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Fun stuff. I write novels on the side and for a series of pulp supernatural detective books I'm writing I picked up the Lesser Key of Solomon which is a compendium of demons, their ranks in hell, and their specialties. Christian mythology is pretty crazy stuff once you start digging around in it.



I don't know how much of the stuff associated with ceremonial magic can be called "christian mythology", since most of it was only attested pretty late, between the 15th and 17th centuries, at a time when Christianity was already pretty well established in Europe. Plus, it didn't enjoy widespread currency. Partially because it implied unlawful practices under both Church and local laws. But either way, it's much too restricted to be called a "mythology".

"Christian mythology" would be more along the lines of folk tales concerning the Virgin Mary and the saints, the Tetramorph, the hierarchies of angels and the Great Chain of Being.


The influence of Jewish mysticism was pretty significant, too, to the point that Christian writers would fabricate an old rabbi as the purported "author" of their document. You also got a lot of fake Hebrew scriptures with obvious tells that they were written by Christians. And, of course, sorcery is part of the whole antisemitic complex of stereotypes that was used to oppress Jews in Europe for centuries. It lasted long enough that in 19th century America you get occasional stories of fake Jewish wizards.


Especially when you tie in Gnosticism, it opens up wide.

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Less related:

One can even trace a pretty interesting trail of knowledge inheritance from ancient mystery schools, through gnostic traditions in more than one religion, to middle age secret societies, through to the theosophists and magicians like Crowley to modern mens-rights douchebags' ideas of sexual energy conservation and controlling powers inherent.

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For more texts, this is a great resource: http://www.sacred-texts.com/


Nice! Thanks for the pointer.


Also if you're dabbling in supernatural detective books, I have to assume you're a fan of Douglas Adams? Have you watched the Dirk Gently series on Netflix? I highly recommend it, if not!


Oh shit! I've read the Dirk Gently books, I totally missed that though!




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