Gurdjieff Foundations

By: Dr. John Weldon

By: Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon; ©1999
Enlightenment [salvation] is achieved through strenuous human efforts toward comprehending “objective” reality or true consciousness.

Gurdjieff Foundations

Info at a Glance

Name: The Gurdjieff Foundations.

Purpose: The attainment of higher consciousness.

Founder: George Gurdjieff.

Source of authority: Gurdjieff.

Revealed teachings: Yes.

Examples of occult potential: Psychic powers; spiritism.

Key literature: All and Everything; Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson and other literature by Gurdjieff and Peter D. Ouspensky.

Attitude toward Christianity: Rejecting.

Quotes:

“I hate your Jesus” (Gurdjieff, C. S. Nott, Teachings of Gurdjieff, p. 103). “He never spoke well of the Christian Churches” (J. G. Bennett, Gurdjieff, Making a New World, p. 141).

“Everyone idiot. I am idiot. Even God is idiot” (Gurdjieff, Further Teachings of Gurdjieff; p. 79).

Note: J. G. Bennett, a 30 year Gurdjieff disciple, was instrumental in helping propagate the occult Subud teachings in the U.S. Although he is said to have changed his mind, he once believed Subud to be the “logical” culmination of Gurdjieff’s teachings. Werner Erhard, the founder of est/the Forum, was also influenced by Gurdjieff/Subud.

Doctrinal Summary

God: Ineffable, although conceived in quasi-Christian terms.

Jesus: A Master.

Salvation: Enlightenment is achieved through specific techniques, sometimes involving strenuous human efforts toward the attainment of systematic “self-observation” leading to the comprehending of “objective” reality or true consciousness.

Man: Inwardly divine (potentially), although currently asleep.

The Bible: Interpreted mystically.

Death: Some individuals experience reincarnation, others are “annihilated.”

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Dr. John Weldon

Dr. John Weldon (born February 6, 1948) went to be with the Lord on August 30, 2014 following a long-time battle with cancer. John served for more than 20 years as a researcher for The John Ankerberg Show. During his tenure, he authored or coauthored more than 100 books, including the best-selling Facts On Series of books that has sold more than 2.5 million copies in 16 languages. His final book, published in July 2014 with Harvest House Publishers (coauthored with John Ankerberg), is especially fitting. How to Know You’re Going to Heaven offers a biblical and personal look at the way God has provided salvation through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) and the confidence the believer can have of eternity with Him in heaven (1 John 5:13). John’s life and work have touched countless others seeking to grow spiritually and better understand the Bible. His friends describe him as genuine, humble, and passionate to share the hope of eternal life with everyone he met. His work will continue through his many books, his online writings at The John Ankerberg Show website (JAshow.org), as well as through the many people John has personally influenced through his ministry.