Gnosticism Books

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Book SynopsisRefuting the notion that no coherent set of Gnostic beliefs exists, this introduction reveals Gnosticism as the indigenous mystical tradition of the West and considers its message to Judeo-Christianity in the 21st century.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an anthology of sources highlighting Manichaeism, a gnostic religion which flourished largely clandestinely in the Near East, Central Asia, and China until the beginning of the seventeenth century. It translates and discusses the importance of a number of Arabic, Syriac, and Hebrew testimonies for a proper understanding of the cultural importance of what most scholars consider to be the first 'world religion.' Many of these sources are translated here into English for the first time.

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Book SynopsisHow to achieve the fifth major gnostic mystery according to the founder of the Gnostic Movement.

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Book SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER  • NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE WINNER • SELECTED BY THE MODERN LIBRARY AS ONE OF THE 100 BEST NONFICTION BOOKS • The landmark study exploring alternative perspectives of early Christianity as revealed through the Nag Hammadi texts that could have shaped the religion differently if included in the Christian canon •  [Pagels] is always readable, always deeply informed, always richly suggestive of pathways her readers may wish to follow out for themselves.—Harold Bloom, The Washington Post   “[Pagels] writes with the instincts of a novelist, the skill of a scholar, and the ability to sort out significances that many writers lack.”—Chicago Tribune •  “An intellectually elegant, concise study . . . The economy with which [Pagels] evokes the world of early Christianity is a marvel.”—The New Yorker   The Gnostic Gospels is a work of luminous scholarship and wide popular appeal. First published in 1979 to critical acclaim, winning the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Gnostic Gospels has continued to grow in reputation and influence. It is now widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and accessible histories of early Christian spirituality published in our time.In 1945 an Egyptian peasant unearthed what proved to be the Gnostic Gospels, thirteen papyrus volumes that expounded a radically different view of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ from that of the New Testament. In this spellbinding book, renowned religious scholar Elaine Pagels elucidates the mysteries and meanings of these sacred texts both in the world of the first Christians and in the context of Christianity today.With insight and passion, Pagels explores a remarkable range of recently discovered gospels, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, to show how a variety of “Christianities” emerged at a time of extraordinary spiritual upheaval. Some Christians questioned the need for clergy and church doctrine, and taught that the divine could be discovered through spiritual search. Many others, like Buddhists and Hindus, sought enlightenment—and access to God—within. Such explorations raised questions: Was the resurrection to be understood symbolically and not literally? Was God to be envisioned only in masculine form, or feminine as well? Was martyrdom a necessary—or worthy—expression of faith? These early Christians dared to ask questions that orthodox Christians later suppressed—and their explorations led to profoundly different visions of Jesus and his message.    Brilliant and stunning in its implications, The Gnostic Gospels is a radical, eloquent reconsideration of the origins of the Christian faith.

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Book SynopsisThroughout the twentieth century, German writers, philosophers, theologians, and historians turned to Gnosticism to make sense of the modern condition. While some saw this ancient Christian heresy as a way to rethink modernity, most German intellectuals questioned Gnosticism''s return in a contemporary setting. In No Spiritual Investment in the World, Willem Styfhals explores the Gnostic worldview''s enigmatic place in these discourses on modernity, presenting a comprehensive intellectual history of Gnosticism''s role in postwar German thought. Establishing the German-Jewish philosopher Jacob Taubes at the nexus of the debate, Styfhals traces how such figures as Hans Blumenberg, Hans Jonas, Eric Voegelin, Odo Marquard, and Gershom Scholem contended with Gnosticism and its tenets on evil and divine absence as metaphorical detours to address issues of cultural crisis, nihilism, and the legitimacy of the modern world. These concerns, he argues, centered on the difficultyTrade ReviewNo Spiritual Investment in the World is an extraordinary and seminal work of outstanding scholarship that is unreservedly recommended for college and university library Contemporary Philosophy collections and supplemental studies curriculum textbook lists. * Midwest Book Review *

