Forbidden Religion: Suppressed Heresies of the West [Paperback]

J. Douglas Kenyon (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2006

Reveals the thread that unites the spiritual paths that have opposed orthodox religion over the centuries and the challenge they provide to the status quo

• Contains 40 essays by 18 key investigators of heresies and suppressed spiritual traditions, including Steven Sora, Ian Lawton, Jeff Nisbet, P.M.H. Atwater, John Chambers, and Vincent Bridges

• Edited by Atlantis Rising publisher, J. Douglas Kenyon

Following the model of his bestselling Forbidden History, J. Douglas Kenyon has assembled from his bi-monthly journal Atlantis Rising material that explores the hidden path of the religions banned by the orthodox Church--from the time before Christ when the foundations of Christianity were being laid to the tumultuous times of the Cathars and Templars and the Masons of the New World. Revealed in this investigation of the roots of Western faith are the intimate ties of ancient Egyptian religion to Christianity, the true identities of the three magi, the link forged by the Templars between early Christianity and the Masons, and how these hidden religious currents still influence the modern world.

This book serves as a compelling introduction to the true history of the heretical religious traditions that played as vital a role in society as the established faiths that continuously tried to suppress them. Born in the same religious ferment that gave birth to Christianity, these spiritual paths survived in the “heresies” of the Middle Ages, and in the theories of the great Renaissance thinkers and their successors, such as Isaac Newton and Giordano Bruno. Brought to the New World by the Masons who inspired the American Revolution, the influence of these forbidden religions can be still found today in “The Star Spangled Banner” and in such Masonic symbols as the pyramid on the back of the dollar bill.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Forbidden Religion offers a compelling introduction into the true history of religion. The book also reveals the thread that unites the spiritual paths that have opposed orthodox religion over the centuries and the challenge they provide to the status quo."
(Sir ReadaLot.org, Nov 2006 )

"[This book is] an important acquisition for any seeking to understand religions banned by the orthodox Church, from pre-Christ times to early Christianity. Here are insights on the Cathars, Templars, and Masons - and probes of how hidden religions still operate in modern times."
(Diane C. Donovan, California Bookwatch, Feb 2007 )

"Forbidden Religion covers a mind-expanding plethora of little-contemplated history affecting modern concepts of faith."
(James A. Cox, Wisconsin Bookwatch, Jan 2007 )

" . . . this book may open the way to more constructive, less reactive dialogue over some of the most controversial aspects of history." (
Jay Beldo, Mysteries Magazine, Issue 20, Spring 2008 )

From the Back Cover

RELIGION / MYSTERY TRADITIONS

Following the model of his bestselling Forbidden History, J. Douglas Kenyon has assembled, from his bi-monthly journal Atlantis Rising, material that explores the hidden path of the religions banned by the orthodox Church--from the time before Christ when the foundations of Christianity were being laid to the tumultuous times of the Cathars and Templars and the Masons of the New World. Revealed in this investigation of the roots of Western faith are the intimate connections between ancient Egyptian religion and Christianity, the true identities of the three magi, and the link forged by the Templars between early Christianity and the Masons. The book also identifies the real clandestine organization behind the secrets revealed in The Da Vinci Code and explains how many hidden religious currents still influence the modern world.

This book serves as a compelling introduction to the true history of the heretical religious traditions that played as vital a role in society as the established faiths that continuously tried to suppress them. Born in the same religious ferment that gave birth to Christianity, these spiritual paths survived in the “heresies” of the Middle Ages and in the theories of the great Renaissance thinkers and their successors, such as Isaac Newton and Giordano Bruno. Brought to the New World by the Masons who inspired the American Revolution, the influence of these forbidden religions can be still found today in “The Star Spangled Banner” and in such Masonic symbols as the pyramid on the back of the one-dollar bill.

