Customer Reviews (2)

the truth hurts
The truth hurts thats why the greeks are christians not gnostics. If you want history not speculation and heresay buy this book.
It appears that some people don't want people to read both sides and draw their own conclusions. These people are never ever "open minded". They are cultists looking to sell their "knowledge" and slander the truth. Remember St Paul-wolves with perverse teachings. These are "pagels' gnostics". I would also suggest V Lossky for the byzantine angle and clarification from the ancient Greeks themselves. It's kinda like "not out of africa" for the gnostics greek haters.

Makes a good fly-swatter
A tedious and rather biased rehash of Hans Jonas' "The Gnostic Religion: The Message of an alien God and the beginnings of Christianity." Although Jonas' view of Gnosticism is outdated, itcontains much useful background information on the various Gnosticmovements. Pheme Perkins has successfully drained away all the gold fromJonas and kept only the dross. Elaine Pagel's book, the Gnostic Gospels, isfar more open-minded, far more original,and far better researched. BuyPagels, not this! ... Read more

Book Description
Gnosticism, a form of religious knowledge that dates from the early centuries of the Christian movement, has often been characterized as a bizarre and even perverse distortion of Christian theology.Its special emphasis was on knowledge of God and of the nature and destiny of human kind.Such knowledge was believed to have redeeming power, liberating the soul from the sway of cosmic forces.

The earliest information on Gnosticism comes from the works of Christian opponents (Irenaeus et al.) and from certain ancient Coptic texts.A new era in the study of Gnosticism was inaugurated by the discovery in 1945 of the Nag Hammadi library.

In this introductory handbook, Riemer Roukema explores the meaning of the "gnosis" phenomenon on the basis of these sources and sets forth the relationship between Gnosticism and the church.Part One provides a general orientation to Gnosticism; Part Two looks at the religious and philosophical backgrounds of Gnosticism; Part Three uses ancient texts to provide a more detailed discussion of gnosis, Gnosticism, and Gnostics; Part Four examines the relationship between "Catholic" Christianity and Gnosticism.

Riemer Roukema is Lecturer in New Testament at the Theological University of Kampen, The Netherlands. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Superb for an introductory book
If I were currently teaching a course on the very complex religious phenomenon of gnosticism in the ancient world to an audience unfamiliar with the subject, this would undoubtedly be on the required reading list.There are at least six reasons for my enthusiasm about this book.
First, the book is simply organized.This perhaps may not be such a feat in and of itself, but with a topic as difficult to pin down as gnosticism, this is done very well.Anyone can follow the author's layout.
Second, Roukema's parlance is not for the scholar, but for the beginner.His syntax is not characterized by multiple subordinate clauses and the fifty-cent words of academia, but is simple and straight-forward.I imagine a high schooler could read this book with as much ease as anyone.
Third, the author simplifies the subject, but does not over simplify -- at least, not too much.When he does, however, he lets you know.
Fourth, although he finally disagrees with the gnostic perspective, his evaluation of it is practically undetectable until the end.That is, it reads very impartially.He is even sympathetic with the gnostic ideology at times.
Fifth, the reader comes away with some interaction with primary sources.While there are no lengthy quotations here (after all, it's just an introductory book), Roukema offers commentary on specific texts he feels are representative of certain communities.
Sixth, there are recommendations for further reading, which puts the icing on this lovely cupcake of a book.
... Read more

Book Description
This book explains in depth the non-dualistic metaphysics of "A Course in Miracles," and its integration with living in this illusory world. It demonstrates how the Course resolves the paradox of an imperfect material universe seeming to come from a perfect immaterial Creator. The study is carried out in the context of the Platonic and Gnostic themes that have run through Western intellectual and religious history, and the contrast of these with the Course. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

NotBeach reading
Very well researched and clearly laid out.Exactly what one would expectfrom Wapnick.Very illuminating.