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Book SynopsisThroughout the twentieth century, German writers, philosophers, theologians, and historians turned to Gnosticism to make sense of the modern condition. While some saw this ancient Christian heresy as a way to rethink modernity, most German intellectuals questioned Gnosticism''s return in a contemporary setting. In No Spiritual Investment in the World, Willem Styfhals explores the Gnostic worldview''s enigmatic place in these discourses on modernity, presenting a comprehensive intellectual history of Gnosticism''s role in postwar German thought. Establishing the German-Jewish philosopher Jacob Taubes at the nexus of the debate, Styfhals traces how such figures as Hans Blumenberg, Hans Jonas, Eric Voegelin, Odo Marquard, and Gershom Scholem contended with Gnosticism and its tenets on evil and divine absence as metaphorical detours to address issues of cultural crisis, nihilism, and the legitimacy of the modern world. These concerns, he argues, centered on the difficultyTrade ReviewNo Spiritual Investment in the World is an extraordinary and seminal work of outstanding scholarship that is unreservedly recommended for college and university library Contemporary Philosophy collections and supplemental studies curriculum textbook lists. * Midwest Book Review *

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Book SynopsisJust what is a soul, exactly? Where did the idea come from? How do we experience our souls? Two ancient Gnostic texts - The Exegesis on the Soul and The Hymn of the Pearl, both presented here in all-new translations - hold important clues to the development of the soul as a concept and reveal inspiring ways your own soul can remember and return to its unique, divine purpose. The Exegesis on the Soul depicts the soul as a feminine figure who has fallen into the corrupted world and must find her way back to the Divine. It is the story of the soul's struggle and redemption that will embolden your own spiritual pilgrimage. The Hymn of the Pearl is an allegorical story about a prince sent to retrieve a precious pearl but who soon forgets his purpose and falls asleep. It is a moving tale of the importance of remembering your soul's identity and calling - and knowing that only you can fulfil your destiny. Accessible facing-page commentary explains the Gnostic writings for you even if you have no previous knowledge of Gnosticism or early Christianity. Additional material draws on ancient religions, Platonism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam and modern philosophical and psychological notions of the soul to place the Gnostic teachings in a clear historical context. By following the development of this concept through time, you will more clearly perceive-and respond to-the divine spark found in your own soul.Trade Review"A fascinating guide to new and different ways of thinking. Smith's presentation of authentic Gnostic texts [conveys] a good understanding of Gnostic conceptions of the soul." —Stevan Davies, author of The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated & Explained “One of the clearest and most accessible entry-points to the wisdom of the ancient Gnostics that I have ever seen.” —Richard Smoley, author of Forbidden Faith: The Gnostic Legacy from the Gospels to The Da Vinci Code “Takes us beyond the limiting literalism of much of contemporary theology. Smith opens a door for us....” —Ron Miller, chair, religion department, Lake Forest College, and author of The Gospel of Thomas: A Guidebook for Spiritual Practice “Artful and erudite ... brings these allegories into three-dimensional relief, making them more memorable, accessible, and significant.” —Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz, author of Does the Soul Survive? A Jewish Journey to Belief in Afterlife, Past Lives & Living with Purpose “Smith’s fine introduction and notes [reveal how] Gnosticism helped transform Western ideas about the soul.... Reveals part of our common spiritual heritage.” —Tamar Frankiel, PhD, author of Kabbalah: A Brief Introduction for ChristiansTable of ContentsForeword ix Introduction xiii A Note on the Translation xli The Exegesis on the Soul 1 The Hymn of the Pearl 45 Notes 89 Suggestions for Further Reading 91

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Book SynopsisA learning experience of the first order, encyclopedically rich in its coverage, Shoham puts myth, religion, literature and psychology into an easily understandable analytic perspective. This book traces the influence of Gnosis in European culture.Table of ContentsContents: Foreword by Giovanni Filoramo; Acknowledgements; Introduction -- The Triumph of the Vanquished; Part One: The Abyss -- The Ontological Split; Jews and Greeks -- A Fateful Couple; Christian and Jewish Gnosis; Syncretism and Gnosis; The Tresses of the Mind; Sin; Part Two: The Mythology of the Away and Beyond -- The Pardes: Forbidden Orchard; Unio Mystica: Clandestine Complementarities; The Avatar: Incarnation of Synchronic Transcendence in Time; Notes; Giora Shoham's Published Works and His Theory of Personality; Index.

