Ancient Wisdom

1. Ancient Wisdom RELS 225: Cults and New Religious Movements

2. Rosicrucians • Occult-cabalistic-theosophic "Rosicrucian Brotherhood", described in the pamphlet "FamaFraternitatis R.C." (Rosaecrucis), which was circulated in print in 1614 • Addition: "Allgemeine und Generalreforation der ganzenweiten Welt" • Beginning with the fourth edition in 1615, "Confessio der Fraternitat", was also added to the "Fama".

3. According to these documents • founded in 1408 • Christian Rosenkreuz (1378-1484) • Concern: names in the Book of Life • Alchemy • secret study of Nature • annual meeting

4. Rosicrucians • invited "scholars and rulers” to apply • Hoax • Like Luther's motto: "Des Christen Hertz auf Rosen geht, wenn's mitten unter'mKreuzesteht" • Pseudo-Rosicrucian societies • propagated by Freemasonry, • Since 1866 "colleges" of Masonic Rosicrucians • Only Master Masons are eligible for membership.

5. Masonic Rosicrucians • "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 FratresRoseaeCrucis 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".

6. Modern Rosicrucians: AMORC • Is AMORC a Religion? No. • Ancient and Mystical Order RosaeCrucisdoes not require a specific code of belief or conduct. • Includes metaphysics and mysticism. • by applying natural laws which enable Divine Consciousness.

7. Freemasonry • The official birth of Freemasonry is conventionally set at the founding of the Grand Lodge in 1717

8. Freemason 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

9. 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.

10. Christian anti-Masonry • This theory was repeated by many Christians • 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. • Charles Finney, The Character, Claims, and Practical Workings of Freemasonry • Some Protestant and Eastern Orthodox denominations discourage joining Masonic lodges, ranging from mild concern to accusations of devil worship. • The Roman Catholic Church punishes membership in the Masons with barring an offender from the Sacraments.

11. Freemasonry 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.

12. Freemasonry 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

13. Illuminati • Founded on May 1, 1776, in Ingolstadt (Upper Bavaria), by Adam Weishaupt • Freethinkers. AKA "Perfectibilists". • Secret societies banned in Bavaria in 1784 • pledged obedience to their superiors • three main classes, each with several degrees. • Ended in 1785. • Blamed for the French Revolution.

14. Modern Illuminati theories • Dan Brown merges them with the Freemasons, as a resurrected society.

15. 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

16. Golden 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

17. Golden 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”

18. Theosophy 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

19. Theosophy 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.

20. 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)

21. Evil • 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.

22. Humanity • We are complex interpenetrating planes of matter & consciousness • We are manifestations of the ultimate, therefore interconnected with each other & with all the universe. • Consciousness reached a special level in humans, therefore have a special responsibility for development of the universe.

23. Humanity: Bodies • There are 7 bodies. • 4 outer (lower forms): • Physical body • Etheric body – close to physical, spiritualized a bit • Astral body – can separate & travel in space & time (dozens of groups also become) • 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. • Manas – mind, intelligence • Buddhi – soul, spiritual being • Atma – absolute self

24. Humanity: 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.

25. Humanity: 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.

26. Death & 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

27. Death & 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.

28. How to live the good life • Non-prescriptive ethical system • Don’t care about individual behaviour • But oppose racial prejudice, nuclear bombs, oppression.

29. Summary 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.

30. Neo-Paganism • In the Western tradition • Eastern yoga and meditation are thought to be too foreign for westerners • Relationship with occult • Kabbalah, Tarot cards, astrology, etc. • But use rite instead of intellectual/psychological exercise. • More concerned with human relationship with nature

31. Background of Neo-Paganism • Roots in romanticism • Eliphas Levi (1810-1875) France, applied romantic feeling to magic. • Papas (1865-1916) France, founded an Order. • Some Masons (1888) founded Order of the Golden Dawn • led by S. L. MacGregorMathers. (1854-1917), who claimed occult contact with 3 “Secret Chiefs” in Paris. • Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) • expelled from the Golden Dawn • founded his own Order (ArgentinumAstrum), then joined OrdoTemplarumOrientalis (1912). • Wrote on “magick”, poet, heroin addict, exaggerator, dramatic. • “Do what you will shall be the whole of the Law” • Practiced sex magic.