New light on the ancient tradition of inner knowing by stephan a. Hoeller this is a great modern introduction to gnosticism. The truth, however, as we have seen if you have kept up with the prior articles in this series and on this website, is that jesus did not found a new religion at all, but simply sought to play an accepted role in the story of an existing religion, judaism. Greek orthodox christianity is nearer to the gnostic mysteries but it still misses the mark because, once again, it became the state religion of the byzantium empire. Buy cheap gnosticism books online gnosticism book rentals. Gnosticism refers to an exceptionally wide variety of groups who seek gnosis, or direct, spiritual knowledge, as opposed to those groups who rely exclusively on belief. Studies in gnosticism and hellenistic religions presented to gilles quispel on the occasion of his. Of course this creation is full of mistakes and is imperfect. Consequently, it is possible to remantle these ancient religious horizons by. Antti marjanen, sethian books of the nag hammadi library as secret books. By itself, it is not a separate denomination or religion but a religious philosophy. This is not a religious book and anyone can benifit from reading it, as it traces the life and teachings of christ through the lens of gnosticism.
Apocalyptic and gnosis in the book of revelation and paul. Henry more in a commentary on the seven letters of the book of revelation, where more used the term. The term gnosticism is derived from the greek term gnosis which means to know, and is the root of many english words diagnosis, knowledge, ignore. By recovering and uniting the scattered fragments, primordial gnosis can be reconstructed and brought to the world once again.
These mysteries covered an enormous range, and manifested a great diversity in character and outlook, from orphism to gnosticism, from the orgies of the cabiri to the fervours of the hermetic contemplative. The term gnosis or gnosticism has been used in spiritual teachings for. With the help of the brilliant chloe eisenberg, a professor of philosophy and religion, jack and punjeeh navigate the dangerous terrain of the palestinian israeli. This article discusses the relationship between gnosticism and the new testament. Most of the schools or sects in question were ostensibly christian by the time our earliest. Gnosticism describes a collection of ancient religions which taught that people should shun the material world created by the demiurge and embrace the spiritual world. Although gnosticism thus rests on personal religious experience, it is a mistake to assume all such experience results in gnostic recognitions. The gnostic tradition is one that has spanned millenniums, it represents the height of the religious traditions of humanity.
As you browse our vast collection of religiongnosticism titles youll find a broad array of notable authors including richard smoley. Gnosticism is difficult to define because it comes in so many flavors and interpretations. The only way to get the books was from a handful of schools who put up many obstacles and restrictions, requiring students to. Mystery of mysteries by james j hurtak online at alibris. We believe that the desire to know divine lawsthat is natural, universal, and spiritual lawswill eventually supplant the need just to believe in god or the divine. Oxford, and is the author of several books, including gnostic philosophy, the magus of. The characters are puerile and saccharine and the plot ridiculous. Gnosticism gnosticism from the greek gnosis, knowledge designates a broad variety of religious teachings that were rife in the hellenized near east of the first centuries ce and purported to offer knowledge of the otherwise hidden truth of total reality as the indispensable key to mans salvation.
List of books and articles about gnosticism online. The gnostic tradition is not culturally locked within the israelitegnostic christian. Gnosticism definition and meaning bible dictionary. These various groups emphasised personal spiritual knowledge over orthodox teachings, traditions, and ecclesiastical authority. Even the book of revelation cites a couple of gnostic beliefs and practices, referring to knowing the depths of satan and the nicolaitans revelation 2. At that time, the only books in english were made on copy machines, were terribly expensive, and most of the translations were filled with errors, omissions, and confusion.
The influence of the mystery religions on christianity. According to the jesus mysteries, christianity originated as a judaized version of the pagan mystery religions. With the help of the brilliant chloe eisenberg, a professor of philosophy and religion, jack and punjeeh navigate the dangerous terrain of the palestinianisraeli. The thrilling mystery makes a compelling case that the origins of christianity are. The books of john, i corinthians, galatians, colossians, i and ii timothy, jude, and i john all combat various elements of gnosticism.
Gnosticism is very much in vogue today in books and movies, and perhaps surprisingly, in the belief systems of many people who profess to be christian. The term designates a wide assortment of sects, numerous by the 2d cent. Gnosticism and the new testament wikipedia, the free. Shop target for religion books you will love at great low prices. Yet they all died out within a couple of centuries of the christian era, gnosticism apart from a few vestigial groups in the near east and europe subsuming their heritage last. Gnosticisms christian form grew to prominence in the 2nd century a. Studies in gnosticism and hellenistic religions presented to gilles. The gnostic followers of christ, quite early in the history of the christian faith, refused to go along with the atonement theology. Author thinkanddiscern posted on june 19, 2017 june 20, 2017 categories belief systems, books, gnosticism, religion tags belief systems, books, gnosticism, religion eros, orpheus and on the origin of the world alexander rivera. It is a framework from which to explain the nature of god, creation, good and evil, man, and the purpose of life. And if this world is imperfect, if matter is imperfect or if everything that exists in the universe is. Reprint of the mysteryreligions and christianity, 1928 edition. Into this world of eclectic religion came the exclusiveness of the christian faith jesus is the only way to god, cf. New light on the ancient tradition of inner knowing quest books, 2002 buy the book there has long been need for a comprehensive introductory guide to the gnostic tradition.