The Big Picture
After reading the Nag Hammadi Library, I became aware of "The Course in Miracles" and became a student.I was looking for a book that captured the higher perceptions of the gnostics and measured them against ACIM.Dr Wapnick did it again.It is a real treasure and one I will keep as part of my library.Basically anything that I have read of Dr. Wapnick's has helped me tremendously.This is not an easy read.It is technical and very deep.

Excellent Work
Even though I'm not an "A Course in Miracles" follower, this book is really a gem.Although this book is directed to Course students, it explain very thoroughly and rationally the relation between Ancient Christianity, Platonism, Neo-Platonism and Gnosticism.There is only one small flaw in all of this:it looks at "A Course in Miracles" as Jesus' original message, and hence he views Gnosticism very close to Jesus' original message in its metaphysical level.It is very interesting that he looks at the Gnostic's own mistakes as those which Course students frequently fall into.

Other than that, he chooses Bible translations very well; he chooses the appropriate Bible scholars, he chooses good authorities on the issue of Gnosticism, he shows the pertinent passages of philosophy authors (Plato, Aristotle, Philo, Plotinus), and shows the historical, social, political, religious realities of Christianity, Ancient Philosophy, Gnosticism and how they are related to each other.

I have an MA in Philosophy, and not a scholar.However, although I'm not a scholar, I would dare say that it is a reliable source to know these ancient movements.

The most scholarly book on the Course ever published
Although many books on A COURSE IN MIRACLES have now been published, this is the first volume to seriously address some of the theological issues raised by the Course teachings.It is a superb piece of scholarship.Specifically, this brilliant book relates the Course's thought system to that which underlies many of the Gnostic movements of the early centuries of Christendom, along with Platonism and Neo-Platonism.Dr. Wapnick has done students of the Course a great favor by providing this information, which can only serve to enhance the Course's credibility in the years to come, not least in the face of the growing dysfunctionality of "orthodox" Christianity.

Buy It
This is an outstanding work! The scholarship bringing together the threads in the early Church and A Course in Miracles is wonderful. For those who enjoy Ken Wilber's work (thinking types), you'll love this book. ... Read more

Book Description
The most complete summation to date of the New Testament evidence formagical practice by Jesus and the early Christians. The very notion of Jesus being a sorcerer runs so against the grain of the Western cultural myth that even non-Christians are likely to find it far-fetched or even vaguely disturbing. Nevertheless, scholars steadily accumulated evidence for magical practices in the New Testament throughout much of the 20th century. It is that ever expanding body of knowledge that has made this book possible. This book examines the following:The nature of the earliest Christian documents, the defects of their trans-mission, and the evidence for the suppression of descriptions of magical acts.The closely related problem of the New Testament accounts as historical sources.The radically apocalyptic nature of Jesus' message and the expectations of the early church.The failure of the apocalypse to occur and the theological reaction to that failure.The role of magic and mystery religion in early Christianity.A revisiting of the story of the "beloved disciple" and what it may tell us about Jesus and suppression of evidence about his life.Contents: Documentary Evidence / Infancy Narratives / Confrontation / Resurrection as Ghost Story /Apocalyptic Prophet / Apocalypse Postponed, / Magic and Mystery, / Jesus the Magician / Spirit Versus Spirit, / Ecstatic Inner Circle, / Christian Mysteries, / Secret Gospel of Mark, / Beloved Disciple, / On the Use of Boys in Magic, / Apocalypse, Magic, and Christianity, / "Son of David." / Mary Magdalene ... Read more

