Shining Light on Scripture

• When:           Wednesday Mornings
• Time:             11:30 am – 1:30 pm
• Where:          The Gathering Place, 3613 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA  96002
• Zoom link:    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/931097698?pwd=YzdSdnlsNGxmR0FPY0xCUTdRdldTdz09
• Facilitated by Chris Johnson, RScP

Join Chris Johnson, RScP on Wednesdays from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm for a fun and enlightening study of the Sacred Scriptures of the World. We began with the Hebrew Scriptures – or Old Testament, looking at each story and character through the lens of mythology and symbolism; within its historical and cultural context; and according to its literary genre and qualities. Then we considered how these stories shaped the teachings of the Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth and the formation of the early Christian Church, before exploring the non-canonical Gospels of Thomas and Mary Magdalene. And now, for something completely different…

Wednesday, April 1st we begin reading

The Upanishads

Recommended Reading

The Upanishads, translated by Eknath Easwaran

Easwaran’s best-selling translation of the ancient wisdom texts called the Upanishads is reliable, readable, and profound.

In the Upanishads, illumined sages share flashes of insight, the results of their investigation into consciousness itself.

In extraordinary visions, they experience directly a transcendent Reality which is the essence, or Self, of each created being. They teach that each of us, each Self, is eternal, deathless, one with the power that created the universe.

Easwaran’s best-selling translation of selections taken from the principal Upanishads and five others is reliable and accessible. It includes an overview of the cultural and historical setting, with chapter introductions, notes, and a Sanskrit glossary. But it is Easwaran’s understanding of the wisdom of the Upanishads, and their relevance to the modern reader, that makes this edition truly outstanding.

Each sage, each Upanishad, appeals in different ways to the reader’s head and heart. As Easwaran writes, “The Upanishads belong not just to Hinduism. They are India’s most precious legacy to humanity, and in that spirit they are offered here.”

This is a drop-in book study group – come whenever you like.

We meet at the Gathering Place, 3613 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA, and online at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/931097698?pwd=YzdSdnlsNGxmR0FPY0xCUTdRdldTdz09

Donations graciously accepted.

Bible Study Resources

• The Beginner’s Guide to the Bible by Jeffrey Kranz
• The Bible Project: a website with free Bible study resources and terrific videos
• Five Gospel Parallels: Shows parallel passages from the four canonical gospels and the Gospel of Thomas (from the University of Toronto
• Metaphysical Bible Dictionary: Provides metaphysical meanings for names of people and places in the Bible (from TruthUnity)
• The Gnostic Society Library: a treasure trove of non-canonical Christian gospels and apocrypha, including the Nag Hammadi Library, Hermetic Literature, and more
• King James Version of the Bible with Strong’s Concordance: Contains links to the original Hebrew and Greek words for a more in-depth exploration of other possible translations (from godrules.net)
• King James Version of the Bible with Apocrypha: Includes the Apocrypha, which are books contained in the Catholic Bible, but not the Protestant Bible (from the University of Michigan)
• Revised Standard Version of the Bible with Apocrypha: Includes more Apocryphal books in a more modern translation (from the University of Michigan)
• Early Christian Writings: Includes the canonical New Testament books as well as non-canonical gospels, such as those of Thomas, Philip, Mary Magdalene, etc., plus lots of writings that were circulated among the first and second century Christ Followers.