Its primary points of focus are found within vedic philosophy, zoroastrianism, israelite mystery traditions and gnosticism. Even though they might want you to read the same book over and over again, its a good idea to add variety to the mix. Read gnostic mysteries of sex online by tobias churton books. The prophetic record of human destiny and evolution by zinovia dus. It covers gnostic creation myth, rituals, teachers, sophia divine feminine wisdom, the gnostic jesus, mandaens manichaens cathars, modern gnostics and more. In gnosticism, as in the other mystic religions, we find the same contrast of the initiated and the uninitiated, the same loose organization, the same kind of petty sectarianism and mysterymongering. The gnostic gospels by elaine pagels, the nag hammadi library by anonymous, the gnostic bible by willis barnstone, the gnost.
New light on the ancient tradition of inner knowing kindle locations 10211022. Be the first to ask a question about gnostic mystery. The key lies in the obscure and ancient religious sect of gnosticism. Religion gnosticism audio books download instantly. The gnosticism of harold bloom or, what does the daemon. The four principal gnostic myths and four nag hammadi gospels are introduced within a jungian psychological framework. Our site offers all of the religiongnosticism books youre looking for. The prophetic record of human destiny and evolution sacred.
The proposed true history of christianity from its roots as a hellenized mystery religion expressed through gnosticism with the literal interpretation of the gospels being only the outer mystery. Due to multiple persecutions, primordial gnosis has been fragmented, distorted and hidden. Gnosticism is the teaching based on gnosis, the knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of interior, intuitive means. Primordial gnosis is the original gnosis, true gnosis, eternal gnosis, gnostic knowledge in its pure form. Gnosticisms origins are murky and contested, and bloom seems to care little for the historical minutiae behind the scenes, but we can draw a general history with what cursory details are available for more information, i recommend the section of books on gnosticism in my suggested reading list below. The mystery religions were very popular because of their emphasis on personal relationship with the deity and secret knowledge. An account of gnosticism in the context of a timeless alternative tradition. The history and legacy of the mysterious ancient religion. Gnostics tended to focus exclusively on the inner life of the spirit, which they clearly differentiated. Gnosticism is a collection of ancient religious ideas and systems which originated in the first. The gnostic handbook page 7 but it is perhaps desirable to state unequivocally that the teachings here, however, fragmentary and incomplete belong neither to the hindus, the zoroastrian, the chaldean, nor the egyptian religion, nor to buddhism, islam, judaism or christianity exclusively.
Buy a cheap copy of the gnostic gospels book by elaine pagels. Angus, the mysteryreligions and christianity london. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Our incredible selection of audiobook titles includes great books such as techgnosis, jesus and the lost goddess and forbidden faith to name a few. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
Gnosticism is one of the great mysteries in the history of western. Jesus was invented by early christians based on an alleged grecoroman mystery cult has been dismissed by scholars. Babylonian mystery religion church of the great god. Mystery and secrecy in the nag hammadi collection and. All alike boast a mystic revelation and a deeply veiled wisdom bousset, op.
Hoeller supplies just such a book with this new offering. Norman geisler from the baker encyclopedia of christian apologetics, baker, 1999 the gnostics followed a variety of religious movements that stressed gnosis or knowledge, especially of ones origins. Go to bible verses about babylonian mystery religion. We assume, therefore, that belief will one day give way to knowledge. Some gnostics were an early christian sect, strongly associated with mysticism and more weakly with mystery religions, existing in parts of the roman empire from the first and second centuries, and surviving until the albigensian crusade against the cathar group of gnostics in the twelfth century. However i did enjoy the the background material on gnosticism and the influence that it had, along with the mystery religions of the near east, on the bible and the christian narrative. Scholarship overview on gnosticism and early jewishchristian. Like the gnostics, freke and gandy have a mystical mindset and therefore oppose christianity as grounded in. Whether its science, nonfiction, thriller or mystery, these are the books people are talking about. Gnostic mysteries are the culmination of human philosophical, religious and scientific thought up until the ascendency of the state of romes imperial religion roman catholicism. Kingdom of heaven, heaven on earth, christian organizations, religious books, shared reading. Look through a large collection of baby books and kids books that your little ones will.