Book Description
In 2006 National Geographic released the first Englishtranslation of the Gospel of Judas, a second-century text discovered inEgypt in the 1970s. The translation caused a sensation because it seemed tooverturn the popular image of Judas the betrayer and instead presented abenevolent Judas who was a friend of Jesus. In The Thirteenth Apostle AprilDeConick offers a new translation of the Gospel of Judas which seriouslychallenges the National Geographic interpretation of a good Judas. Inspiredby the efforts of the National Geographic team to piece together thisancient manuscript, DeConick sought out the original Coptic text and beganher own translation. "I didn't find the sublime Judas, at least not inCoptic. What I found were a series of English translation choices made bythe National Geographic team, choices that permitted a different Judas toemerge in the English translation than in the Coptic original. Judas wasnot only not sublime, he was far more demonic than any Judas I know in anyother piece of early Christian literature, Gnostic or otherwise." DeConickcontends that the Gospel of Judas is not about a "good" Judas, or even a"poor old" Judas.It is a gospel parody about a "demon" Judas written by aparticular group of Gnostic Christians known as the Sethians who lived inthe second century CE. The purpose of the text was to criticize"mainstream" or apostolic Christianity from the point of view of theseGnostic Christians, especially their doctrine of atonement, theirEucharistic practices, and their creedal faith which they claimed to haveinherited from the twelve disciples. Professor DeConick provides herEnglish translation and interpretation of this newly recovered gospelwithin the previously overlooked context of a Christianity in the secondcentury that was sectarian and conflicted. The first book to challenge theNational Geographic version of the Gospel of Judas, The Thirteenth Apostleis sure to inspire to fresh debate around this most infamous of biblicalfigures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An important part of the puzzle
April DeConick's book is addressed to the general public, though it includes much information useful to scholars, such as her discussion of blatant misinterpretations of the Coptic by the original National Geographic team. (Some of these errors have been corrected in the more recently published "critical edition" of the Gospel of Judas; the French translation in that book is superior to the English one.)

Another reviewer has offered many details of the content of the book, so I need not repeat any of them. What I would like to offer is a caveat. My care in approaching this book is the result of having just finished studying the Gospel of Judas in a graduate Coptic class, in which we not only read the book in Coptic but also read some of the scholarly literature that has come out since the rather rushed initial translation published by National Geographic. April DeConick's views are an important part of the mix. Scholars have expressed a range of views on this gospel. A majority seem to reject the National Geographic view. Other views are coming out, and Dr. DeConick's view is an important alternative view, but not the only one. Read her book but also read other literature. Articles published in scholarly journals are particularly helpful, if you have access to them.

But regardless of what you read now, be aware that the study of this gospel is only two years old, and it is still in a state of rapid ferment and development. Perhaps in five years a more considered consensus may emerge, so keep your eye on it. Come back in ten or twenty years, if you can. You will see a considerable body of literature and more fully developed views. Many detailed studies of many aspects of this gospel will be needed in order to interpret it thoroughly. This just takes time, as scholars work on them in the time they have between teaching classes, which is how most of them make their living. But they are working on this gospel and will continue to do so, as the issues it raises are compelling.

Do your research folks...
DeConick is of the very same mold she criticizes when she accuses the National Geographic translators of having modified the Gospel of Judas for a sensational story, for she bases her argument on little foundation just for a sensational sale.

This book is not a parody or satire or anything of the sort. The Sethian Gnostics, much of whom we know about through the works of Irenaeus and the other gospels discovered at Nag Hammadi, never wrote literature in this manner. This book, taken as a Gospel - literally, "good news" - of Judas fits the style of other Gnostic writings, i.e. The Gospel of Mary Magalene, The Apocryphon of John, etc. In these works, Christ appears to an unconventional disciple, not one of the 12 (this was the true critique of the church), and reveals to the one a sort of secret revelation. To write the Gospel of Judas off as a satire is too easy, and clearly not the truth.

DeConick bases much of her argument on the use of the word "daimon" to portray Judas Iscariot. This word was used to mean a sort of "spirit" in Platonic writings, much of which heavily influenced Gnostic thought. Although in later Christianity its meaning evolved into being strictly a "demon", this does not apply to this work, which (thanks to Bishop Irenaeus of Lyon) we know was written before 180 CE. National Geographic's translation of "daimon" as "god" may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it is safe to say that this word was probably intended for a neutral characterization. In the same work, as well as other Gnostic texts, the followers of the corrupt and evil Ialdaboath are often referred to as angels; this is not to portray them positively, but rather it is indicative of the neutral use of such terms.

