The secret to navigating the confusion of religious conflict and metaphysical debates is through unraveling the Ancient Mystery Schools. Who and what were they? How did they lose their status as the dominant religion of the Near East and perhaps the entire ancient world? What factors led them to be replaced by the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? And how do they connect to the Sabians of the Qur'an, an enigmatic group mentioned only thrice in the Muslim scripture? More importantly, how does understanding this history relate to our current understanding of religions today?
Islam and the Ancient Mysteries Volume One
will address these questions and more, starting by demystifying the Mystery Schools. Representing over 20 years of research, the author will guide you through the religious history of the Near East and show what role the Mysteries played in the political, intellectual, and theological debates of Christian Antiquity. Then he will show what became of the Mysteries under Islamic rule in early Medieval times. He will elucidate the meanings of Qur'anic terms such as
Ṣābi'ūn
,
Ḥanīf
, and
Naṣārā
, using what we know of the Mysteries/Sabians from esoterica and classical Arabic texts. As you read, the nature of religious conflicts will become apparent, revealing the Sabian - Ḥanīf dichotomy. Upon completing this volume, your mind will be open to a fresh approach of reading scripture, doctrine, and history that will prepare you to appreciate the role of the Mysteries in the religious discourse.