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Book SynopsisComparing and evaluating modern theories of myth, this book offers an overview of explanations of myth from the social sciences and the humanities.This ambitious collection of essays uses the viewpoints of a variety of disciplines - psychology, anthropology, sociology, politics, philosophy, religious studies, and literature. Each discipline advocates a generalization about the origin, the function, and the subject matter of myth. The subject is always not what makes any myth distinct but what makes all myths myth. The book is divided into five sections, covering topics such as myth and psychoanalysis, hero myths, myth and science, myth and politics, and myth and the physical world. Chapters engage with an array of theorists--among them, Freud, Jung, Campbell, Rank, Winnicott, Tylor, Frazer, Malinowski, Levy-Bruhl, Levi-Strauss, Harrison, and Burkert. The book considers whether myth still plays a role in our lives is one of the issues considered, showing that myths arise anythTrade Review"A stimulating and authoritative collection of essays on theories of myth in anthropology, psychology, classics, and modern science, and on mythic figures as diverse as Greek gods, biblical heroes, and Hollywood stars." - William Hansen, Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies & Folklore, Indiana University, USA"Fans of Robert Segal’s studies of myth and myth-theorists have a treat waiting for them. In a single handsome volume, Segal has assembled informative studies of a veritable All-Star team of modern myth-theorists. Among them, Segal includes the better-known psychologists, Otto Rank, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, philosophers, Lucien Levy-Bruhl, ‘arm-chair’ anthropologists, E.B. Tylor and Sir James G. Frazer, social anthropologists, Bronislaw Malinowski, and Claude Levi-Strauss, classicists, Jane Harrison and Walter Burkert, and popular mass media theorist of the hero-myth, Joseph Campbell. Readers may also first learn of the work of lesser-known figures such as psychiatrist-physician, David Winnicott. Person favorites in this volume show Segal at work analyzing such familiar points in Biblical literature as King Saul. Up-to-date critical treatments of Chicago’s Bruce Lincoln work on myth round out this fulsome work." - Ivan Strenski, University of California, USA"This latest volume of Robert Segal’s prolific publications amply demonstrates why he is one of the most important scholars now writing on myth. In thirteen essays, eleven of them previously published but here revised and two of them new, he displays his unrivaled control of the history of the study of myth, and of its varied scholarly representatives, from antiquity to the present. His overriding question is two-fold: what is myth, and how does it relate to other concepts and fields of study ranging through religion, literature, anthropology, psychology, history, and science? In answering this question, Segal lays bare, acutely and often pungently, the differences between 19th and 20th century approaches to myth, and the diversities, complexities, and subtleties in the perceived relationship of myth to science. His essay on Hollywood movie stars as mythical figures illuminates, with a deft touch of humor, a different way to think about myth that escapes many of the dead ends of older debates." - Peter Machinist, Harvard Divinity School, USA."For those of us who presume to analyze myth, whether for pleasure or profit, Robert Segal brings a salutary rationality. He inquires of the seminal theorists whose thinking he presents what claims they have made about the sociology, anthropology, psychology, natural science, and politics of the mythologies they’ve chosen for study. He identifies the intellectual and affectual mythologies that have emerged from these discipline crossings, and in this way situates what may be the most fascinating thing to contemplate in any theory of myth. This does not lie in what it explains, but in how it reveals the degree to which a new mythology emerges each time a myth is analyzed." - John Beebe, author of Integrity in DepthTable of ContentsIntroduction: In Defense of Theorizing about Myth 1 The Leading Modern Theories of Myth 2 Psychologizing Myth: From Freud to Winnicott 3 Rank on Myth 4 Freud’s and Jung’s Very Twentieth-Century View of Myth 5 Greek Myth and Psychoanalysis 6 On Hero Myths 7 King Saul as Mythic Hero 8 Myth and Science: Their Varying Relationships 9 On Myth as Ideology: Lincoln’s Theorizing Myth 10 On Myth and Politics 11 Do Hollywood Stars Bring Myth Back to the World? 12 Does the Gaia Hypotheses bring Myth Back to the World?