For further reference of these subjects, read Marvin Meyer's essay "The Thirteenth Daimon: Judas and Sophia in the Gospel of Judas." Meyer is one of the chief translators of the National Geographic project. He defends his work and explains why DeConick's claims are not only unsubstantiated, but offensive and out of line.

So you don't want to believe the hype? Then don't read this book.

Readable and Exellent Book!
DeConnick not only proposes an alternative reading of the Gospel of Judas, she also provides a readable review of Gnosticism for the novice.An excellent book!

Antidote to the National Geographic translation
I have just finished reading April DeConick's new book, The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says. So many comments need to be made directed at so many interests:

The following is from my blog where I have more posts discussing the contents and argument of this book. See http://vridar.wordpress.com

1. Firstly, the book is easily accessible to the lay reader even though it discusses technical translation issues of the Coptic, as well as some of the history of the scholarship relating to the Gospel of Judas and its broader context.

2. Secondly, for most of us who have read the National Geographic translation of the Gospel of Judas, be prepared for a radical re-think of what we have read there. The National Geographic translation depicts Judas as the only true saint; DeConick's, as the arch demon himself -- or at least destined to join with him in the end.

3. Which immediately raises the question: Why would a gospel make the central character a demon? DeConick shows how the apparent structure and thematic development of the gospel aligns it with an agenda opposing that Christianity that traced its genealogy back to the Twelve Apostles. Like the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of Judas was a parody and attack on apostolic Christianity and its doctrine of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.

4. Fourthly, April DeConick proposes several reasons to explain such oppositional translations:

i. She explains in easy to read terms the condition of the text and possible variations in how the original Coptic could be read;

ii. She suggests with Professor Louis Painchaud that since World War 2 and the Holocaust, and the widespread anti-Semitism preceding those years, there has been a powerful cultural need to absolve our collective guilt over the treatment of the Jews. And this compulsion has led us to reappraise our portrayals of the bad Jew/Judah/Judas embedded in our foundational Christian myth. So much for Maloney and Archer's collaboration on their fictional cum theological treatise of their Judas gospel!

iii. DeConick even has an interesting section that surveys the different films of Jesus before and since World War 2 and compares particularly the portrayal of Judas in those pre- and those post-Holocaust movies -- in the pre-war movies he was always an evil villain through and through; in the post-war movies he has been depicted with more understanding and compassion -- a well-meaning idealist who just happened not to think the same way as Jesus;

iv. DeConick gives enough information about the transmission of the text and the role of National Geographic in its initial public translation to alert the reader to possible motives and controls at work other than those normally associated with scholarly professionalism.

5. The book gives a clear overview of the nature of the Christian world in the second century, showing that Apostolic Christianity (claiming descent from the Twelve Apostles) was only one branch; others explained are Marcionites, Ebionites, the Church of the New Prophecy (Montanism) and those diverse others traditionally labeled Gnostics.

6. Sixthly, the book gives one of the most readable introductions to the intricacies of (Sethian) gnosticism I have ever read. Anyone who has started out cold and attempted to grasp the cosmology of the Sethian gnostics from the Nag Hammadi texts alone as they are presented in the most accessible translations will appreciate this the most.

7. For Gospel of Mark lovers such as myself I was especially interested in DeConick's comparisons with the theology and attitudes towards the Twelve Disciples in the Gospel of Mark. My mind cartwheeled as I read. What needs to be worked through, I was thinking, was not just the similarities between the Judas and Mark Gospels' dismissiveness of the Twelve, but the fact that both gospels are addressing in many ways the same theological (and church genealogical) issues. Could they really be separated by as much as 100 years as orthodox datings propose?

-- i. Also closely related to the Gospel of Mark is the way both that gospel and the Judas gospel demonstrate that it is the demons who have the superior understanding of who Jesus really was. (Even Peter's confession appears tainted with some form of demon-possession given that Jesus calls him Satan at the same moment as his confession.) Even the demons understand more than the apostles!

8. DeConick provides a clear and easy to read account of the "orthodox" reaction to the theology expressed in the Gospel of Judas. This culminated with Origen's formulation of the doctrine of Jesus' sacrifice as a ransom and atonement to trick the Devil and rescue humanity from his power.

