Beyond Gnosticism
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Beyond Gnosticism
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Author : Ismo O. Dunderberg
language : en
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Release Date : 2008-04-16
Beyond Gnosticism written by Ismo O. Dunderberg and has been published by Columbia University Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2008-04-16 with Religion categories.
Valentinus was a popular, influential, and controversial early Christian teacher. His school flourished in the second and third centuries C.E. Yet because his followers ascribed the creation of the visible world not to a supreme God but to an inferior and ignorant Creator-God, they were from early on accused of heresy, and rumors were spread of their immorality and sorcery. Beyond Gnosticism suggests that scholars approach Valentinians as an early Christian group rather than as a representative of ancient "Gnosticism"-a term notoriously difficult to define. The study shows that Valentinian myths of origin are filled with references to lifestyle (such as the control of emotions), the Christian community, and society, providing students with ethical instruction and new insights into their position in the world. While scholars have mapped the religio-historical and philosophical backgrounds of Valentinian myth, they have yet to address the significance of these mythmaking practices or emphasize the practical consequences of Valentinians' theological views. In this groundbreaking study, Ismo Dunderberg provides a comprehensive portrait of a group hounded by other Christians after Christianity gained a privileged position in the Roman Empire. Valentinians displayed a keen interest in mythmaking and the interpretation of myths, spinning complex tales about the origin of humans and the world. As this book argues, however, Valentinian Christians did not teach "myth for myth's sake." Rather, myth and practice were closely intertwined. After a brief introduction to the members of the school of Valentinus and the texts they left behind, Dunderberg focuses on Valentinus's interpretation of the biblical creation myth, in which the theologian affirmed humankind's original immortality as a present, not lost quality and placed a special emphasis on the "frank speech" afforded to Adam by the supreme God. Much like ancient philosophers, Valentinus believed that the divine Spirit sustained the entire cosmic chain and saw evil as originating from conspicuous "matter." Dunderberg then turns to other instances of Valentinian mythmaking dominated by ethical concerns. For example, the analysis and therapy of emotions occupy a prominent place in different versions of the myth of Wisdom's fall, proving that Valentinians, like other educated early Christians, saw Christ as the healer of emotions. Dunderberg also discusses the Tripartite Tractate, the most extensive account to date of Valentinian theology, and shows how Valentinians used cosmic myth to symbolize the persecution of the church in the Roman Empire and to create a separate Christian identity in opposition to the Greeks and the Jews.
Beyond The Gnostic Gospels
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Author : Eduard Iricinschi
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2013
Beyond The Gnostic Gospels written by Eduard Iricinschi and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2013 with Christian literature, Early categories.
This volume gathers contributions from both junior and senior scholars whose studies have developed in dialogue with Elaine Pagels' work on Nag Hammadi literature and ancient heresiology. Published initially in 1979, Pagels' The Gnostic Gospels represents a landmark of scholarship in religious studies. It not only made the Nag Hammadi writings and Gnosticism popular topics in modern culture, it also invited scholars to rethink early Christianity from new perspectives. What were previously seen as dry theological arguments and intricate Gnostic mythologies received new interpretations in the Gnostic Gospels as echoes of political debates about orthodoxy and heresy, clerical authority, martyrdom and gender. After The Gnostic Gospels, Elaine Pagels extended her research in various directions, from perceptions of sexuality in early Christianity and identity politics in the Christian creation of the "Satan figure" to ancient biblical interpretations, ritual in Nag Hammadi texts, and, recently, the Gospel of Judas and ancient apocalypses. The studies included in this volume engage each stage of Pagels' vast trajectory, and provide critical evaluations of the field of "Gnosticism studies" as it has developed over the past four decades, in the subfields of the "Sethian" and "Valentinian" schools, and beyond. The studies include new interpretations of the Nag Hammadi texts and fresh analyses of ancient heresiological literature.
The Gospel Of Mary
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Author : Esther De Boer
language : en
Publisher: A&C Black
Release Date : 2005-06-20
The Gospel Of Mary written by Esther De Boer and has been published by A&C Black this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2005-06-20 with Religion categories.
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.
Beyond The Gnostic Gospels
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Author : Eduard Iricinschi
language : en
Publisher:
Release Date : 2020
Beyond The Gnostic Gospels written by Eduard Iricinschi and has been published by this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2020 with categories.
