Mystical Religious Traditions of the Middle East:
A Possible Remedy for the Current Middle East Crisis
Presented by
Dr. Stephan A. Hoeller
Saturday, 4 PM – 6 PM, June 6th, 2015
In recent years much distressing news has come forth about the persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East. Many of these groups, who are now on the brink of existence, are the carriers of ancient traditions reaching back to Pythagoras, the Hermetic schools, the Gnostic teachers, including John the Baptist, Valentinus, Mani and the original Masters at the fountain of pre-Islamic Sufism. Dr. Hoeller will describe the mystical core of the traditions of the Mandeans, Yezidis, Alawis, Druze, Ismailis and Sufis. He will indicate how the ancient mysticism of these and related religious groups might act as a corrective to the terrorism and fanaticism of the present day.
Stephan A. Hoellertaught religious studies for several years at the College of Oriental Studies in Los Angeles. He leads a modern Gnostic congregation at the Ecclesia Gnostica and Gnostic Society in Atwater Village in Los Angeles. He is the author of several books, includingThe Gnostic Jung and the Seven Sermons to the Dead, andJung and the Lost Gospels.
Website: The Gnostic Society of Los Angeles