9. The Thirteenth Gospel was one of the very few books where I was drawn to read all the appendices:

i. DeConick's annotated bibliography of the Gospel of Judas, second-century Christianity, the New Testament Apocrypha and Gnosis and the Gnostics;

ii. her annotated synopsis of Sethian Gospel literature;

iii. her annotated citations of the testimony from the Church Fathers on the Gospel of Judas;

iv. and finally a Q&A section with April DeConick. This summed up some of the common questions asked about the Gospel of Judas (why is it appearing only now, why such opposing translations, what is the position of other scholars given such opposing translations, early Christianity and the role of Judas. . . .)

I can see myself returning regularly to this book in future references on this blog. (Especially in relation to my special interest in studies relating to the Gospel of Mark and Christian origins.)

Almost forgot -- Yes, the book contains a complete and new translation -- with commentary -- of the Gospel of Judas.

And I have more posts with detailed accounts of this book's contents and argument on my Vridar blog [http://vridar.wordpress.com]. Check the DeConick link in the Book Reviews section there.

Questioning a Positive Judas
Does the much publicized "Gospel of Judas," released in April, 2006 by the National Geographic, truly portray a positive view of Judas, the betrayer of Jesus? Dr. April DeConick of Rice University has questioned this interpretation of the newly released text. Speaking at the Biblical Archeology Society Seminar held this past weekend in San Antonio, Texas, Dr. DeConick, who holds a chair in Biblical Studies at Rice University, summarized her conclusions based on her translation and analysis of the original Coptic text. According to Dr. DeConick the idea of a positive Judas, friend and confident of Jesus, who receives a high heavenly reward for his betrayal of Jesus, is based on a series of faulty misreadings and mistranslations of the original text. Dr. DeConick argues that the "Gospel of Judas," turns out to portray a Judas that is far more demonic than in any other piece of early Christian literature, including the traditional accounts in the New Testament Gospels.

The book surveys the story of the Judas Gospel's discovery and release and includes Dr. DeConick's translation of the Coptic as well as her analysis of the translation issues upon which a positive or negative interpretation of Judas turn. It further relates the text to its historical setting, namely the thought world of an early Christian group of Gnostics known as the Sethians. Chapter 2, titled "A Gnostic Catechism," is one of the clearest expositions on Gnosticism written for the non-specialist that I have ever seen. The book also contains three invaluable appendices: A marvelously clear and complete annotated survey of "Further Reading," a synopsis of Sethian literature, and a Q&A with Dr. DeConick in which she relates her excitement at the initial publication of the text and how she reluctantly came to question its interpretation as represented in the books and documentary produced by the National Geographic Society.

I highly recommend this new book and I look forward to the continued discussion of this fascinating ancient text.

James D. Tabor, author, The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity ... Read more

Book Description
In this book an attempt is made to single out those elements inthe philosophical system of the Enneads that stand apart from thePlatonist tradition. On the basis of an extensive analysis offundamental texts the author shows that what Plotinus had in mind wasa quite independent paradigm of metaphysical theology, with at itscentre the human person. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Counterpoint to positivist / behaviorist poli-sci
Modernity Without Restraint comprises three overlapping essays / lectures by Voegelin in which he explores the "pneumopathological" effects of Gnostic beliefs on the individual and the society they infect. Voegelin intended them to target gnostic elements in the ideologies of two of the totalitarian movements of his time, Fascism and Communism, though they bear a chilling relevance to the current intermingling of right wing politics and evangelical Christianism in contemporary American political culture. His style can be difficult, his vocabulary (translated from the German) can seem strange at times (e.g., "pneumopathology," "immanentization"), and his central theme of the importance of ordering the individual soul, and society at large, in harmony with a "transcendent order of being" could be initially off-putting to a "social scientist," but his thesis, well supported and argued through a synopsis of relevant thinkers and topics from the history of religion, philosophy and social science, provides an interesting and broadening counterpoint to "modern" positivist / realist / behaviorist influences in political science and social science generally. Though much of Voegelin's argument centers around the importance of spirituality for the individual and society, and connection to a transcendent order that is "given," "Modernity Without Restraint" provides a timeless warning against "immanentization of the (Christian) eschaton," the spiritual and practical consequences for any society that succumbs to it.

