The Gnostics: History • Tradition • Scriptures • Influence
The Gnostics: History • Tradition • Scriptures • Influence
Andrew Phillip Smith
Buy through Amazon.com
Buy Through Amazon.co.uk
Watkins Publishing, 216 x 135 mm, 256pp, Quality Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-905857-64-7
£10.99/$14.95
Andrew’s Comments: I’ve read several introductions to the Gnostics, each of which had their strengths, but I never found anything that was a really clear and sympathetic introduction. Many introductions focus purely on the academic side, others are out of date or contain faulty scholarship, others are excellent books but are so wide-ranging that the actual ancient Gnostics occupy only a single chapter. This is a very thorough book and covers areas that other books don’t—for example, what did the Gnostics actually do? How did they interpret the Bible? How did they understand human psychology? The first half of the book covers the ancient Gnostics, then the second half tracks their influence and their successors such as the Mandaeans, Manichaeans, Cathars and modern Gnostics.
Publisher’s Blurb:
The Christian movement extinguished early in the history of the Church, the Gnostics still exert a powerful grip on our imaginations. Who were – and are – they, and why do their beliefs so inspire blockbuster writers such as Dan Brown and Philip Pullman?
The Gnostics brilliantly illuminates the mystical movement that teaches knowledge of God rather than unquestioning faith. In today's multicultural world, the Gnostic doctrine of personal over organised religion is growing hugely in influence.
• Discover the myths and practices of this ancient movement
• Follow the path of Gnosticism through the triumphs and tragedies of the Cathars, the Manichaeans and, in today's Iraq, the Mandaeans
• Witness the dramatic discoveries of the Gnostic gospels – including the Gospel of Judas, lost for fifteen centuries
Listen to an Aeon Byte interview with Andrew on The Gnostics
Listen to a Sphinx Radio interview with Andrew on The Gnostics
Andrew Phillip Smith
Buy through Amazon.com
Buy Through Amazon.co.uk
Watkins Publishing, 216 x 135 mm, 256pp, Quality Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-905857-64-7
£10.99/$14.95
Andrew’s Comments: I’ve read several introductions to the Gnostics, each of which had their strengths, but I never found anything that was a really clear and sympathetic introduction. Many introductions focus purely on the academic side, others are out of date or contain faulty scholarship, others are excellent books but are so wide-ranging that the actual ancient Gnostics occupy only a single chapter. This is a very thorough book and covers areas that other books don’t—for example, what did the Gnostics actually do? How did they interpret the Bible? How did they understand human psychology? The first half of the book covers the ancient Gnostics, then the second half tracks their influence and their successors such as the Mandaeans, Manichaeans, Cathars and modern Gnostics.
Publisher’s Blurb:
The Christian movement extinguished early in the history of the Church, the Gnostics still exert a powerful grip on our imaginations. Who were – and are – they, and why do their beliefs so inspire blockbuster writers such as Dan Brown and Philip Pullman?
The Gnostics brilliantly illuminates the mystical movement that teaches knowledge of God rather than unquestioning faith. In today's multicultural world, the Gnostic doctrine of personal over organised religion is growing hugely in influence.
• Discover the myths and practices of this ancient movement
• Follow the path of Gnosticism through the triumphs and tragedies of the Cathars, the Manichaeans and, in today's Iraq, the Mandaeans
• Witness the dramatic discoveries of the Gnostic gospels – including the Gospel of Judas, lost for fifteen centuries
Listen to an Aeon Byte interview with Andrew on The Gnostics
Listen to a Sphinx Radio interview with Andrew on The Gnostics
