A Different Christianity: Early Christian Esotericism and Modern Thought (SU (Suny Series, Western Esoteric Traditions) [Paperback]

Robin Amis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Suny Series, Western Esoteric Traditions | Publication Date: July 1, 1995

This book presents the esoteric original core of Christianity with its concern for illuminating and healing the inner life of the individual. It is a bridge to the often difficult doctrines of the early church fathers, explaining the spiritual psychology of the fathers that underlies the current renewal of spirituality in the Greek church. This renewal, like this book, is closely linked to the understandings of the modern monks and abbots on Mount Athos. A Different Christianity is useful to the practitioner, as well as to the scholar, providing new insights into the problems of studying and following the spiritual path outside of a monastery.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robin Amis, Director of Praxis Research Institute, is one of the small circle of people regarded on Mount Athos as 'fellow workers. He compiled and published The Heart of Salvation, a life and teachings of Saint Theophan the Recluse, the great Russian master of the last century.

Product Details

• Paperback: 422 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (July 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 079142572X
• ISBN-13: 978-0791425725
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,049,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro to Orthodox mysticism, March 5, 2000

By 

R. Clampitt "seeker" (Palmdale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Different Christianity: Early Christian Esotericism and Modern Thought (SU (Suny Series, Western Esoteric Traditions) (Paperback)

This is a fine introduction to Christian mysticism within the context of the Greek Orthodox monastic tradition and Robin's attempt to find a way to make it applicable to those of us in the workaday world. He also does a decent job on explaining the psychological aspects of mysticism, something that is usually missing from most works in Christian mysticism. However if you are looking for a how-to book this is not it. Though I must quibble with the way he defines metaonia ie., "change of mind" as something else.

*One big gripe though* I would have given it 5 stars if the author was not so insistant in reminding the reader Gurdjieff's teaching were from taken from the Greek Orthodox tradition. They weren't. Get "In Search of the Miraculous" and a volume of the Philokalia and compare them. The differences are obvious in aim, method and teaching. It is well documented that the bulk of Gurdjieff's teachings derived from his time spent with the Sufis, along with the Buddhists and yogis. He reformulated them to reach Europeans who were soaked in existenialism like Ouspensky and Nicoll. In fact the the mystical teachings of the Orthodox Church are aimed at monks not householders or married folks. Just read the Philokalia or the writings of St. Theophan the Recluse that Amis uses to support his this. The writings of St. Theophan are not aimed at laity, in fact if a modern person followed them they'd lose their sanity. Gurdjeiff even on his death bed advised his students to travel to the far east not Mt. Athos. Even though Amis claims otherwise he presents no proof of it. Though one can truthfully state that G. was well schooled on Orthodox theology he never claimed that it presented a complete spiritual path. An example would be G's concept of us as a "three brained being" is clearly Sufic not Christian.

Amis also raises the idea that a secret brotherhood in Eastern Christianity kept alive esoteric teachings is betrayed by the fact that he has no evidence for them nor does the Orthodox condone it.

To me Amis does a disservice to himself and to the reader by making up a fake history to support his claim that the Fourth Way is inner Christianity. The Church would consider G's teaching a heresy at the very least. Though it can be used as such as it would form the "how to" part of Christianity. The Orthodox maintain that Eastern Christianity is perfect and needs no occult practices.

I'd also recommend the following books which can help with the how-to aspects of what Amis is writing about.

The Mystical Theology of the Orthodox Church - Vladimir Lossky

Living the Mindful life - by Charles Tart

Living Presence - Edmund Helminski

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This exceptional work can revitalize western spirituality, May 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A Different Christianity: Early Christian Esotericism and Modern Thought (S U N Y Series in Western Esoteric Traditions) (Hardcover)

Author Robin Amis offers us a masterwork of synergy and understanding, providing potent food for the serious seeker of personal transformation. Amis tells us that Christianity possesses an inner tradition that has never been common knowledge in the Western world. This Esoteric Christianity was once known as the "Royal Way" and has barely survived except in places like the monasticism of the Eastern Church. The inner psychological work revealed in these teachings contribute to the goal of "inner autonomy of spirit." This book offers us the missing pieces that can revive a teaching of great power and which is made known in the 20th century through the legacies of Theophan the Recluse, G.I. Gurdjieff and other masters of wisdom.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Praise of A Different Christianity, October 25, 2000

By 

Katherine Katsanis (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Different Christianity: Early Christian Esotericism and Modern Thought (SU (Suny Series, Western Esoteric Traditions) (Paperback)

This book makes a complex matter approachable to the modern reader. I recommend it without reserve. I have attended the Greek Orthodox Church all my life and was shocked and humbled at what I did not know. Post-graduate Sunday School at its best; anyone who has ANY relation to Christianity, close or distant - (nearly everyone in our society) should read it. It will put an entirely new-old angle on how one considers the term "Christian" - and how Christianity has evolved since its first conception.