Tobias Churton is Britain’s leading scholar of Western Esotericism, a world authority on Gnosticism, Hermeticism, and Rosicrucianism. He is a filmmaker and the founding editor of the magazine Freemasonry Today. An Honorary Fellow of Exeter University, where he is faculty lecturer in Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, he holds a master’s degree in Theology from Brasenose College, Oxford, and created the award-winning documentary series and accompanying book The Gnostics, as well as several other films on Christian doctrine, mysticism, and magical folklore. The author of many books, including Gnostic Philosophy, The Invisible History of the Rosicrucians, and Aleister Crowley: The Beast in Berlin, he lives in England.

Born in Sutton Coldfield to an ancient Cheshire family, in 1960, Tobias Churton spent two years in Australia from 1966 to 1968 and returned to attend his fifth school, Lichfield Cathedral School. Three schools later he won an exhibition to Brasenose College, Oxford, where he studied Theology. Compelled to exchange a vocation to the priesthood for the lowlier prospect of a career in television, he first came to public notice with the 1987 Channel 4 production, GNOSTICS. The 4-part, drama-documentary went out at peak time on Saturday nights. It won the New York TV Festival Gold Award for best religious series. Churton’s Channel 4/Weidenfeld & Nicolson book accompanying the series was a best seller.

Long before Dan Brown scored a hit with The Da Vinci Code, Tobias Churton introduced a popular audience to the authentic world of esoteric mysteries. In the words of Dutch scholar, Gilles Quispel, the TV series would “change the minds of millions”. Churton presented the facts, not the fantasy. Swedish theologian Jan-Arvid Hellström hailed Churton as a “religious genius” while Amsterdam bibliophile and industrialist Joost Ritman enthusiastically greeted the appearance of a new “writing star”…

… to be continued on Tobias Churton’s website, which can be found here

Find him on Amazon and Inner Traditions

And this is his Soundcloud page for his music

Tobias Churton’s in-depth books on important phases of Aleister Crowley’s life

Music played in this episode

I am always amazed to see how many of the people I interview are also – next to being high-profile occultists, writers etc. – highly talented and active musicians. 

Tobias Churton (and his daughter Merovée) are providing us with their music for this episode!

 1) LEAVE IT TO CHANCE?

an autobiographical song in the old style about romance, and when to go for it!

 

2) JOHN LENNON’S BIRTHDAY – sung by Tobias’ daughter Merovée

A celebration of what would be John’s 80th birthday (October 9 2020)

3) HOW CAN I?

instrumental/orchestral written in memory of a lost friend

 

Intro and Outro Music
especially written and recorded for the Thoth-Hermes Podcast by Chris Roberts