Alchemy

Alchemy was a precursor to chemistry. The word is derived from the Arabic الكيمية (Al Kimia), meaning "the art of transformation". The key pursuit of alchemy was to discover a way to turn lead into gold, known as the philosopher's stone. This was as much a spiritual quest as it was a scientific one: the transformation of the base metal of the animal man into the pure gold of a son of God. Unbeknownst to alchemists at the time, gold is an element, and therefore cannot be produced by combining any other elements except through fusion.

Symbolism of alchemy

The symbolism of alchemy is rich and employs many western and eastern traditions. Some of the important symbols of alchemy are Solomons seal, the hermaphrodite, and the four Elements of wind, fire, earth and, water. These symbols are said to be from the period of the legendary alchemist Hermes Trismegistus, founder of the Hermetic arts. These and the other symbols of alchemy are regarded as having psychological significance by Carl Jung, contemporary of Sigmund Freud.

Why it failed

• Medieval alchemists wanted to turn lead into gold. It was a fruitless endeavor because they used chemical reactions. Nowadays, we know why: Chemical reactions cannot change one element into another. Only nuclear processes, which involve intense energies not available until the 20th century, can accomplish this.

The Alchemy of Christianity

The true Alchemist is God the Holy Trinity, Who alone fully knows the true الكيمية (Al Kimia), "the art of transformation".

Christ Jesus is the true philosopher's stone. (Matthew 21:42-44; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17-18; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Psalm 118:22-23)

Redemption and Salvation in Christ alone through the mercy of God alone in Baptism, the Eucharist, the Forgiveness of sins and Anointing of the Sick is the true panacea. (Matthew 9:6; 18:18; John 6:27-69; 20:19-23; James 5:14-16)

The Gospel is the true alkahest. (John 8:32, 36; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18; 10:3-5; Hebrews 4:12-13; Revelation 5:9-10; Isaiah 29:11)

The purging of the soul by the Father is the true athanor. (Jeremiah 23:29; Matthew 5:10-12; John 15:1-2, 6-8; 1 Corinthians 3:10-17; Hebrews 12:1-11; James 4:6-10; 1 Peter 1:3-7; Revelation 3:19) Alternatively, the gentle warmth of God's enveloping love is the true athanor.

Christ Jesus himself is the true red lion. (Genesis 49:9-10; Isaiah 31:4; Jeremiah 49:19; Amos 3:8; Revelation 5:5; 19:12-13)

The Lord God Himself is the true white eagle. (Exodus 19:4-6; Deuteronomy 32:11-12; Ezekiel 17:1-6; Revelation 12:14)

The Holy Spirit is the true heart of purity. (Proverbs 8; Matthew 5:8; Luke 11:13; 2 Corinthians 6:6-7; Titus 2:11-14; 3:5-7; James 3:17)

The Holy Spirit is the true soul of prayer to God in preparation for the great work (Latin magnum opus). (Romans 8:26-28; Ephesians 2:10)

The Holy Spirit is the true understanding of the mystery of transformation. (Isaiah 11:2-3; John 15:26; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16)

The Christian is the true base transformed into the true gold. (Acts 22:16; Romans 8:29-30; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Ephesians 4:22-24; 5:26-27; Titus 2:3-7; 2 Peter 1:3-11; Revelation 22:14)

The Church is the true chamber of alchemical transformation. (1 Corinthians 3:10-17; Ephesians 2:17-22; Hebrews 12:22-24; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Revelation 21:22–22:5)

External links

Roots of Alchemy (esotericonline.net)

History of Alchemy (alchemylab.com)

Paracelsus - The Treasure of Treasures for Alchemists, By Philippus Theophrastus Bombast, Paracelsus the Great, Transcribed by Dusan Djordjevic Mileusnic, Paracelsus his Aurora, & Treasure of the Philosophers. As also The Water-Stone of The Wise Men; Describing the matter of, and manner how to attain the universal Tincture. Faithfully Englished. And Published by J.H. Oxon. London, Printed for Giles Calvert, and are to be sold at the Black Spred Eagle, at the West end of Pauls, 1659. (levity.com/alchemy)

Book Review for Voodoo Science: The Road from Foolishness to Fraud by Robert Park Oxford University Press, 2000, and Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction by Charles Wynn and Aurthur Wiggins, Joseph Henry Press, 2001, Prepared by the staff of Jupiter Scientific

Alchemy - Religion Facts: Just the facts on religion (religionfacts.com)

Christian Alchemy: Christ the Stone - Alchemy Lab (alchemylab.com) Click on this link, then scroll down to the text.

The Relationship of Alchemy and Christianity, by John Granger, "The Dean of Harry Potter Scholars" - Hogwarts Professor: Thoughts for Serious Readers (hogwartsprofessor.com)

Using Alchemy to Teach Christianity? A chapter by chapter examination of Looking for God in Harry Potter. Author: John Granger, Christian Publisher: Tyndale House (June 2004) Phone: 800-323-9400 - Kjos Ministries (crossroad.to) The author warns that the Harry Potter books, and John Granger's book, are a deceptive syncretistic blending of occultism, paganism and Christian concepts.

Alchemy - Catholic Encyclopedia/Catholic Answers. article by T. O'Connor Sloane (catholic.com)

Attitude of the Catholic Church Towards Alchemy (alchemywebsite.com) About the Papal Bull Spondent parater 1317.

Bull Spondent Pariter - Pope John XXII: Angry Chemist! (suburbanbanshee.wordpress.com) —The article includes a literal translation of De crimine falsi (On the Crime of Counterfeiting) also known as Spondent pariter (Guarantees equally / A guaranteed parity) and Spondent quas non exhibent (Promising what is not forthcoming) - Pope John XXII at Avignon, 1317.

Alchemy in Christian Europe, Tara Nummedal, Department of History, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA - AMBIX, Vol. 60 No. 4, November 2013, 311-322 (tandfonline.com) Martin Luther on Alchemy.