The Mysteries of John the Baptist: His Legacy in Gnosticism, Paganism, and Freemasonry

Author:   Tobias Churton
Publisher:   Inner Traditions Bear and Company
ISBN:  

9781594774744


Pages:   288
Publication Date:   24 October 2012
Format:   Paperback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Our Price $32.99 Quantity:  
Add to Cart

Share |

The Mysteries of John the Baptist: His Legacy in Gnosticism, Paganism, and Freemasonry


Add your own review!

Overview

The search for the real historical person known as John the Baptist and the traditions that began with him * Explores why John the Baptist is so crucially important to the Freemasons, who were originally known as St. John's Men * Reveals how John and Jesus were equal partners and shared a common spiritual vision to rebuild Israel and overcome corruption in the Temple of Jerusalem * Explains the connections between John as lord of the summer solstice, his mysterious severed head, fertility rites, and ancient Jewish harvest festivals Few Freemasons today understand why the most significant date in the Masonic calendar is June 24th--the Feast of the Birth of St. John the Baptist and the traditional date for appointing Grand Masters. Nor do many of them know that Masons used to be known as St. John's Men or that John the Baptist was fundamental to the original Masonic philosophy of personal transformation. Starting with the mystery of John in Freemasonry, Tobias Churton searches out the historical Baptist through the gospels and ancient histories, unearthing the real story behind the figure lauded by Jesus's words no greater man was ever born of woman. He investigates John's links with the Essenes and the Gnostics, links that flourish to this day. Exposing how the apostle Paul challenged John's following, twisting his message and creating the image of John as merely a herald of Jesus, the author shows how Paul may have been behind the executions of both John and Jesus and reveals a precise date for the crucifixion and the astonishing meaning of the phrase the third day. He examines the significance of John's severed head to holy knights, such as the Knights Templar, and of Leonardo's famous painting of John. Churton also explains connections between John, the summer solstice, fertility rites, and ancient Jewish harvest festivals. Revealing John as a courageous, revolutionary figure as vital to the origins of Christianity as his cousin Jesus himself, Churton shows how John and Jesus, as equal partners, launched a covert spiritual operation to overcome corruption in the Temple of Jerusalem, re-initiate Israel, and resurrect Creation.

Full Product Details

Author:   Tobias Churton
Publisher:   Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Imprint:   Inner Traditions Bear and Company
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.304kg
ISBN:  

9781594774744


ISBN 10:   1594774749
Pages:   288
Publication Date:   24 October 2012
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Preface 1 The Mystery of John the Baptist John as Divine Mercury 2 St. John's Men and the Passion of the Corn St. John the Baptist as Lord of the Feast The Knights Hospitaller Herald of the Harvest 3 John the Baptist in History and Tradition Josephus The Nature of New Testament Evidence 4 John as Herald in Christian Scripture Matthew's Gospel Luke The Essenes and John 5 John and John 6 Why Must John Die? From John's Execution to Jesus's Crucifixion The Real Date of Jesus's Crucifixion 7 John and Jesus: Comrades in a Secret Plan John as Son of Man The Reed, the Prophet, the Man in Fine Raiment John and Jesus 8 The Great Prophecies The Nazarenes The Fount of Living Waters and the Hidden Corrupters of Earth Standing the Trial 9 The Third Day Secret Israel 10 A Reed Shaken in the Wind Problem Paul The Pillars of Enoch 11 St. John's Men Today Baphomet The Mandaeans Bibliography Index

Reviews

In The Mysteries of John the Baptist, Tobias Churton has produced a remarkably fresh analysis of the herald of the Messiah. The great value of this book is that Churton provides not only a careful overview of the role of John, as handed down in Christian tradition, but gives us a unique and erudite reanalysis of the role of the Baptist using the lenses of Gnosticism, Freemasonry, and other esoteric traditions that have elevated John to a position equal to or superior to Jesus. This book is a truly invaluable addition to scholarly literature on John the Baptist. --The Reverend Jefferey Butz, S.T.M., Instructor of Religious Studies Penn State University, author of The Secret Legacy of Jesus


In The Mysteries of John the Baptist, Tobias Churton has produced a remarkably fresh analysis of the herald of the Messiah. The great value of this book is that Churton provides not only a careful overview of the role of John, as handed down in Christian tradition, but gives us a unique and erudite reanalysis of the role of the Baptist using the lenses of Gnosticism, Freemasonry, and other esoteric traditions that have elevated John to a position equal to or superior to Jesus. This book is a truly invaluable addition to scholarly literature on John the Baptist.


The Mysteries of John the Baptist is a recommended coverage for any collection interested in the mystery of John in Freemasonry and the historical Baptist as presented in the gospels and early histories...a powerful spiritual and religious survey recommended for Christian and new age holdings alike. --Midwest Book Review, February 2013


Author Information

Tobias Churton is Honorary Fellow of Exeter University, where he is faculty lecturer in Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry. The founding editor of the magazine Freemasonry Today, he holds a master's degree in Theology from Brasenose College, Oxford, and is the author of several books, including Gnostic Philosophy, The Magus of Freemasonry, and The Invisible History of the Rosicrucians. He lives in England.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions
Latest Reading Guide

Aorrng

Shopping Cart
Your cart is empty
Shopping cart
Mailing List