Chrestes, Chrestos, Chrestians chrestos (Greek) Applied by the Greeks as a title of respect equivalent to "the worthy." Chrestes meant an interpreter of oracles. In the language of the Mysteries, a chrestos was a candidate or neophyte, and a christos (anointed) was an initiate.

Christ is a mystical expression for the human inner god, while chrest is the good but as yet unregenerated nature; using here the language of the Mysteries, Christ may be likened to Dionysos, Osiris, or Krishna, who will deliver the suffering Chrest, mankind or Prometheus, in its trial. It is Christos that incarnates in Chrestos.

These usages were taken over by the Gnostic schools out of which Christianity largely sprang, and there is abundant evidence to be found among the early Christian writers and the Gnostics themselves that the adherents originally called themselves Chrestians.

(See also: Chrestes, Chrestos, Chrestians, chrestos, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Ophis (Greek) Serpent; used by the Gnostic Ophites for Chnouphis, the Agathodaimon (good serpent), emblem of wisdom and of the unending cycles of time and constituting, with Ennoia, the Logos. Its opposite pole is Ophiomorphos [serpent-form from ophis serpent + morphe form]

. The two are represented in the zodiac by Virgo-Scorpio. The serpent before his fall was Ophis-Christos, and after his fall was Ophiomorphos-Chrestos. The Roman Catholic Church identified Ophiomorphos with Michael, and the Gnostics identified him with Jehovah.

(See also: Ophis, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Christos (Greek) Anointed; applied in the Greek Mysteries to a candidate who had passed the last degree and become a full initiate. Also the immanent individual god in a person, equivalent in some respects to Dionysos, Krishna, etc.

The Hebrew word for anointed (mashiah) is generally written in English as Messiah. What we know as Christianity is a syncretism of borrowings from Neoplatonism, neo-Pythogoreanism, Greek Gnosticism, and Hebrew religion. Christos was commonly used in the Greek translation of the Bible as a title of the Jewish Kings, those who had been anointed for reigning -- a symbolic rite taken originally from the Mysteries. St. Paul's use of the word shows that he understood its true mystical meaning, but spoke with precaution in his public epistles or writings.

The first two letters of the Greek word, , superimposed in a monogram, were on the military standard of the later Christian emperors of Rome, probably dating from Constantine, and have a significance as geometrical symbols besides.

See also CHRESTOS

(See also: Christos, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

The historicity of Jesus (i.e., his existence as an actual historical figure), is accepted by three major world religions, Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá'í Faith based on their respective scriptures, the Bible, the Qur'an and the Kitáb-i-Íqán. However, while Christianity and the Bahá'í Faith consider Jesus to be the Christ (Messiah) and Son of God, and Islam views him as a prophet, secular historians and followers of most other world religions (including Judaism) tend to regard him as an ordinary human, and a few dispute whe ...

Including:

• Historicity of Jesus - Contemporary sources
• Historicity of Jesus - Christian writings
• Historicity of Jesus - Non-Christian writings
• Historicity of Jesus - Jesus as historical figure
• Historicity of Jesus - Jesus as myth
• Historicity of Jesus - Jesus and syncretism
• Historicity of Jesus - Other views
• Historicity of Jesus - Notes

Read more here: » Historicity of Jesus: Encyclopedia - Historicity of Jesus

Prometheus (Greek) [from pro fore + metis counsel]

The foreknower, he who knows beforehand, in contrast with his brother Epimetheus (the one who knows after, or when it is too late). Like other symbols, it has its seven keys of interpretation, which not merely reconciles but renders necessary the various versions of the story. Son of the titan Iapetos, Prometheus stole fire from heaven in a hollow tube (narthex) and brought it to mankind, who thereby was enlightened; for this Prometheus was chained by Zeus to a rock on Mt. Caucasus, where an eagle devours his liver by day, the liver being restored by night; until finally he is released by Hercules or Dionysos.

