Gnosticism Books - Page 12

Rethinking "Gnosticism": An Argument for Dismantling a Dubious Category

Michael Allen Williams

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Editorial Review:

Most anyone interested in such topics as creation mythology, Jungian theory, or the idea of "secret teachings" in ancient Judaism and Christianity has found "gnosticism" compelling. Yet the term "gnosticism," which often connotes a single rebellious movement against the prevailing religions of late antiquity, gives the false impression of a monolithic religious phenomenon. Here Michael Williams challenges the validity of the widely invoked category of ancient "gnosticism" and the ways it has been described. Presenting such famous writings and movements as the Apocryphon of John and Valentinian Christianity, Williams uncovers the similarities and differences among some major traditions widely categorized as gnostic. He provides an eloquent, systematic argument for a more accurate way to discuss these interpretive approaches.

The modern construct "gnosticism" is not justified by any ancient self-definition, and many of the most commonly cited religious features that supposedly define gnosticism phenomenologically turn out to be questionable. Exploring the sample sets of "gnostic" teachings, Williams refutes generalizations concerning asceticism and libertinism, attitudes toward the body and the created world, and alleged features of protest, parasitism, and elitism. He sketches a fresh model for understanding ancient innovations on more "mainstream" Judaism and Christianity, a model that is informed by modern research on dynamics in new religious movements and is freed from the false stereotypes from which the category "gnosticism" has been constructed.

The Hymns Of Hermes

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Editorial Review:

These writings are attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, an ancient Egyptian sage, the founder of all arts and sciences, both mundane and spiritual. Rather than being an actual person, Hermes is the Egyptian personification of the "Gnostic Revealer." Hymns of Hermes examines Hermetic ecstatic hymns, which are songs of a poetic nature used to describe the Gnosis of Hermetic attainment—the ecstatic personal experience of the divine. The invaluable commentary from author G.R.S. Mead makes the hymns themselves comprehensible and relevant to modern seekers, removing the veil of the occult to reveal the secrets behind these verses. He also draws parallels between Gnostic and Hermetic thought, which were strikingly similar. For anyone interested in Gnostic thought and the formation of early Christian doctrine, it is hard to ignore the parallels in Hermetic teachings from the same era. In his introduction, Stephan A. Hoeller describes the role and influence of Hermetic thought on the early Church and Gnostics, its position in the history of Western thought, and its renaissance in Gnostic and Hermetic studies today. This little volume, which might well be called initiatory, is an excellent introduction to the Hermetic Gnosis.

The Gospel of Mary: Beyond a Gnostic and A Biblical Mary Magdalene

Esther A. de Boer

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The success of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code has raised new interest in Mary Magdalene and in the Gospel of Mary. Here, the author examines Mary Magdalene's influence on the beginnings of Christianity and asks what was her impact and her message and furthermore, what became of her and her ideas. Esther de Boer studies the Gospel of Mary (the only Gospel to be named after a woman) to discover what it reveals about Mary Magdalene and to determine the origin of its portrayal. She argues that the Gospel of Mary is not a Gnostic writing but is more closely related to the writings of Philo, the letters of Paul and the Gospel of John. She demonstrates that esteem of Mary Magdalene did not just belong to the Gnostic tradition but to a broader Christian context. In order to determine this context, the study identifies the different portrayals of Mary Magdalene in the New Testament, analyses their concepts of discipleship and their views on women, and investigates their historical 'reality'. Esther de Boer concludes that the portrayal of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Mary is close to that in the Gospel of John, and investigates the possibility that she is concealed in the Johannine disciple loved by Jesus.

Sta. María Magdalena: Una visión gnóstica de la novia sagrada (Spanish Edition)

Tau Malachi

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

UN LIBRO QUE CAMBIARA TU VISION DEL CRISTIANISMO 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Como dijo Bell Hooks: "Las ideas mas transformadoras me han llegado siempre a traves de los libros" y este es uno de ellos. Hace tiempo que renuncie a la religion catolica porque sus mentiras no me convencian. Ahora entiendo muchas cosas despues de leer este libro y finalmente pude poner las piezas del rompecabezas que me hacian falta para entender el porque la cara femenina de Dios habia sido escondida por los cristianos. Mi copia de este libro esta lleno de notas y "highlights". Me encanta que fue escrito por un hombre, asi no pueden decir que fue escrito por una feminista que odia a los hombres.
Si haz buscado la cara femenina de Dios por mucho tiempo este es un libro para ti. La segunda venida del Cristo es nada mas y nada menos que la venida de la parte femenina de la divinidad que ya esta entre nosotros y se hace mas latente dia a dia.
NO TE LO PUEDES PERDER!

