In the first of a three part series, we cover the earliest origins of agriculture in settlements throughout the Near East, and the great monuments their peoples erected.

YouTube Channel: The Histocrat

Ancient Jewish Merkavah Mysticism sought to ascend into the palaces of the divine realm, bypass fearsome angels of destruction to gain a vision of the very Chariot-Throne of God. By beholding the divine glory (kavod) one could gain magical powers and even be transformed into an eternal Angel. And it was this form of esoteric mysticism that it appears profoundly transformed none-less than St Paul. From his ascent into the Third Heaven to even his 'mission to the gentiles,' historical evidence now strongly indicates that Paul was a secret practitioner of this form of mystical ascent. And, recent studies are now revealing that his very Theology, Christology and Theory of Salvation likely drew upon this ancient esoteric Jewish ascent mysticism.

YouTube channel: Esoterica

In the second episode of our three part series, we examine the agricultural developments of the 9th millennium BC, and how they led to the rise and fall of the mega sites of the later Pre-Pottery Neolithic.

YouTube Channel: The Histocrat

Dive into the fascinating world of Zoroastrianism, its ancient hsitory and ethical teachings, from its origins with the prophet Zarathushtra through the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian empires and all the way until today. Discover how Zoroastrianism might be one of the most important religions in history, influencing some of the most famous and popular religons and philosophies in the world.

YouTube channel: Let's Talk Religion

Filmed at The Vienna Academy of Visionary Art on March 4th 2019, this lecture was given by Academy Director Laurence Caruana, author of several books with Gnostic themes. It is illustrated with works by Visionary artists, both classical (Blake, Michelangelo) and contemporary (Fuchs, Venosa, Alex Grey etc).

Preserved in Eusebius of Caesarea's Praeparatio Evangelica (c. 313 AD), the Theology of the Phoenicians by Sanchuniathon presents a euhemerist account of the creation of the world and the birth of the gods from among the ranks of primordial man.

Early Christianity included a wide diversity of beliefs on ideas as central as who Christ is and what is Jesus’ relationship with the Father to whom he prayed. Gnostic Christians focused their attention on personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) which they developed through elaborate philosophical mythologies. By the end of the Second Christian Century, bishops of the proto-orthodox establishment increasingly identified Gnosticism as a deadly “heresy,” which they sought to purge from Christianity. One of the figures leading the fight was Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon from 177 until his death in 202, who wrote a book entitled “Against Heresies” that was largely focused on combating Gnosticism.

In a presentation given from Lyon, France, John Hamer will look at the history and beliefs of the ancient Gnostics and consider why attacks by leaders like Irenaeus proved so effective.