Ovid tells that after Deukalion's flood, Zeus ordered Prometheus and Athene to create a new race of men out of mud; he made them in the image of the gods with an upright posture, after Epimetheus had succeeded in fashioning only mindless creatures. This represents a stage in the history of the downward arc of evolution, which may be interpreted cosmically, geographically, and in relation to man. It is in one sense the descent of the manasaputras, agnishvattas, and other Sons of Flame, who endowed the mindless forms with the divine spark; so that Prometheus is Lucifer, Phosphoros, the Light-bringer, the serpent of Eden, etc.

In the antithesis between Zeus (here not the supreme Olympian lord) and Prometheus, is the antagonism between the Hebrew Lord God and the serpent. The so-called disobedience of these fallen angels is an act of spiritual chivalry, in which the divine prerogative of free will is exercised in the spirit of compassion, an old order is superseded, and a new chapter in evolution is begun. In both stories the deity invokes a curse upon the fallen angel and his new humanity; and this curse is fulfilled in the suffering caused by the conflict between the two natures in man thus awakened. Prometheus, who may also be taken as representing humanity, is fastened to a rock representing karmic destiny, while the vultures of new-born knowledge and self-consciousness gnaw at his inner being. But the curse ends in a blessing, and Hercules or Dionysos delivers the Chrestos or immanent Christ, enlightens and raises the neophyte.

The story is in one sense but another version of that of manas between kama and buddhi. Zeus represents the host of primeval progenitors, pitris (fathers) who formed man without mind; and Prometheus symbolizes the host of spiritual creators who "fell" into matter -- humanity -- to enlighten the latter. The drama of Prometheus is thus still enacted through the ages -- but man can rebecome the unfallen titan. Geographical allusions to the locations of the great root-races are seen in the mention of Mt. Caucasus, a name for the far north where the Aryan race, as an instance, was first developed.

The name of the Hebrew Prometheus is Azazel.

(See also: Prometheus, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Chréstos (Ancient Greek) The early Gnostic form of Christ. It was used in the fifth century B.C. by Eschylus, Herodotus, and others. The Manteumata pythochresta, or the "oracles delivered by a Pythian god" "through a pythoness, are mentioned by the former (Choeph.901). Chréstian is not only "the seat of an oracle", but an offering to, or for, the oracle.

Chréstés is one who explains oracles, "a prophet and soothsayer", and Chrésterios one who serves an oracle or a god. The earliest Christian writer, Justin Martyr, in his first Apology calls his co-religionists Chréstians. It is only through ignorance that men call themselves Christians instead of Chréstians," says Lactantius (lib. iv., cap. vii.). The terms Christ and Christians, spelt originally Chrést and Chréstians, were borrowed from the Temple vocabulary of the Pagans. Chréstos meant in that vocabulary a disciple on probation, a candidate for hierophantship.

When he had attained to this through initiation, long trials, and suffering, and had been ‘‘anointed’’ (i.e., "rubbed with oil", as were Initiates and even idols of the gods, as the last touch of ritualistic observance), his name was changed into Christos, the "purified", in esoteric or mystery language. In mystic symbology, indeed, Christés, or Christos, meant that the "Way", the Path, was already trodden and the goal reached ; when the fruits of the arduous labour, uniting the personality of evanescent clay with the indestructible INDIVIDUALITY, transformed it thereby into the immortal EGO.

"At the end of the Way stands the Chréstes", the Purifier, and the union once accomplished, the Chrestos, the "man of sorrow", became Christos himself. Paul, the Initiate, knew this, and meant this precisely, when he is made to say, in bad translation: ‘‘I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal. iv.19), the true rendering of which is . . . ‘‘until ye form the Christos within yourselves" But the profane who knew only that Chréstés was in some way connected with priest and prophet, and knew nothing about the hidden meaning of Christos, insisted, as did Lactantius and Justin Martyr, on being called Chréstians instead of Christians. Every good individual, therefore, may find Christ in his "inner man" as Paul expresses it (Ephes. iii. 16,17), whether he be Jew, Mussulman, Hindu, or Christian.

