The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ
Encyclopedia
The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ (full title: The Aquarian Age Gospel of Jesus, the Christ of the Piscean Age) is a book by Levi H. Dowling
, first published in 1908. He said he had transcribed the text of the book from the Akashic records
. In the later 20th century, it was adopted by New Age
spiritual groups.
The title is derived from the practice in astrology
of naming time periods in terms of constellations
and their dominant positions in the sky. In that system, the Age of Aquarius
is approaching.
Supporters of Dowling argue that within theosophical thought, figures such as Meng-Tse, Matheno, Miriam, Moses
, Elijah and Vidyapati
exist in an ascended
state. As such, they communicated with Jesus after they had passed on from earthly existence.
. The church was incorporated in 2006, but had existed for numerous years previous to incorporation. There is no paid professional clergy.
The teachings of the Aquarian Church (ACCU) are based primarily on the Aquarian Gospel, but also on other writings by Levi Dowling, and share many teachings with the I Am Activity (I Am Movement) and Ascended Master Teachings
. Some of the teachings include a Triune God composed of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Mother Holy Spirit, release from the cycle of rebirth through the Ascension Process, the equality of the races and sexes and the transformation (transmuting) of the individual and the world through the study and practice of the teachings. Initiations of the Aquarian Masters: The Theosophy of the Aquarian Gospel, by co-founder and director Rev. Dr. J. L. Watson, serves as textbook for those interested in learning more about the teachings of the church.
Levi H. Dowling
Levi H. Dowling was an American preacher. He was born in Bellville, Ohio. His father, of Scots and Welsh descent, was a pioneer preacher among the Disciples of Christ...
, first published in 1908. He said he had transcribed the text of the book from the Akashic records
Akashic Records
The akashic records is a term used in theosophy to describe a compendium of mystical knowledge encoded in a non-physical plane of existence. These records are described as containing all knowledge of human experience and the history of the cosmos...
. In the later 20th century, it was adopted by New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
spiritual groups.
The title is derived from the practice in astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
of naming time periods in terms of constellations
Constellations
Constellations: An International Journal of Critical and Democratic Theory is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal of critical and democratic theory and successor of Praxis International. It is edited by Andrew Arato, Amy Allen, and Andreas Kalyvas...
and their dominant positions in the sky. In that system, the Age of Aquarius
Age of Aquarius
The Age of Aquarius is either the current or new age in the cycle of astrological ages. Each astrological age is approximately 2,150 years long, on average, but there are various methods of calculating this length that may yield longer or shorter time spans depending upon the technique used...
is approaching.
Major Points
The Aquarian Gospel makes the following claims, among others:- The revelation of the Aquarian Gospel was prophesied 2000 years ago by Elihu, who conducted a school of the prophets in Zoan, Egypt. He said thus:
-
- "This age will comprehend but little of the works of Purity and Love; but not a word is lost, for in the Book of God's Remembrance a registry is made of every thought and word and deed.
- And When The world is ready to receive, lo, God will send a messenger to open up the book and copy from its sacred pages all the messages of Purity and Love. - Aquarian Gospel 7:25-26
- JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
puts on the role of The ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, but is not automatically Christ by nature. By making himself, through effort and prayer, a fit vessel, Jesus enabled The ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
to dwell within him. Christ is therefore used as a term for the perfect human being that Jesus exemplified, a human being that has been "Christened" (anointed) and therefore made holy. - Jesus came to earth to show the way back to God via his lifestyle and teachings. He is the example we must model our own lives after, if we seek salvation.
- Reincarnation exists, and is the explanation for various seeming injustices. Reincarnation allows people to settle debts they have incurred in past lives.
- Humanity has forgotten God and is currently working its way back to fully remembering God.
- Time is separated into ages. These ages last approximately 2,000 years. We are now nearing the start of the Aquarian AgeAge of AquariusThe Age of Aquarius is either the current or new age in the cycle of astrological ages. Each astrological age is approximately 2,150 years long, on average, but there are various methods of calculating this length that may yield longer or shorter time spans depending upon the technique used...
. - All souls will eventually mature and become perfect, like Jesus, thus ending the cycle of reincarnation.
- No soul is ever abandoned by God.
- Jesus
Difficulties
Eric Pement has pointed out difficulties in Dowling's text:- Dowling misidentified the ancient ruler known as Herod, identifying Herod AntipasHerod AntipasHerod Antipater , known by the nickname Antipas, was a 1st-century AD ruler of Galilee and Perea, who bore the title of tetrarch...
as the ruler of Jerusalem, during a period when Herod the GreatHerod the GreatHerod , also known as Herod the Great , was a Roman client king of Judea. His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis." He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere, including his...
actually ruled. - The book depicts Jesus as visiting the cities of Lahore, India (pre-Partition in IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, now in Pakistan); Shri JagannathJagannathJagannath is a transcendental non-anthropotheistic Hindu god worshiped primarily by the people of Indian state of Orissa, and, to a great extent, West Bengal...
in temple at Puri in Orissa, India; and PersepolisPersepolisPerspolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire . Persepolis is situated northeast of the modern city of Shiraz in the Fars Province of modern Iran. In contemporary Persian, the site is known as Takht-e Jamshid...
in Persia. Only the temple at Puri existed at that period, but, Lahore did not exist during the period in question, and Persepolis had already been destroyed by Alexander the Great. - The book asserts Jesus ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
had remained in the Jagannātha Temple of Puri for 4 years for preaching the downtrodden and low caste people. - Dowling and Edgar CayceEdgar CayceEdgar Cayce was an American psychic who allegedly had the ability to give answers to questions on subjects such as healing or Atlantis while in a hypnotic trance...
both claimed to have produced an account of the life of Jesus through the transcription of the Akashic recordsAkashic RecordsThe akashic records is a term used in theosophy to describe a compendium of mystical knowledge encoded in a non-physical plane of existence. These records are described as containing all knowledge of human experience and the history of the cosmos...
