Esoteric versus exoteric religions

Esoteric religions are ones that locate the primary source of religious or spiritual authority in the human heart, the conscience, or the higher self. Teachers are seen more as guides than as authority figures. They are only an authority on the topic of the particular path, as they are further along that path. Starhawk and the Quakers characterize this approach as “power from within” for the individual and “power-with” to describe the power-sharing approach of this type of group.

Exoteric religions are ones that locate the source of religious or spiritual authority outside the self, in religious texts which are often said to be divinely revealed. These texts are often interpreted by leaders within these religions, and those leaders tend to be given a lot of authority over their “flock”. Starhawk and the Quakers characterize this approach as “power-over”.