Kenneth Mackenzie seemed to think that the word Chréstos was a synonym of Soter, "an appellation assigned to deities, great kings and heroes," indicating ‘‘Saviour,’’ - and he was right. For, as he adds:"It has been applied redundantly to Jesus Christ, whose name Jesus or Joshua bears the same interpretation. The name Jesus, in fact, is rather a title of honour than a name - the true name of the Soter of Christianity being Emmanuel, or God with us (Matt.i, 23.).Great divinities among all nations, who are represented as expiatory or self-sacrificing, have been designated by the same title.’’ (R. M. Cyclop.) The Asklepios (or Esculapius) of the Greeks had the title of Soter.

(See also: Chréstos, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Solomon, King of Israel and Judah shelomoh (Hebrew) [from shalom prosperous cf Arab zuleima, Greek Salomon Latin solomo, genitive solomonis, French Salomon]

Peace, prosperity; according to orthodox Biblical chronology, he lived 993-953 BC, the youngest son of David whom he succeeded through the influence of his mother Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan. Throughout the East, especially in Arabia and thence in Europe, there are many legends of his wisdom and magical powers, and notably with regard to his seal, the six-pointed star or double interlaced equilateral triangles (Solomon's seal); his meeting with the Queen of Sheba and his answering of the questions and riddles propounded by her and others; and his judgments. Solomon is said to have gotten "his secret learning from India through Hiram, the king of Ophir, and perhaps Sheba" (IU 1:135, 136n).

If the exoteric literal account in the Bible is accepted, Solomon in his later years showed himself as very far from wise, indulging in licentiousness and idolatry (1 Kings 11); further, he began his reign with the murder of Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei and his last recorded act was that he sought to kill Jereboam.

In Freemasonry, King Solomon is especially honored as the builder of the Temple and as the first of the Three Grand Masters -- the other two being Hiram, King of Tyre, and Hiram Abif -- all of whom were concerned with the building of the Temple. The evil ending of Solomon's life, according to the Biblical account, is almost overlooked in Masonic ritual and literature. In the Jewish Encyclopedia ("Solomon"), according to one writer, Solomon is represented as "the wise king par excellence"; and "in Arabic literature, Solomon is spoken of as 'the messenger of God' "; according to another writer in the same work, however, "a critical sifting of the sources leaves the picture of a petty, Asiatic despot, remarkable, perhaps, only for a love of luxury and for polygamous inclinations." Only by interpreting the Bible esoterically can we arrive at the truth regarding King Solomon; and such interpretation fully corroborates the characterization of "the wise king par excellence"; and fully supports both Masonic ritual and tradition in regarding King Solomon as the first and chief of the Three Grand Masters.

What then is the explanation of the otherwise contradictory statements in the Bible regarding Solomon? Even from a historical and ethnological standpoint one may find a clue, for along purely exoteric lines there is nothing foreign in Solomon's "idolatry" and his worship of other deities. The same racial strain ran through all the surrounding peoples as in Israel, and the respective worships, gods, and goddesses were all closely interrelated, derived from the same Babylonian concepts, appearing under different names -- Blavatsky shows the identity of the mystery gods of the Phoenicians, Chaldeans, and Israelites (SD 2:3). The gods and goddesses of the nations surrounding the Jews were all theologically interrelated, aspects or permutations of the same basic idea; and, as worshiped by the people, all were variants and, in their exoteric forms, degradations of the original conception on which every great theogony and cosmogony was built (cf SD 2:535 et seq).

As for Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines, these "are merely the personations of man's attributes, feelings, passions and his various occult powers: the Kabbalistic numbers 7 and 3 showing it plainly. Solomon himself, moreover, being, simply, the emblem of Sol -- the 'Solar Initiate' or the Christ-Sun, is a variant of the Indian 'Vikarttana' (the Sun) shorn of his beams by Visvakarman, his Hierophant-Initiator, who thus shears the Chrestos-candidate for initiation of his golden radiance and crowns him with a dark, blackened aureole -- the 'crown of thorns.' (See The Secret Doctrine for full explanation.) Solomon was never a living man. As is described in Kings, his life and works are an allegory on the trials of Initiation" (BCW 10:162-3n).