Editorial Review:

En muchas escuelas de la cristiandad gnóstica, María Magdalena es influyente en las revelaciones evangélicas. Por primera vez impreso, se presenta el evangelio Sofiano de Sta. Mar’a Magdalena, con 250 sabias revelaciones que el lector puede usar como recursos para su crecimiento espiritual. Anteriormente, ninguna tradición oral tan importante había sido impresa, así como tampoco la visión gnóstica de María Magdalena y la forma como es presentada en esta obra sin igual: como una poderosa y bendita mujer, la más cercana discípula de Jesús y su amada esposa.

Revival of the Gnostic Heresy: Fundamentalism

Joe E. Morris

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Editorial Review:

In this rigorous and provocative study, Joe E. Morris argues that the basic tenets and practices of Fundamentalism are those of ancient Christian Gnosticism. Drawing on extensive research and careful analysis, Morris aligns the two religious phenomena, point by point, tenet by tenet. Along the way, he provides insights into the key hermeneutic of Fundamentalism: inerrancy of Scripture, highlighting the multiple problems with the positions of literal and inerrant interpretation, their impracticality and unfeasibility, and their contradiction with their own conservative doctrine--namely, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. This groundbreaking book dramatically recasts our understanding of the history of Christianity and gives important context to modern-day religious debates.

The Essential Gnostic Gospels: Including the Gospel of Thomas & the Gospel of Mary

Alan Jacobs

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Editorial Review:

The Gnostics were early Christians whose beliefs and practices put them at odds with the orthodox Church; indeed, the Church considered Gnostics to be heretics and made a concerted effort to destroy their writings. However, in 1945, a remarkable discovery was made in Nag Hamadi, in the Egyptian desert: a jar containing 13 papyrus documents, dating back to the fourth century ad, with genuine Gnostic texts in the original Greek. In addition, this manuscript included four gospels that offered accounts of Jesus and His times that are strikingly different from the New Testament. Alan Jacobs brings his unrivalled scholarship to bear on these illuminating and eye-opening works, offering inspiring and poetic translations that capture the verses’ uplifting spiritual message and beauty.

Finding Enlightenment: Ramtha's School of Ancient Wisdom

J. Gordon Melton

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Brilliant and beautiful! Buy it NOW! 5 out of 5 stars.
39 of 45 people found this review helpful.

In order to appreciate the great wisdom to be found in Finding Enlightenment, you must first know the credentials of this wonderful biographer. J. Gordon Melton is the director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion, the author of over 25 books, encyclopedias and almanacs, and an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church.

Further, this unbiased scholar studied the teachings of Ramtha as well as forming a kinship with JZ Knight. It is from this place he wrote his biography of JZ Knight and Ramtha and the lessons to be learned from both. These insights enabled seemingly ordinary citizen JZ Knight to discover the One living inside her...and the means to uncover the hidden realities. This is the wisdom and knowledge now available to us, today!

The foundation of Ramtha's teachings is Gnosticism...a belief that humans are angelic, perhaps even divine beings who are lost in a world of distractions, self-imposed limitations and confining traditions. We learn that Ramtha is a Lemurian who lived on Earth 35,000 years ago. His experiences and his desire to become the wind, and his ascension ultimately led him to God status. He is now back on Earth to teach us all he has learned...and JZ Knight with Ramtha's School of Enlightenment is his pulpit.

Finding Enlightenment offers a path as well as a comparison to the many religions abounding today. A major difference? Ramtha teaches that there is no Satan. This basic difference allows his students to focus on self-discovery and self-growth...and not fear.

This reviewer discovered in Finding Enlightenment a clear and unbiased view of Ramtha's teachings through his channel, JZ Knight. Thank you, J. Gordon Melton, for giving us insight into a woman shaman and an understanding of Ramtha's word!

Editorial Review:

Melton, a respected scholar of traditional modern religions, documents the recent rebirth and revitalisation of ancient Gnostic teaching in Ramtha's School of Enlightenment. Located in Washington state, this school was founded by JZ Knight, the channel for the ancient warrior teacher Ramtha.

Gnostic John the Baptizer: Selections from the Mandaean John-Book (Forgotten Books)

G.R.S. Mead

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Book Description:

"The Mandaeans are a small and little-known religious community living principally in Iraq. They are the last group of traditional gnostics left in the world and as such present a facinating and edifying 'field of study.' They are not Christians,but trace their earthy heritage back to the same John known as the 'Baptist' or 'Baptizer' in Christian tradition, but they hold themselves radically aloof from both Christianity and Judaism which they regard, in true gnostic fashion, as perverted versions of the true relgion." (Quote from sacred-texts.com)

Table of Contents:

Publisher’s Preface; Foreword.; John The Baptizer And Christian Origins.; From The John-book Of The MandÆans.; The Gnostic John The Baptizer.; The Story Of The Breach With Judaism.; Some Typical Extracts.; The Slavonic Josephus' Account Of The Baptist And Jesus.; The Fourth Gospel Proem:; Afterword.; Endnotes

About the Publisher:

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, Esoteric and Mythology. www.forgottenbooks.org

Forgotten Books is about sharing information, not about making money. All books are priced at wholesale prices. We are also the only publisher we know of to print in large sans-serif font, which is proven to make the text easier to read and put less strain on your eyes.