J. Douglas Kenyon is the editor and publisher of Atlantis Rising and the editor of the bestselling Forbidden History. He lives in Montana.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bear & Company (October 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591430674
• ISBN-13: 978-1591430674
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One-of-a-kind survey of the nether corners of Western religious history., January 5, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forbidden Religion: Suppressed Heresies of the West (Paperback)

Edited by Douglas Kenyon, the editor and publisher of the bimonthly journal "Atlantis Rising", Forbidden Religion: Suppressed Heresies of the West is an expose of hidden religions banned by the orthodox Church, from the time prior to Christ to the turbulent times of the Cathars and the Templars, to the Masons of the New World and much more. From connections between the roots of Western faith and ancient Egyptian religion, to the true identities of the three magi, to the real clandestine organization behind the secrets in the popular novel "The Da Vinci Code", Forbidden Religion covers a mind-expanding plethora of little-contemplated history affecting modern concepts of faith. Black-and-white photographs and a glorious section of inset color plates illustrate this one-of-a-kind survey of the nether corners of Western religious history.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mysteries Magazine review, March 18, 2008

By 

Kim Guarnaccia "Editor, Mysteries magazine" (Surry, NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forbidden Religion: Suppressed Heresies of the West (Paperback)

The editor of Atlantis Rising and author of the bestselling Forbidden History, J. Douglas Kenyon has compiled an esoteric anthology of essays by various authors on everything from Christ's contact with spiritual teachers in India to the Essenes being influenced by the militant Zealots who recognized Jesus' potential for being the ultimate usurper of established authority in the ancient world.

''Included in Forbidden History are such authors as John Chambers, whose essay on Dostoyevsky and Spiritualism will enrich nearly any soul desiring to contact the more subtle dimensions of the famous Russian writer's work; Cynthia Logan's intriguing treatise on the role of Christ's brother James; Peter Novak's essay on what the wise men were really searching for in the star of Bethlehem quest; and Steven Sora's attempt to address the perennial enigma of the true author of Shakespeare's work.

''My only qualm about some of the essays was that they were rather teasing in a sound bite kind of way. As an example, John Chamber's article on Giordano Bruno only touches upon the ghastly execution of this profoundly influential heretic who dared to challenge the religious authorities of his time. (Bruno was one of the first to suggest that there are an infinite number of galaxies, thus shattering the terracentric bias of the church fathers.) But Chambers neglects to mention who risked their lives to carry on Bruno's work and what underground means were required to smuggle his knowledge past the inquisition's ubiquitous customs agents.

''Additionally, there are a couple of occult reprobate writers whose work is included, but whose overall motives are rather suspect. For instance, Mark Amaru Pinkham in The Truth Behind the Christ Myth, suggests that Sananda Kumara is Jesus himself, in another guise. But Kumara is actually a dubious "ascended master" who was promoted by cult leader Elizabeth Clair Prophet and her Universal Church Triumphant. (Prophet charged her followers $10,000 for bomb shelters to hide during the 1980s, during the Apocalypse that she predicted to occur shortly after this time. )

''Regardless of the editor's lack of discernment, this book may open the way to more constructive, less reactive dialogues over some of the most controversial aspects of history.

--Jaye Beldo

Mysteries Magazine issue #20

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Bit of a Mixed Bag that needs better Editing, July 23, 2009

By 

Joseph J. Slevin (Carlsbad, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Forbidden Religion: Suppressed Heresies of the West (Paperback)

I happened to like Forbidden Religion as far as the information they were attempting to get across. I was a little dissappointed that more information was not written about some of the pre-Templar groups that inhabited Europe during the dark ages.

The book is more of a compilation of pieces from a website and with that and little editing there can be a mass of repitition and a lack of continuity of thought. The haphazard way the book is written make a little lost in where you are thinking you are headed and the title, although very strong, is not answered as strongly in the overall message.

As far as research, without giving anything away, one of the writers hints that Bacon may have been involved in compiling the King James 1611 and that the hint is where the words Shake and Spear appear in Psalm 46 where shake is exactly the 46th word into the Psalm, and Spear is the 46th word from the end. I did a little research, yet these exact words, with different spelling for Olde English, appear as early as 1560, one year before Bacon was born. The appear at different numbering from the top and bottom. So, maybe something was being hinted here. But who knows.

Much is made of the Davinci Code type of focus, and we are updated on who the authors think the priori of sion are. What I like is that it reads like a novel and with some historical suspense. Some of the thoughts need more developing and maps and more illustrations when they speak of very specific things would be a help.

Maybe a second volume updated and edited would really make Forbidden Religion a hot item.