Solomon the Wise is a type-figure, and the legendary story of his life, wisdom and glory, and temptations and apparent fall, is a variant of the traditional history of certain wise ones recounted in every world-religion. Even granting that a king names Shelomoh reigned over Judah and Israel, the Biblical account and the many traditions of his life are an allegory of initiation.

(See also: Solomon, King of Israel, Judah, Shelomoh, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Historicity of Jesus - Christian writings. Jesus features prominently throughout the New Testament and other early Christian writings, but since later parts of the Bible were largely based on earlier ones, it is the oldest remaining Christian texts that are the most valuable for getting a relatively accurate account of Jesus' life. The most detailed sources of historical information about Jesus in the Bible are contained within the Gospels. However, some also claim that evidence for a historical Jesus ...

See also:

Historicity of Jesus, Historicity of Jesus - Contemporary sources, Historicity of Jesus - Christian writings, Historicity of Jesus - Non-Christian writings, Historicity of Jesus - Jesus as historical figure, Historicity of Jesus - Jesus as myth, Historicity of Jesus - Jesus and syncretism, Historicity of Jesus - Other views, Historicity of Jesus - Notes

Read more here: » Historicity of Jesus: Encyclopedia II - Historicity of Jesus - Contemporary sources

There are no contemporary sources. The earliest known sources are: Historicity of Jesus - Christian writings. Jesus features prominently throughout the New Testament and other early Christian writings, but since historical-critical evaluation of the New Testament shows a progression within the writings perhaps indicating that later parts of the Bible were greatly based on earlier parts, it is the oldest remaining Christian texts that are the most val ...

See also:

Historicity of Jesus, Historicity of Jesus - Earliest known sources, Historicity of Jesus - Christian writings, Historicity of Jesus - Non-Christian writings, Historicity of Jesus - Jesus as historical figure, Historicity of Jesus - The idea that Jesus never existed, Historicity of Jesus - Jesus and syncretism, Historicity of Jesus - Other views, Historicity of Jesus - Notes

Read more here: » Historicity of Jesus: Encyclopedia II - Historicity of Jesus - Earliest known sources

This is a sitemap for Theosophy - C . Click on a link and you will find multiple definitions and articles related to the word.

