Jero-Augustianism

Posted on April 14, 2004 in Myths & Mysticism

I’d like to propose the existence of a well-established, long-undocumented religion which I will call Jero-Augustianism. Like Gnosticism, it erupted from the rootstock of Christianity. Importantly, it establishes a series of principles which are not part of the original Christian message. These include:

• The Bible is the inerrant word of God.
  
• Original sin prevents us from knowing God until we have undergone the sacrament of baptism.
  
• It is acceptable, yeah, even gallant to kill in the name of the religion.
  
• Your minister knows God better than you do. You must put your trust in him over your own inner voice and communion with the Divine.
  
• That the Church derives its authority from temporal economic and political power.
  
• Martyrdom and self-torture bring you closer to God.
  
• Wealth and power may be a sign of Divine approval.