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Book SynopsisThe Gnostic World is an outstanding guide to Gnosticism, written by a distinguished international team of experts to explore Gnostic movements from the distant past until today. These themes are examined across sixty-seven chapters in a variety of contexts, from the ancient pre-Christian to the contemporary. The volume considers the intersection of Gnosticism with Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Indic practices and beliefs, and also with new religious movements, such as Theosophy, Scientology, Western Sufism, and the Nation of Islam.This comprehensive handbook will be an invaluable resource for religious studies students, scholars, and researchers of Gnostic doctrine and history.Trade Review"As a new wave of critical scholarship into Gnosticism, ancient and modern, begins, The Gnostic World is the ideal place to get caught up. Impressively combining concise entries on Gnosticisms familiar and unfamiliar, from the early Christianity to medieval Islam, fin de siècle occultists and 21st century cinema, with digestible summaries of the definitional and theoretical controversies, this will be the standard reference work for many years to come." David G. Robertson, The Open University, UK"The Gnostic World is a comprehensive, ground-breaking presentation of the diverse beliefs, practices, and social formations related to the movements previously known as "Gnostic." In over forty chapters ranging from the ancient world to contemporary culture, international experts address recent controversy regarding the historical reconstruction of such groups while also breaking new ground in following diverse but interconnected literary and intellectual traditions. The result is a major achievement in the comparative study of religions." Paul Dilley, The University of Iowa, USA"This broad and comprehensive volume not only includes chapters on Gnostic movements in late antiquity, but also covers more recent religions that are structurally similar to ancient Gnosticism, as well as such topics as anti-cult groups and Gnosticism in fiction and music. It will be an invaluable resource for scholars and other interested readers." Olav Hammer, University of Southern, Denmark. "The Gnostic World is an impressive collection of interdisciplinary studies of Gnosticism, a phenomenon that has intrigued (and often confused) many people from antiquity through today. Written by leading international experts, the volume explores all dimensions of the topic, often with new insights and fascinating cross-references to other cultural phenomena and theoretical discussions. The Gnostic World is an indispensable tool for students of Gnosticism and a milestone of critical research." Kocku von Stuckrad, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.Table of ContentsIntroductionGarry W. TrompfTheoretical1. Gnosticism, Gnostics, and GnosisDylan M. Burns2. "The Gnostic World": A History of Scholarship (until 2000)Garry W. Trompf3. Gnostics and Temporality: From Myth to MacrohistoryGarry W. TrompfAncient 4. Ancient Pre-Christian "Gnosticisms": The State of the QuestionsCarl B. Smith II5. The Jewish Background to "Gnosticism": A Guide for the PerplexedGarry W. Trompf6. Gnostic Motifs in the New TestamentPheme Perkins7. On Ancient "Gnosticism" as a Problematic CategoryMichael A. Williams8. Gender Issues and the Study of Ancient "Gnosticism"Majella Franzmann9. The Gnostics in Early Christian HeresiologyMark Edwards10. Genres of Gnostic Literature and the "Classical Gnostic" School of Thought John D. Turner11. Sethian Gnostic SpeculationJohn D. Turner12. Basilides and the BasilidiansJean-Daniel Dubois13. Valentinus and the ValentiniansEinar Thomassen14. Is the Gospel of Thomas Gnostic?David W. Kim15. The Gospel of Judas and the Tchacos CodexGarry W. Trompf and David W. Kim16. The Mandaeans: Writings, Rituals, and ArtBrikha Nasoraia17. Hermetism and GnosticismJean-Pierre Mahé18. Plotinus and the GnosticsFrancis Lacroix and Jean-Marc Narbonne19. Gnostic Elements in Ancient Magical PapyriMalcolm Choat20. Mani’s LifeIain Gardner21. The Manichaean Path to SalvationJason D. BeDuhn22. Insight and Means in Chinese Manichaean TextsGunner B. Mikkelsen