C - Letter C, Cabala, Cabar Zio, Cabbala, Cabeiri, Cabiri, Cabletow, Cable-tow, Cadmilus, Cadmus, Caduceus, Cagliostro, Cain, Cain qayin, Cainite, Caitanya, Caitya, caitya, Cakra, Cakravartin, cakravartin, Cakshu, cakshu, Caksusa, Calendar, Calf, Calmucks, Caloric, Calvary, Calvary Cross, Calypso Kalypso, Cambrian Period, Camillus, Canaan, Canaanites, Canarese, Cancer, Candala, candala, Candogya Upanisad, Candra, candra, Candrabhaga, Candragupta, Candrakanta, candrakanta, Candramana, candramana, Candramasanjyotis, candramasanjyotis, Candra-vansa, candra-vansa, Candrayana, candrayana, Capital Punishment, Capricorn, Capricornus, Captures, Caracara, caracara, Caraka, Carbonari, Carboniferous Age, Carcinoma, Cardinal Points, Caresma, Carnac, Cartesian System, Carvaka, carvaka, Caste, Castes, Castor, Cat, Cataclysms, Catacombs, Catalepsy, Cataleptic state, Catatonia, Catharsis, Catur, catur, Caturdasa, caturdasa, Caturdasa-bhuvana, caturdasa-bhuvana, Catur-maharajas, catur-maharajas, Catur-mukha, catur-mukha, caturthasrama, Catur-varna, catur-varna, Catur-yoni, catur-yoni, Catvarah, catvarah, Catvaras, catvaras, Caucasus, Cauldron of Ceridwen, Causal Body, Cause, Causeless Cause, Cave Dwellers, Cavemen, Cecco d'Ascoli, Cedar, Cela, Celaeno, Celestial bird, Celestial Body, Celestial Buddhas, Celestial Order of Beings, Celestial Poles, Cell, Cenozoic Era, Centaurs, Cephalus, Cerberus, Cereals, Cerebellum, Cerebrum, Ceremonials, Ceremonies, Ceres, Cerinthus, Cesar, Cesil, Cetana, Cetus, Ceugant, Chabrat Zereh Aur Bokher, Chachuri Mudra cacuri mudra, Chackchuska, Chadayatana, Chagna Dorje, Chaiah, Chain, Chain of Causation, Chain-manvantara, Chain-round, Chaitanya, Chaitya, Chakchur, Chakna-padma-karpo, Chakravartin, Chakshu, Chakshub, Chakshusha, Chaldean Book of Numbers, Chaldeans, Chaldees, Cham, Ch'an, Cha-na Dorje, Chan-chi, Chanda Riddhi Pada, Chandaja, Chandala, Chandalas, Chanda-riddhi-pada, Chandra, Chandrabhaga, Chandragupta, Chandrakanta, Chandra-kanta, Chandramana, Chandramanam, Chandramasanjyotis, Chandra-vansa, Chandrayana, Chang Sham-ba-la, Chang-chub, Chang-ty, Chanmuka, Channelers, Chanoch, Chantong, Chaos, Charachara, Charachari Mudra caracari mudra, Charagmai, Charaka, Charaka caraka, Chariot, Charity, Charon, Charvaka, Charyaka, Charybdis, Chasdim, Chassed, Chastanier, Chat, Chatur, Chatur Maharaja, Chatur mukha, Chatur varna, Chaturdasa, Chaturdasa Bhuvanam, Chaturdasa-bhuvana, Chatur-maharajas, Chatur-mukha, Chaturthasrama, Chatur-varna, Chaturyoni, Chatur-yoni, Chatvarah, Chatvaras, Chava, Chaya, chaya-grahini, Chayah, chayalok, Chayaloka, Che-ba, Chebel, Cheiron, Chela, Chela cela, Chemi, Chemis, Chemistry, chemmis, Chemnu, Chen, Chenresi, Cherchen, Cherno Bog, Cherno-Bog, Chertchen, Cheru, Cherub, Cherubim, Chesed, Cheta, Chetana, Che-ti, Cheybi, Chhag, Chhandaja chandaja, Chhandalas, Chhanda-riddhi-pada, Chhandoga, Chhandogya Upanishad, Chhanmuka, Chhannagarikah, Chhassidi, Chhaya, Chhaya Birth, Chhaya loka, Chhaya-birth, Chhaya-grahini, Chhayaloka, Chhinnamasta Tantrika, Ch'i, Chiah, Chichchhakti, Chichhakti, Chidachit, Chidagnikunda, Chidagnikundum, Chid-akasa, Chidakasam, Chidrupa, Chikitsa Vidya Shastra, Chikitsa-vidya-sastra, Chiliocosm, Chimah, Chim-nang, Chin kuang ming ching, China, Ching-fa-yin-Tsang, Chinmatra, Chinnamasta tantrika, Chinva, Chinvad, Chinvat, Chiram, Chiromancy, Chit, Chitanuth our, Chitanuth-our, Chiti, Chitkala, Chitkara, Chitonuth-our, Chitra Gupta, Chitra Sikkandinas, Chitragupta, Chitrasikhandin, Chitta, Chitta Riddhi Pada, Chitta Smriti