Deep and Profound
For those of you who are new to Voegelin perhaps a word generally about his work will be helpful.Voegelin was born in Cologne, Germany in 1901.In 1938, he and his wife fled from Germany to the United States.From this context alone it is not surprising that Voegelin is very critical of the Nazis in particular and totalitarian regimes in general.What is perhaps more surprising to those who first come across Voegelin is his claim that regimes such as the Nazis are derivatives of such generally loved intellectual movements as the Enlightenment and Progressivism.

Taken together, the three works published in this volume provide a good basis for understanding how Voegelin comes to this conclusion.In this regard, "The New Science of Politics" is probably the most comprehensive work of the three.However, I would make two suggestions to those who are considering tackling this volume.First, read the first and third (that is, "The Political Religions" and "Science, Politics, and Gnosticism") before reading "The New Science of Politics".I think that the first and third pieces are much easier to read, even though they are less encompassing overall.Second, read "The New Science of Politics" twice.I read that installment for the first time about a year ago and I feel that I understood a lot more the second time around.

Voegelin is a great thinker, and his works in this volume provide a different, and yet very profound way of looking at modern Western society.I think Voegelin's construction of Gnosticism is right on as a critique of the modern psyche.I would recommend this book to anyone looking to explore the work of Voegelin; this is a great place to start.The writing is fairly difficult, but you don't have to understand everything to take a lot from this book.

Gnosticism and Political Religions.
_Modernity Without Restraint_ presents three of Erik Voegelin's essays on the modern political religions, including Marxism, National Socialism, Hegelianism, Nietzschianism, and Heideggerianism.To Voegelin, these thinkers are all best described as "gnostics" and in their effort to create God's Kingdom on Earth seek to "immanentize the Christian eschaton".In "The Political Religions", Voegelin traces back the origin of political religion to the Egyptian worship of the Sun, the cult of Akhenaton.He traverses the history of the Middle Ages, and he shows how the archetype of the Christian apocalypse (a heresy to the orthodox Christian) came to occupy a central role in political religion.He includes a good discussion of the leviathanic state of Thomas Hobbes.Finally he ends with a compelling picture of the National Socialist state embodied in the Fuehrer.Although he was criticized in this essay for not outrightly condemning the National Socialists, Voegelin stated that this in fact just reveals the satanic allure that this political religion holds.To Voegelin, National Socialism is "satanic".In "The New Science of Politics", Voegelin examines various modes of representation from Plato and Aristotle through the Roman Empire.He then discusses the idea of gnosticism; he views the modern political religions as a restoration of the Gnostic heresy (condemned by early Christianity), an attempt to replace faith with certainty and bring about the Kingdom of God on Earth.This idea arose in the apocalyptic tradition, transmitted through the Middle Ages by the followers of Joachim de Fiore.He discusses in particular the case of the English Puritans.According to Voegelin, the modern political philosophies of liberalism, communism, and the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes are under the spell of gnosticism.In "Science, Politics, and Gnosticism", the most interesting of the essays presented, Voegelin delves into the thinkers Hegel, Marx ("an intellectual swindler"), Nietzsche ("the murder of God"), Heidegger, and psychoanalysis and National Socialism.To Voegelin, these thinkers are all "gnostics", and the movements spurred by their philosophies are "ersatz religions".