Los evangelios gnosticos (Spanish Edition)

Anonimo

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Cristo 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Si eres un admirador de Jesus y crees en la ciencia, estos libros te ayudaran a comprender que la logica y la fe pueden ir muy bien de la mano. Claro, es indispensable que abras tu mente y escuches tanto a los evangelios como a la ciencia, sin prejuicios o ideas preconcebidas de lo que crees que es correcto y de lo que crees que no lo es; ya que si no haces esto, te confundiras y te encontraras limitado de conclusiones. Recuerda que la ciencia actual es ya de por si extremadamente limitada, pero eso no es un motivo suficiente para que la descartes, ya que si la consideras en tu lectura, te ayudara a comprender las muchas analogias encontradas en estos evangelios, que en algun futuro cerca o lejano, seran de gran asombro para esas generaciones menos ignorantes.

Editorial Review:

Estos escritos, hallados en Nag Hammadi, Egipto, en 1945, ademas de contar la verdadera historia del Grial, hablan del Ministerio de Cristo en terminos muy humanos. De acuerdo con estos textos, Jesus vino al mundo a senalar la senda para encontrar el camino del conocimiento (de ahi la palabra gnosis). Mas que ofrecer una respuesta, lo que Jesus deseaba era un estimulo para iniciar una busqueda. De los escritos en esta edicion, se destacan los evangelios de Tomas, Felipe y Maria Magdalena.

The Gospel According to the Da Vinci Code: The Truth Behind the Writings of Dan Brown

Kenneth Boa, John Alan Turner

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Dealing with the big picture 3 out of 5 stars.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful.

Most of the responses to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown deal strictly with facts (or the lack thereof). But what about the big picture? What does the novel communicate and how has it impacted our culture? As Christians, how ought we to respond? The Gospel According to the Da Vinci Code by Kenneth Boa and John Alan Turner seeks to answer these questions.

While the novel is actually fiction, our culture is such that many people treat it as non-fiction. "What Dan Brown says he believes is fundamentally incompatible with historic, orthodox Christianity. However, in a pluralistic society such as ours, millions of people seem to think you can pick and choose your beliefs like toppings on your pizza." (2)

Through their introduction and 12 chapters, Boa and Turner analyze the problems The Da Vinci Code presents in our current culture and how Christians should respond. "So what is the gospel according to Dan Brown? Simply put, `Everything you've ever heard about Jesus is wrong.'" (23) They discuss postmodernism, truth, and history, while pointing out Brown's problems and errors.

The authors ask, "What Would Jesus Do With Dan Brown?" (90) They essentially boil down the proper Christian response to "We've got to stop being foolish. We've got to stop being tacky. And we've got to stop being mean." (118) Though they deal a few of the errors in Brown's novel, they point to Darrell Bock's Breaking the Da Vinci Code for a more thorough critique.

There are a number of great points throughout the book, such as, "Saying that Dan Brown's book is about Christianity is like saying Finding Nemo is about marine biology. We have just as much evidence to suggest Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene as we have that clown fish talk." (25) The authors also get points for using Jack Bauer as an illustration (102-103).

Unfortunately, these good points are counterbalanced by poor ones. In at least one case they esteem a cheesy slogan as good methodology: "people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care." (106) The book doesn't appear to have a logical structure and often switches focus without reason. The authors make some brief points about Gnosticism and "the sacred feminine," but no thorough analysis of those topics is offered.

The Gospel According to the Da Vinci Code has periodic good points to offer, particularly in regards to the status of our culture. In that sense, it succeeds in dealing with the big picture. However, readers would be better off reading a book responding to the historical claims and pagan worldview of The Da Vinci Code.

Editorial Review:

Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code has become the best-selling hardcover adult novel of all time, spouting a tenuous postmodern worldview akin to the age-old heresy of "Gnosticism." Though Gnosticism has been refuted repeatedly throughout the history of Christianity, and many of Brown's sources have been proven frauds, people are still reading Brown's books to become "enlightened."

The Gospel According to The Da Vinci Code not only refutes the philosophies behind this blockbuster book. It also looks at Brown's other writings to form a clearer picture of the worldview that guides his writings, why this worldview is so popular and what the church must do in response.