Upasthana, Chitta-riddhi-pada, Chitta-smriti-upasthana, Chitta-suddhi, Chium, Chiun, Chivim, Chi-yi, Chnoubis, Chnoumis, Chnouphis, Chochmah, Chockmah, Chod, Chogi Dangpoi Sangye, Chohan, Cho-khan, Chokhma, Chokmah, Chons, Chonso, Choos, Chorea, Chorzar, Chos, Chozzar, Chrestes, Chrestians, Chrestos, chrestos, Chr�stos, Christ, Christian Science, Christian Scientist, Christmas, Christna, Christos, Chronos, Chroub, Chthonia, Chu, Chuang, Chuang Tzu, Chubilgan, Chupunika cupunika, Churning of the Ocean, Chutuktu, Chyang, Chyuta, cicchakti, Cicero, cidacit, Cidacit, cidagnikunda, Cidagnikunda, cidakasa, Cidakasa, Cidrupa, Cikitsa-vidya-sastra, Cimah, Cimmerians I, cinmatra, Cinmatra, Cipher, Circe, Circle, Circle of Necessity, Circulations of the Cosmos, Circumcision, Cit, citi, Citi, citkala, Citkala, citkara, Citkara, citragupta, Citragupta, citrasikhandin, Citrasikhandin, citta, Citta, citta-riddhi-pada, Citta-riddhi-pada, citta-smriti-upasthana, Citta-smriti-upasthana, cittasuddhi, Citta-suddhi, City of God, Clairaudience, Clairvoyance, Cleanthes, Clear-hearing, Clear-seeing, Clemens Alexandrinus, Clement of Alexandris, Climacteric, Clito, Cloaca Maxima, Clothed with the Sun, Clotho, Clych y Gwynfyd, Clymene, Coach ha-Guf, Coadunation, Coadunition, Coats of Skin, Cobra, Cock, Codex Nazaraeus, Coelus, Coffin-Rite, College of Rabbis, Collyridians, Colob, Color, Columns, Come to Us, Comet, Communion, Compensation, Complices, Conarium, Concentration, Conflagrations, Confucius, Conjunction, Conscience, Consciousness, Consciousness-Life-Substance, Consentes Dii, Conservation of Energy, Constellations, Consubstantiality, Continent, Continents, Controls, Copts, Corax, Corn, Coronation, Corpuscular Theory of Light, Correlation of Forces, Corybantes, Cosmic Egg, Cosmic Element-Principles, Cosmic Gods, Cosmic ideation, Cosmic Ideation, Cosmic Planes, Cosmocratores, Cosmogenesis, Cosmolatry, Cosmology, Coucils of Church, Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, Count of Mirandola, Count Saint-Germain, Count St Germain, Covercapal, Cow, Cow-worship, Cracacha, Creation, Creative World, Creator, Cremation, Crescent, Crest Jewel of Wisdom, Cretaceous Period, Crib, Criocephale, Criocephalus, Crocodile, Cromagnon Man, Cronus, Crook, Crore, Crown, Crucifix, Crucifixion, Crux Ansata, Crux Dissimulata, Cry from the Cross, Cryphius, Crypt, Crystalline Spheres, Crystallization, Crystals, Cteis, Cube, Cup, Cupid, Cupunika, Curbati, Curds, Curetes, Cush, Cutha, Cutha Tablets, Cybele, Cycle, Cycle of Necessity, Cycles, Cyclopean Structures, Cyclops, Cylch Y Ceugant, Cylch yr Abred, Cymry, Cynocephalus, Cythraul, Cytoblastema, Cyuta,

More sitemaps here:

Theosophy Dictionary

Theosophy Dictionary - A, Theosophy Dictionary - B, Theosophy Dictionary - C,
Theosophy Dictionary - D, Theosophy Dictionary - E , Theosophy Dictionary - F,
Theosophy Dictionary - G, Theosophy Dictionary - H, Theosophy Dictionary - I,
Theosophy Dictionary - J, Theosophy Dictionary - K, Theosophy Dictionary - L,
Theosophy Dictionary - M, Theosophy Dictionary - N, Theosophy Dictionary - O,
Theosophy Dictionary - P, Theosophy Dictionary - Q, Theosophy Dictionary - R,
Theosophy Dictionary - S, Theosophy Dictionary - T, Theosophy Dictionary - U,
Theosophy Dictionary - V, Theosophy Dictionary - W, Theosophy Dictionary - X,
Theosophy Dictionary - Y, Theosophy Dictionary - Z,

Also see these pages for material related to Theosophy:

Sanskrit Dictionary , Hinduism Dictionary , Buddhism Dictionary, Mysticism Dictionary , Spiritual Dictionary

Read more here: » Theosophy Sitemap I - C