyptian Book of the Dead• William Blake (Prophetic Books)• Chaldean Oracles• Christian elements (Jesus as

Master)

Purpose: “to prosecute the Great Work: which is to obtain control of the nature and power of [one's] own being”

Theosophy BeliefsTheosophy Beliefs• We lack true understanding of the world.• That truth comes for Ascended Masters.

• Were human, almost podlike – thousands of years.• Buddha, Jesus were Ascended Masters• 100’s-1000’s of these AMs throughout the world, in schools.• Seven-foot tall one in London, white clothing & turban (according to Alice Bailey)• AMs are like Bodhisattvas

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Theosophy BeliefsTheosophy Beliefs• There are 1000’s of other

worlds. • All in the same great cosmic

drama.• Their history and mythology are

described by Blavatsky.• Sanat Kumara (lord of earth.

Came from Venus 18 million years ago) lives at Shamballa – in another dimension in Gobi desert.

Slide 20.

Conception of Divine/Transcendent

Conception of Divine/Transcendent

• No “God” but the ultimate is:• “the One”• Unlimited• Absolute• Indescribable• Is.• Ultimate Cause, but not creator.

• Evolves through an eternal dynamic of spirit & matter.

• We know “the One” by knowing our consciousness.

• Turn inward to know the outward world as it really is.

• Reject personal, anthropomorphic God, a logical impossibility

• (Platonic, Hegelian, Samkya Yoga)

“Neither our philosophy nor ourselves believe in a God. … Our doctrine knows no compromises. It either affirms or denies, for it never teaches but that which it knows to be the truth. Therefore, we deny God both as philosophers and as Buddhists. We know there are planetary and other spiritual lives, and we know there is in our system no such thing as God, either personal or impersonal. Parabrahm is not a God, but absolute immutable law … The word “God” was invented to designate the unknown cause of those effects which man has either admired or dreaded without understanding them, and since we claim and that we are able to prove what we claim – i.e. the knowledge of that cause and causes we are in a position to maintain there is no God or Gods behind them. The idea of God is not an innate but an acquired notion, and we have but one thing in common with theologies – we reveal the infinite.”

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EvilEvil

• Strictly there are no devils, demons, evil.• But they explain why bad things happen:• Disharmony.

• Accidents are part of the ebb & flow of nature.• When we increase disharmony (by ignorance of

our consciousness) we contribute to these bad things.

• Pain = want of harmony.• Selfishness is source of disharmony.

Slide 22.

HumanityHumanity

1. We are complex interpenetrating planes of matter & consciousness

2. We are manifestations of the ultimate, therefore interconnected with each other & with all the universe.

3. Consciousness reached a special level in humans, therefore have a special responsibility for development of the universe.

Humanity: BodiesHumanity: Bodies

• There are 7 bodies.• 4 outer (lower forms):

1. Physical body2. Etheric body – close to physical,

spiritualized a bit3. Astral body – can separate & travel

in space & time (dozens of groups also become)

4. Manasic body – lacks physical form. Mental ball of energy

• 3 inner (higher forms). Imperishable triad. These three survive death and continue life in another being.1. Manas – mind, intelligence2. Buddhi – soul, spiritual being3. Atma – absolute self

Slide 24.

Humanity: Root SpeciesHumanity: Root Species

• There will be seven root species in cosmic earth.

• We are the 5th.• Each has been a different

composite of body & matter.

• We are to be masters of the material world.

• Science.

Slide 25.

Humanity: FreedomHumanity: Freedom

• We can’t change things through prayer• But it is somewhat in our control.• We are free agents.• You can change the universe by changing

yourself.

Slide 26.

Death & the AfterlifeDeath & the Afterlife

• Karma & reincarnation.• Karma is the larger ordering principle which

governs reincarnation• Doing bad things accumulates bad karma• Reborn as grasshopper, perhaps.

• Doing good things more enlightened.• Good = morals• Bad = manipulation

Slide 27.

Death & the AfterlifeDeath & the Afterlife• 16 levels of this world to be reborn in:

• Hungry ghost (lowest)• …• Human beings (in the middle)• …• Deva (eats ambrosia, floating around, distracted, not desire)

• Not immediately reborn when you die.• Go to Devachan (like purgatory – review your life)

• When reborn, don’t take your personality & memories (unless you acquire the right skills)

• To the extent you fail to know your true self, you will have a bad time with death.

Slide 28.

How to live the good lifeHow to live the good life

• Non-prescriptive ethical system• Don’t care about individual behaviour• But oppose racial prejudice, nuclear

bombs, oppression.

Slide 29.

Summary of TheosophySummary of Theosophy

• Theosophy Beliefs: truth comes from Ascended Masters; There are 1000’s of other worlds.

• Conception of Divine/Transcendent: No “God” but “the One” is knowable by knowing our consciousness.

• Evil: no devils, demons, evil; why bad things happen: disharmony.• Humanity

• manifestations of the ultimate, interconnected with each other & all the universe.

• 7 Bodies• Root Species: We are the 5th of 7 on earth.• Freedom: You can change the universe by changing yourself.

• Death & the Afterlife• Karma & reincarnation; Bad = manipulation• 16 levels of this world to be reborn in:• Not immediately reborn when you die, but go to Devachan (like purgatory)

• How to live the good life: no rules, but oppose generally recognized evil.