Christian Gnosis

Charles Leadbeater was a prominent Theosophist who was also a Bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church as well as a clairvoyant. This combination makes for interesting reading, and the book is divided into three parts: the divine plan of evolution, the inner teaching of early Christianity and an examination of various Christian themes. The first part describes involution as well as evolution and contains a complex chart of the constitution of the human being on the various levels of reality. Reincarnation is seen as the process of evolution and Christ as an ultimate exemplar. There is an interesting chapter on the origin of the Creation which includes a formula of Cosmogenesis ostensibly taught by Christ to his disciples, that is to those people who could understand the inner meaning of his teaching. This leads on to a theological consideration of different elements of the creed, including the startling claim that the dates of Christ's life are 105 years out, and that he was stoned rather than crucified. Leadbeater's perspective is that the Gospel has been transformed from 'a perfectly reasonable allegory into an absurd human biography.' This in no way demeans the symbolism of the cross, however. There are interesting explanations of the sacraments, our Lady and the communion of saints, as well as the important distinction between exoteric and esoteric. The final chapter sets out a rational creed, belief in God as love and power and truth and light, belief in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man and belief in service.