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Book SynopsisThe Gnostic World is an outstanding guide to Gnosticism, written by a distinguished international team of experts to explore Gnostic movements from the distant past until today. These themes are examined across sixty-seven chapters in a variety of contexts, from the ancient pre-Christian to the contemporary. The volume considers the intersection of Gnosticism with Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Indic practices and beliefs, and also with new religious movements, such as Theosophy, Scientology, Western Sufism, and the Nation of Islam.This comprehensive handbook will be an invaluable resource for religious studies students, scholars, and researchers of Gnostic doctrine and history.Trade Review"As a new wave of critical scholarship into Gnosticism, ancient and modern, begins, The Gnostic World is the ideal place to get caught up. Impressively combining concise entries on Gnosticisms familiar and unfamiliar, from the early Christianity to medieval Islam, fin de siècle occultists and 21st century cinema, with digestible summaries of the definitional and theoretical controversies, this will be the standard reference work for many years to come." David G. Robertson, The Open University, UK"The Gnostic World is a comprehensive, ground-breaking presentation of the diverse beliefs, practices, and social formations related to the movements previously known as "Gnostic." In over forty chapters ranging from the ancient world to contemporary culture, international experts address recent controversy regarding the historical reconstruction of such groups while also breaking new ground in following diverse but interconnected literary and intellectual traditions. The result is a major achievement in the comparative study of religions." Paul Dilley, The University of Iowa, USA"This broad and comprehensive volume not only includes chapters on Gnostic movements in late antiquity, but also covers more recent religions that are structurally similar to ancient Gnosticism, as well as such topics as anti-cult groups and Gnosticism in fiction and music. It will be an invaluable resource for scholars and other interested readers." Olav Hammer, University of Southern, Denmark. "The Gnostic World is an impressive collection of interdisciplinary studies of Gnosticism, a phenomenon that has intrigued (and often confused) many people from antiquity through today. Written by leading international experts, the volume explores all dimensions of the topic, often with new insights and fascinating cross-references to other cultural phenomena and theoretical discussions. The Gnostic World is an indispensable tool for students of Gnosticism and a milestone of critical research." Kocku von Stuckrad, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.Table of ContentsIntroductionGarry W. TrompfTheoretical1. Gnosticism, Gnostics, and GnosisDylan M. Burns2. "The Gnostic World": A History of Scholarship (until 2000)Garry W. Trompf3. Gnostics and Temporality: From Myth to MacrohistoryGarry W. TrompfAncient 4. Ancient Pre-Christian "Gnosticisms": The State of the QuestionsCarl B. Smith II5. The Jewish Background to "Gnosticism": A Guide for the PerplexedGarry W. Trompf6. Gnostic Motifs in the New TestamentPheme Perkins7. On Ancient "Gnosticism" as a Problematic CategoryMichael A. Williams8. Gender Issues and the Study of Ancient "Gnosticism"Majella Franzmann9. The Gnostics in Early Christian HeresiologyMark Edwards10. Genres of Gnostic Literature and the "Classical Gnostic" School of Thought John D. Turner11. Sethian Gnostic SpeculationJohn D. Turner12. Basilides and the BasilidiansJean-Daniel Dubois13. Valentinus and the ValentiniansEinar