Introductory Bibliography on the Hierocentric World View

Available from FARMS

Nibley, Hugh. Temple and Cosmos. (FARMS 1992)

Parry, Donald W. Temples of the Ancient World. (FARMS 1994)

ER = Eliade, Mircea. Encyclopedia of Religion. (Macmillan, 1987)

HBLL Ref 4 [BL 31 #46 1987]

ASR = Ancient Studies Room in 4060 HBLL (pass code = 629329)

Assignment for 11 September

1. Read ER "Shamanism" 13:201-8 (and 208-223)

2. Read Alma 32:28-43 and 36; cf. 1 Nephi 8, 11

Write a one page paper dealing with one or more of the following questions.

Is this tree a cosmic tree?

Al 32:41 (=33:23) the tree "springs up unto eternal life"

Could Alma's experience be called "shamanistic"?

Al 36 = ritual death, torment, calls on supreme god, celestial ascent (36:22)

3. Read the following articles:

Faulkner, R. O. "The King and the Star-Religion in the Pyramid Texts." Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 25 (1966) 3:153-61. [HBLL DS 41 .J6]

Wente, Edward F. "Mysticism in Pharonic Egypt?" Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 41 (July 1982) 3:161-79. [HBLL DS 41 .J6]

4. If you have some extra time, start reading:

Segal, Alan F. "Heavenly Ascent in Hellenistic Judaism, Early Christianity and their Environment." Aufstieg und Niedergang der Romischen Welt. vol. 2, pt. 23, sec 2, pp. 1333-94. [ASR: DG 209 .T36 vol. 2 pt. 23 sec. 2]

Storming of Heaven

Is the Tree of Life on a Cosmic Mountain?

Gen 2:4-14

Ez 28:13, 14

unathortized usurpers storm heaven and try to overthrow god

Ascent of the King of Babylon (Isa 14:15)

Tower of Babel (Gen 10)

Titans build tower in classical thought

Ezekiel and king of Tyre (Ez 28)

Neil Forsyth, The Old Enemy. (Princeton UP, 1985)

What is the celestial ascent?

men can ascend from earth into the realm of the gods

sometimes in heaven, sometimes on earth

after death vs. during life

journey of mortal going up = anabasis

Related Phenomenon

distinction between divine descent and human ascent

descent of god to earth

journey of celestial going down = katabasis

descent into hell

ascent to heaven after death

deification = apotheosis

throne theophany = vision of God on his throne

How widespread is the celestial ascent in world religions?

Nearly all religious tradtions

Shamanism

Pyramid texts from Egypt

Enmeduranki and Gilgamesh from Mesopotamia

Yellow Emperor of China

First kings of Tibet

Muhammad's mi'raj or ascent into heaven

Zoroastrian ascents

Story of Er the Pamphylian in Plato, Republic, 10.614B ff.

"Dream of Scipio," Cicero, Republic, 6.9-26.

Plotinus and the neoplatonic ascent

Jewish Merkavah and Kabbalistic literature

Early Christian and Hellenistic Gnostics

What was the purpose of the celestial ascent?

investiture with

knowledge

authority

power

eternal life

cosmology

cosmogeny

theomachy

eschatology

prophecy

associated with divine kingship and prophets

How did the ancients think celestial ascent happened?

many different ways

temple as portal for ascent

physical ascent up a mountian

mystical flight

birds, winds, chariots

How do modern secular scholars explan the celestial ascent?

lies

psychologically altered states of consciousness

trance of Mongolian shaman

hallucinagenic drugs

literary metaphors (Dante)

religious rituals

ecstasy

visions

visionary vs. physical

actual empirical experince

What occurred during these accounts of celestial ascents?

crisis and seeking

dream, near death experience, vision

angelic guide leads visionary to heaven

ascent through the various levels of heaven

heaven as a temple

angelic opposition

vision of God on his throne

God reveals his secrets

metamorphosis of mortal

man returns to earth to reveal will of God

What happened to the celestial ascent in Christianity?

Very widespread in Christian Pseudepigraphic literature

Adam: Life of Adam and Eve, 25-29

Enoch: Gen 5:24; Job 4:23; Eccles. 44:16, 49:14; W. Sol. 4:10-11; 1 Enoch 39:3ff, 70-71; 2 Enoch; 3 Enoch; Heb 11:5; 1 Clem 9:3

Abraham: Apocalypse of Abraham; Testament of Abraham

Levi: Testament of Levi, 2:5f

Moses: Josephus, Ant 4.8.49; Assumption of Moses; Mk 9:28+; Rev 11:3-12; Jude; (Clement, Strom. 4.15)

Elijah: 2 Kings 2:1-12; 1 Macc 2:58; 1 Enoch 89:52, 93:8; Eccles. 48:9; Mark 9:28+; Rev 11:3-12

Isaiah: Ascension of Isaiah 6-11

Zephaniah: Apocalypse of Zephaniah (Clement, Strom. 5:11)

Baruch: 2 Baruch 13:3, 25:1, 46:7,76; 3 Baruch

Ezra: Ezra 14:9,49

Augustine's neoplatonic mystical ascent as described in his Confessions

Christian mystical tradition

transformation from the Near Easter ascent to the neoplatonic inward mystical ascent

God, as pure intellect, can be reached by inward mystical contemplation

Some of these ideas seem to resonate with our scripture

The celestial ascent is widespread in both the Bible and unique LDS scripture

Bible

Moses' ascent up to Sinai (Exodus, Moses)

Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-12)

Isaiah 6

Christ on the Mt of Tranfiguration (Mt 17 = Mk 9)

Paul's ascent into the third heaven (2 Cor 12)

John in Revelation

Book of Mormon

Lehi (1 Ne 1:8)

Alma (Al 36:22)

Doctrine and covenants

76

88

LDS temple = ritual celestial ascent