A Christian will be defeated if they read this article. Christians consider esotericism as a spiritual system that is contrary to the highest first commandment. They consider esotericism to be something diabolical, which is contrary to God and for which they will go to hell. However, the problem is that the Bible itself, which Christians consider to be an authentic divine revelation, contains esoteric elements.
Saint Irenaeus (lived in the years 130-202) was a man who radically fought against Gnosticism, which is the belief of early Christians and is close to Eastern religions. He was the figure who created the so-called Biblical canon, meaning he determined which of the many writings that existed among Christians would be included in the Bible and which would not. Despite being a radical opponent of Gnosticism, he included the Gospels of Luke and John in the canon, which contain very clear Gnostic passages.
But the Church manipulated and distorted even these last 2 Gnostic (esoteric) verses, and thus deceived the believers.
We proceed from the logic that the Word = God
The Gospel According to John – Chapter 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The correct translation of verse 14 according to Peshitta is as follows: The Word became flesh/came alive in/within us
Explanation 1: The slash separates two correct alternatives for the translation of the same word (i.e., one word can have multiple meanings).
Explanation 2: The term "word" refers to the Kingdom of God.
Even the Vulgate, although it has an incorrect translation, uses the preposition "in": And the Word became flesh and dwelt in us.
The Gospel According to Luke – Chapter 17
20 When the Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God would come, he said to them, "The kingdom of God does not come in a way that can be observed."
21 Nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For the kingdom of God is among you."
Correct translation:
Do not say , "Look, here it is!" or "There it is!", because the kingdom of God is within you/inside you .
(Peshitta "within you", Greek manuscripts and Vulgate "in you")
Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not seeking the kingdom of God within themselves
A passage from the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas is also noteworthy.
Jesus said: When those who lead you say to you, "Behold, the kingdom is in heaven," the birds will precede you. If they say to you, "It is in the sea," the fish will precede you there. But the kingdom is within you, but (you see it in) your eyes outside. When you know yourselves, you will be known and you will realize that you are children of the living God. But if you do not know yourselves, you will find yourselves in poverty and you will be impoverished yourselves.
(this translation is made according to the most faithful interlinear translation http://gospel-thomas.net/keywords/Lnn_all.htm , http://gospel-thomas.net/keywords/Lnn_all.htm#L003 )
A side note: I personally consider the Gospel of Thomas to be authentic and I perceive it as the most valuable writing among all Gnostic apocrypha. Some sentences there are very profound and wise.
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Another reason supporting Gnosticism in the Bible is that it mentions the word Fullness/Pleroma, which was the most important word/concept/term for the Gnostics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleroma
In conclusion: if Christians argue against you about how bad Eastern religions are, show them this article about the Kingdom of God being within us. If the church were to take these verses seriously, it would have to fully recognize Eastern religions.
Gnostics believed that there is a divine element in man, which awakens through spiritual enlightenment. Eastern religions have the same philosophy.