, but there are significant differences between their accounts. - Dowling claimed that Jesus knew Meng-tseMenciusMencius was a Chinese philosopher who was arguably the most famous Confucian after Confucius himself.-Life:Mencius, also known by his birth name Meng Ke or Ko, was born in the State of Zou, now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng , Shandong province, only thirty kilometres ...
of LhasaLhasaLhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
, TibetTibetTibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
but Meng-tse lived 300 years before Jesus’ time.
Supporters of Dowling argue that within theosophical thought, figures such as Meng-Tse, Matheno, Miriam, Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
, Elijah and Vidyapati
Vidyapati
Vidyapati Thakur , also known by the sobriquet Maithil Kavi Kokil was a Maithili poet and a Sanskrit writer. He was born in the village of Bishphi in Madhubani district of Bihar state, India. He was son of Ganapati...
exist in an ascended
Ascended master
Ascended Masters, in the Ascended Master Teachings is derived from the Theosophical concept of Masters of the Ancient Wisdom or "Mahatmas", though they differ in important aspects...
state. As such, they communicated with Jesus after they had passed on from earthly existence.
The Aquarian Church (ACCU)
The Aquarian Christine Church Universal, Inc. (ACCU) is a denomination based on the Aquarian Gospel. Members are commonly called Aquarians, but the proper term would be Aquarian Christines. The name Christine is used in the Aquarian Gospel instead of Christian, emphasizing that the Church is the Bride of ChristBride of Christ
The Bride of Christ or bride, the Lamb's wife is a term used in the New Testament of The Bible. Sometimes the Bride is implied through calling Jesus a Bridegroom. Sometimes the Church is compared to a bride betrothed to Christ. However there are instances where the interpretation of the usage of...
. The church was incorporated in 2006, but had existed for numerous years previous to incorporation. There is no paid professional clergy.
The teachings of the Aquarian Church (ACCU) are based primarily on the Aquarian Gospel, but also on other writings by Levi Dowling, and share many teachings with the I Am Activity (I Am Movement) and Ascended Master Teachings
Ascended Master Teachings
The students of "Ascended Master Teachings" organizations believe that the Presence of Life/God - Individualizes as the "I AM", and incarnates throughout the created universes until it achieves The Ascension . The "Teachings" as all Religious Teachings.....
. Some of the teachings include a Triune God composed of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Mother Holy Spirit, release from the cycle of rebirth through the Ascension Process, the equality of the races and sexes and the transformation (transmuting) of the individual and the world through the study and practice of the teachings. Initiations of the Aquarian Masters: The Theosophy of the Aquarian Gospel, by co-founder and director Rev. Dr. J. L. Watson, serves as textbook for those interested in learning more about the teachings of the church.
Further reading
- Contend For the Faith: Collected Papers of the Rockford Conference on Discernment and Evangelism, ed. Eric Pement. (Chicago: Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, 1992)
- Keith Edward Tolbert and Eric Pement, The 1996 Directory of Cult Research Organizations, (Trenton, Mich.: American Religions Center, 1996)
- Committee on Ethics, EMNR [Craig Branch and Eric Pement], The Manual of Ethical and Doctrinal Standards for Evangelical Ministries to New Religions,Birmingham, Alabama: Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, 1997
- Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ and Christian Mysticism: Pristine Christine Church & Missions, First Edition (2009) ISBN 978-971-94375-0-5
- The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ: The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion of the Aquarian Age of the World and of the Church Universal, DeVorss & Company; New Ed edition (June 1972), ISBN 0-87516-168-5
External links
- Initiations of the Aquarian Masters: The Theosophy of the Aquarian Gospel, Jacob L. Watson, III, D.D., (2009) Outskirts Press, ISBN 9781432745981
- Aquarian Christine Church Universal, Inc.
- Introducing the Aquarian Gospel, Swami Nirmalananda Giri
- Transcribed by Levi H. Dowling, "The Aquarian Age Gospel of Jesus, the Christ of the Piscean Age", Reluctant Messenger Website
- Aquarian Gospel Society, and its associated Facebook group
Text Sources
- The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, highly accurate and exact digital transcription of the Gospel portion of the original 1911 edition, with links to the original source page scan images to verify authenticity and accuracy (prepared by The Aquarian Gospel Society, refer to the digital transcription notes)
- Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ (1911) in the Internet Archive (page scan images of 1911 edition)
- Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ (e-text) includes an introduction by Eva S. Dowling