Richard Smoley is editor of Quest: The Journal of the Theosophical Society in America. He is also former editor of Gnosis Magazine. His books include Hidden Wisdom: The Guide to the Western Inner Traditions, Inner Christianity: The Guide to the Esoteric Tradition, Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism, The Essential Nostradamus, Conscious Love: Insights from Mystical Christianity, The Dice Game of Shiva: How Consciousness Creates the Universe, The Supernatural: Writings on an Unknown History, The Deal: A Guide to Radical and Complete Forgiveness, and How God Became God: What Scholars Are Really Saying About God and the Bible.

Here he maintains that the biblical record begins to converge with our historical knowledge of ancient Israel at about 850 BCE, during the reigns of Hezekiah and Ahab. Prior to that time, we lack independent evidence for the events described in the bible. A different set of problems exists concerning the accuracy of the New Testament. Smoley advances the hypothesis that the divinity of Jesus was originally associated with an angelic figure known as the “Son of Man” or Metatron. The doctrine of the trinity was originated by Valentinus, who was later condemned as a heretic.

(Recorded on August 7, 2016)

Published on February 1, 2017