Voegelin represents an interesting alternative to modernity and liberalism.And this book among his collected works serves as an excellent introduction to the thought of this profound thinker, philosopher of gnosticism. ... Read more

Book Description
The Knowledge that Leads to Wholeness is the first book tospecifically illustrate how the major Gnostic myths underlie Jung's theoryof individuation. It is a compelling and in-depth examination of alife-changing journey that begins with the author discovering the forgottensecrets of the Gnostics. These secrets are gradually unveiled as the authorand his loyal dog, Gold, are initiated, each in their own way, to put theancient knowledge into practice. Dr. Lloyd explores the esoteric side ofCarl Jung and reveals the connections between Jung's pivotal theory ofindividuation, i.e. the journey to wholeness, and the powerful, visionarymyths told by the pioneers of the psyche, the Gnostics. He details whathappens to a person who is on the road to wholeness, how the person willchange, and how a new divine-human identity will be born into the world asa result of undertaking this transformational odyssey. ... Read more

Book Description
The sensational discovery of the Nag Hammadi Coptic Library in Egypt in 1945-46 has revolutionized the study of the origins and development of the ancient religious phenomenon known as Gnosticism. It has brought to light many hitherto unknown Gnostic texts and is forcing a reappraisal of the traditional picture of Gnosticism as in essence a Christian heresy.

This work focuses on several foundational Gnostic texts—the 'Sethian texts'. Earlier discoveries of Mandaean and Manichaean texts had suggested that the origins of Gnosticism might lie in an oriental religion of redemption, culturally far removed from their pre-Christian context. But the Sethian texts suggest that these Pre-Christian Gnostics were fundamentally influenced by Jewish ideas.

Alastair Logan identifies these Gnostics in their developing, essentially Christian context, isolates the earliest forms of their foundational myth in Irenaeus of Lyons (130?-200? CE) and the Apocryphon of John, and traces its development until it underwent a Sethian reinterpretation in the early third century CE. In exploring the fascinating interrelationship of Gnostic and Christian ideas, he relates a series of Nag Hammadi texts to the Gnostics; examines the literary and theological evolution of the two main versions of the Apocryphon in terms of Gnostic cosmology, anthropology, soteriology and eschatology; demonstrates how similar were the theological and soteriological concerns of Gnostics and 'orthodox'; and argues that the Gnostics were the first Christian Platonists, the first to develop a Trinity (of Father, Mother and Son), and the first to make post-baptismal chrismation central to Christian initiation.

Dr. Logan overturns many common misunderstandings about Gnosticism. The Gnostics felt themselves to be Christians, true interpreters of the message of the unknown God of love first revealed in Christ, the heavenly Son. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not For Beginners
Alistair H. B. Logan's book "Gnostic Truth and Christian Heresy" has a controversial title, but is in itself a very detailed and scholarly work. It is not written for people who have not had some exposure to Gnosticism, or are unfamiliar with texts from Gnostic sources.

Logan's basic theory is to posit an underlying myth to various works and to trace the various influences that can be seen throughout a group of Sethianised books. He posits two main redactions and also tackles the doctrinal content of them in each stage from given premises which he makes clear.

For this book, I would recommend access to and familiarity with some of the following books: "Against Heresies", by Irenaeus of Lyon, (especially Book 1, Chapters 29 and 30), "The Apocryphon of John" in both the Short and Long Recensions, "The Gospel of the Egyptians", "The Three Steles of Seth", "The Trimorphic Protennoia", "On the Origin of the World", "The Hypostasis of the Archons" and a few more. Fortunately, most of these are available in James M. Robinson's "The Nag Hammadi Library", which makes it somewhat easier. Others are available from other sources, (some online).

Logan's organisation is very clear and logical, as he deals with a broad theory of Gnostic origins. In some points, he is in broad agreement with other scholars, (eg. Carl Smith in "No Longer Jews"), though he does differ on some points of location and cause. He also deals with broad aspects of developing myth and doctrine thoughout the books he traces. These broad aspects include cosmogony, anthropogony, eschatology and much more. Logan places primary importance on the textual evidence, and his book reflects this concern.

A second point is Logan's vocabulary, which can be pretty tough going at times. I found myself reaching for the dictionary on more than one occassion. In that sense, it was very challenging for me, but I learned a lot of new words, which is always good.