Thomassen14. Is the Gospel of Thomas Gnostic?David W. Kim15. The Gospel of Judas and the Tchacos CodexGarry W. Trompf and David W. Kim16. The Mandaeans: Writings, Rituals, and ArtBrikha Nasoraia17. Hermetism and GnosticismJean-Pierre Mahé18. Plotinus and the GnosticsFrancis Lacroix and Jean-Marc Narbonne19. Gnostic Elements in Ancient Magical PapyriMalcolm Choat20. Mani’s LifeIain Gardner21. The Manichaean Path to SalvationJason D. BeDuhn22. Insight and Means in Chinese Manichaean TextsGunner B. Mikkelsen23. From "Zurvanism" to MazdakGarry W. Trompf and Milad Milani24. Christian Gnosis: From Clement the Alexandrian to John DamasceneDoru Costache25. Gnostic Vicissitudes in Late AntiquityGarry W. Trompf26. Jñāna: Gnostic Tendencies in Early Hinduism and BuddhismGregory Bailey27. The Discourse of Truth in Tiantai Buddhism: "Gnosis Beyond Gnosis"Haiyan Shen, with Brikha H.S. NasoraiaMedieval28. Questions of Gnostic Influence on Early IslamJohn C. Reeves29. An Agenda for the Study of Early Shiʿi CosmologiesMushegh Asatryan30. Classic Sufism and GnosisMilad Milani31. Ismailism and GnosisFarhad Daftary32. Druze Gnosis and the Mystery of TimeAdnan Kasamanie33. Gnostic Elements in YezidismVictoria Arakelova and Garnik Asatryan34. Kabbalah and GnosticismMichael Schneider35. Bogomils and CatharsZdenko Zlatar36. Alchemy and Gnosis from Antiquity to Early Modern Times: "As Above so Below"Peter MarshallModern: West, East, and Current IssuesEurope and the West37. "Gnosis" as Term and Concept in the Esoteric Movements of the Modern West: An Attempt at PeriodizationAntoine Faivre38. Byzantine and Modern Orthodox Gnosis: From the Eleventh to the Twenty-first CenturyDoru Costache39. Pansophia, Christian Kabbalism, and the Quest for Universal Knowledge in the Early Modern WestGarry W. Trompf40. Freemasonry: Gnostic ImagesGarry W. Trompf41. British Romanticism: Gnostic LongingsWilliam Christie42. William Blake, the Ancient Gnostics, and the Birth of Modern GnosticismPeter Otto43. Gnosis in the "French Occult Revival" and its OffshootsTobias Churton44. The "Lost Word" Key and Esoteric Eschatology: Blavatsky’s Gnosis the Core of Krishnamurti’s TeachingAl Boag45. The Philosophy of Guido von List (1848-1919): Connecting Gnosticism to NazismJeffrey D. Lavoie46. Rudolf Steiner: Multiple BodiesWayne Hudson47. Gnostic Sensibility in Gurdjieff’s "Work" Constance A. Jones48. Western Sufism and GnosisMark Sedgwick49. Gnosis: A Perennialist PerspectiveHarry Oldmeadow50. Carl Jung on GnosticismRobert A. Segal51. Elevating the Family in the Nation of Islam: Discerning the "Gnostic Factor"Dennis WalkerEast (and Beyond)52. Inner Tradition: Recovering Christianity of the EastLynn C. Bauman53. Gnosis in Bābism and Gnostic Signs in Bābī TalismansDenis MacEoin54. Ayatollah Khomeini’s Gnoseology and its Impact on his Political WorldviewEmad Bazzi55. Syncretistic Sufi Gnosticism in South and Southeast Asia Clinton Bennett56. Aurobindo and Supermind Peter Heehs57. Of Gnosis in Tribal and "Primal" CulturesGarry W. TrompfCurrent58. Between the Libertines and the Renunciants: The neo-Gnostic synthesis of Samael Aun WeorBernard Doherty59. Scientology and Gnosticism: L. Ron Hubbard’s "The Factors" (1953)Donald A. Westbrook and James R. Lewis60. Gnostic and Esoteric Filaments in Popular CultureAdam Possamai61. Feminist Gnosis and Modern Gender IssuesJay Johnston62. Modern Psychedelic Gnosis Christopher Partridge63. Exposing GnosticismDouglas E. Cowan64. Gnostic FictionCarole Cusack65. Cinema: evil demiurges in Hollywood fi lms at the threshold of the twenty-first centuryFryderyk Kwiatkowski66. Music and GnosisJoscelyn Godwin67. Aesthetics and Visual ArtJay JohnstonIndex

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