The Converging Apostasy: A Collection of Thematic Critiques

By Stephen Montgomery

This collection of critiques traces the convergence of the ideas of the Esoteric World with those of the Christian World. It begins with the impact that the 2nd century Gnostic Valentinus had on the Esoteric streams of thought that came together in the writings of the 17th century mystic and "prophetess" Jane Lead. It then follows her influence on the teachings of several key players in the Latter Rain movement of 1948 and the Manifest sons of God ministries which it spawned. Finally, it traces the subsequent influence of their eschatology on the Kingdom Message of the 1980s and those affiliated with the current-day New Apostolic Reformation within the Christian World. The ideas of Valentinus are also reflected in the Esoteric World through (1) Helena Blavatsky and her Theosophical Society in the late 19th century and (1) the writings of the "Christian esotericist" Alice Bailey and the Satanist Aleister Crowley in the 20th century. I've written this report based on (1) personal experience (2) primary source materials (3) personal interviews and (4) scholarly works. I have followed the precedents set by the Gnostic Valentinus for the Esoteric World, and those set by the "prophetess" Jane Lead for the esoterically-influenced "Christian" World. My aim is (1) to establish the historical context in which these various religious teachers and ideologies developed their doctrines (2) to demonstrate the similarities of their foundational teachings and the sources on which they are based and (3) to highlight how these doctrines function in what is clearly a Converging Apostasy.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CJLCRMF7
• ISBN13: 9798852327758
• Release Date: September 2023
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 480 Pages
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 1.3" x 8.3"