Logan's book is a very detailed and very specialised look at the textual evidence that seems to point to Sethian and, to some degree, to Valentinian Gnosticism. Logan's writing is extremely weighty, though considering his task, I fail to see how it could be otherwise. Textual criticism figures highly in his book, so one should bear this in mind when considering it. In this sense, if textual criticism is what interests you, this book is surely to be heaven-sent.

Logan covers a wide range of material, and he is very thorough in his approach and work. In short, it is a great book, but not one to introduce yourself to Gnosticism on.

Thoughtful academic work
Another reviewer of this book apparently didn't read the book. Logan does an exceptional job separating myth and fable from what can be discerned historically, linguistically and archeologically of how things came to be in regards to the gnostics and what became the orthodoxes. His treatment of the subject is level and very thoughtful. The book isn't an attack on the Catholic Church or the Christian faith. It's not an attack on anything. The title belies much of the content of the book. It's just that many people who just see the title, read the blurb and write a scathing review are predisposed to label it a fraud anyway. It's a *very* good book, for whatever viewpoint you have on it. I checked it out from my parish library and then decided to purchase it.

Opium for the masses
This book is an attempt to distort the morals of catholic church. The name "Gnosticism" in this book covers many different phenomena.Not mentioned, Gnos is the greek word for knowledge, which in my opinion,resemblesthe tree of knowledge. The message of gnosticism in this book is,in my opinion, "A neo-pagan effort to distract society away from thetrue God, and focus on polytheism and its discontents". Since the bookopenly denies or rejects the hypostatic union(trinity),gnosticism and itsforms are sins of religion and truth. To the extent that the author isignorant about the true instruction of faith, (given by Jesus Christ), orpresenting its teaching falsely, the author, and neo-gnostic fallowers mustbe said to conceal rather than reveal the true nature of God and religion. ... Read more

Book Description
THIS 16 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems, by William Thomas. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1564594610.Download Description
THIS 16 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Book of Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems, by William Thomas. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1564594610. ... Read more

Book Description
PILGRIMAGE TO HERESY asks disturbing questions about the nature of faith and pilgrimage.
The Catholic Church would rather you didn't learn the answers!

Trier, Gaul, 385 C.E.
Priscillian of Avila: A wealthy former Senator, a charismatic bishop with a huge following in his native Galicia, argues for his life against his accusers, two powerful Spanish bishops who win the ready ear of the new Emperor, Maximus. Along with eight of his closest followers including Eucrotia, the widow of a Roman noble, Priscillian is accused of witchcraft and heresy.

Miranda has left her untenured position at the University of Toronto to go on a 800 kilometers hike in the north of Spain. On her second day walking in the Pyrenees, she meets Kieran, a lapsed candidate for the priesthood, who is translating a book written in Latin: a book he shouldn't have. The next day, Kieran is missing, and so is his translation! A religious injustice . Two love stories: one doomed from the start . and a mystery perhaps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pilgrimage to Heresy
If you like mystery, intrigue, history, religion, philosophy, spirituality, travel and romance, tnen you need to read Pilgrimage to Heresy.The narrative centres on a real-life controversy about whose saintly bones actually lie buried in the Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, a cathedral dedicated to St. James the Apostle.The action takes place along the Camino, an ancient pilgrimage route, and the drama unfolds amidst a colorful backdrop of the stories of various pilgrims from around the world, the challenging terrain,the spiritual journey of the main protagonist, Miranda, and a mysterious manuscript about Priscillian of Avila, an early Christian condemned to death on charge of heresy by the Catholic Church. Although a fictional account, the book raises many serious questions about church dogma, early Christian history and gnosticism and is based on extensive research.Well worth the read.

... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Review of Metaphysics, published by Philosophy Education Society, Inc. on September 1, 1998. The length of the article is 548 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Studies in Gnosticism and in the Philosophy of Religion.(Review)
Author: Paul J. Levesque
Publication: The Review of Metaphysics (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 1998
Publisher: Philosophy Education Society, Inc.
Volume: 52Issue: 205Page: 152(1)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more