Fenestra Coeli Apertae by Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1731) Christianity, Exoteric and Esoteric The esoteric/exoteric distinction The word esoteric possesses a certain mystique to the untrained ear, but has a technical meaning in the study of religions – an esoteric religion is one in which different things are taught to adherents at different levels of the faith. For example, scholars of Buddhism in Matthew Stanley • Theology