This volume gathers contributions from both junior and senior scholars whose studies have developed in dialogue with Elaine Pagels' work on Nag Hammadi literature and ancient heresiology. Published initially in 1979, Pagels' The Gnostic Gospels represents a landmark of scholarship in religious studies. It not only made the Nag Hammadi writings and Gnosticism popular topics in modern culture, it also invited scholars to rethink early Christianity from new perspectives. What were previously seen as dry theological arguments and intricate Gnostic mythologies received new interpretations in the Gnostic Gospels as echoes of political debates about orthodoxy and heresy, clerical authority, martyrdom and gender.After The Gnostic Gospels, Elaine Pagels extended her research in various directions, from perceptions of sexuality in early Christianity and identity politics in the Christian creation of the »Satan figure« to ancient biblical interpretations, ritual in Nag Hammadi texts, and, recently, the Gospel of Judas and ancient apocalypses. The studies included in this volume engage each stage of Pagels' vast trajectory, and provide critical evaluations of the field of »Gnosticism studies« as it has developed over the past four decades, in the subfields of the »Sethian« and »Valentinian« schools, and beyond. The studies include new interpretations of the Nag Hammadi texts and fresh analyses of ancient heresiological literature.Survey of contentsHarold Attridge: Plato, Plutarch, and John: Three Symposia about Love - April DeConick: Gnostic Spirituality at the Crossroads of Christianity: Transgressing Boundaries and Creating Orthodoxy - Ismo Dunderberg: How Far Can You Go? Jesus, John, the Synoptics and Other Texts - John Gager: Paul the Zealot, A Man of Constant Sorrow - Deirdre Good: Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Egypt - Eduard Iricinschi: 'The Teaching Hidden in Silence' (NH II 1,4): Questions, Answers, and Secrets in a Fourth-Century Egyptian Book - Lance Jenott: Clergy, Clairvoyance, and Conflict: The Synod of Latopolis and the Problem with Pachomius' Visions - David Jorgensen: »Nor is one ambiguity resolved by another ambiguity«: Irenaeus of Lyons and the Rhetoric of Interpretation - Karen King: Rethinking the Diversity of Ancient Christianity: Responding to Suffering and Persecution - Nicola Denzey Lewis: The Problem of Bad Baptisms: Rethinking Early Christian Initiation and Its Implications - AnneMarie Luijendijk: Buried and Raised: Gospel of Thomas Logion 5 and Resurrection - Hugo Lundhaug: Begotten, Not Made, to Arise in This Flesh: The Post-Nicene Soteriology of the Gospel of Philip - John Marshall: 6 Ezra and Jewish Reception of Revelation - Marvin Meyer: Thought, Forethought, and Afterthought in the Secret Book of John - Geoff Smith: Irenaeus, the Will of God, and Anti-Valentinian Polemics: A Closer Look at Against the Heresies I.12.1 - Einar Thomassen: The Valentinian Materials in James (NHC V,3 and CT,2) - John D. Turner: Baptismal Vision, Angelification, and Mystical Union in Sethian Literature - Michael A. Williams: A Life Full of Meaning and Purpose: Demiurgical Myths and Social Implications - Holger Zellentin: Jesus and the Tradition of the Elders: Originalism and Traditionalism in Early Judean Legal Theory.
Beyond Belief
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Author : Elaine Pagels
language : en
Publisher: Vintage
Release Date : 2004-05-04
Beyond Belief written by Elaine Pagels and has been published by Vintage this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2004-05-04 with Religion categories.
In Beyond Belief, renowned religion scholar Elaine Pagels continues her groundbreaking examination of the earliest Christian texts, arguing for an ongoing assessment of faith and a questioning of religious orthodoxy. Spurred on by personal tragedy and new scholarship from an international group of researchers, Pagels returns to her investigation of the “secret” Gospel of Thomas, and breathes new life into writings once thought heretical. As she arrives at an ever-deeper conviction in her own faith, Pagels reveals how faith allows for a diversity of interpretations, and that the “rogue” voices of Christianity encourage and sustain “the recognition of the light within us all.”
Forbidden Faith
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Author : Richard Smoley
language : en
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date : 2009-10-29
Forbidden Faith written by Richard Smoley and has been published by Harper Collins this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2009-10-29 with Religion categories.
Scholar Richard Smoley reveals the secret history of the religious doctrines of Gnosticism in Forbidden Faith. The success of books such as Elaine Pagels's Gnostic Gospels and Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code proves beyond a doubt that there is a tremendous thirst today for finding the hidden truths of Christianity—truths that may have been lost or buried by institutional religion over the last two millennia. In Forbidden Faith, Richard Smoley narrates a popular history of one such truth, the ancient esoteric religion of Gnosticism, which flourished between the first and fourth centuries A.D., but whose legacy remains even today, having survived secretly throughout the ages. “Smoley elegantly tracks one of our wildest and most vital inner lineages, the one that comes down through Plotinus, the Gospel of Thomas, the Cathar Perfects, Pico, Blake, Madame Blavatsky, Jung, and the Matrix films.” —Coleman Barks, author of The Essential Rumi “This clear, concise primer traces the Gnostic threads of philosophy, religion, science and popular culture from their biblical references through to their 21st-century appearances in novels and film. Moving easily from one century to the next while at the same time connecting them to each other, Smoley is at once thoughtful and thought-provoking . . . He paves a wide, clear path to understanding it, accessible even to the weekend seeker.” —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) “Drawing on an impressive mastery of the subject matter, Smoley traces Gnosticism from the first century CE to the present. A compelling and accessible argument. A thoroughly enjoyable read; highly recommended.” —Library Journal
Beyond Death The Gnostic Book Of The Dead
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Author : Samael Aun Weor
language : en
Publisher: SCB Distributors
Release Date : 2011-05-18
Beyond Death The Gnostic Book Of The Dead written by Samael Aun Weor and has been published by SCB Distributors this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2011-05-18 with Body, Mind & Spirit categories.
Leaving behind both fear and belief, Samael Aun Weor explains through vivid stories what happens when we die and how we can prepare ourselves now to take full advantage of the experience. Instructions to prepare the soul for the process of dying and the experiences of the afterlife are found within the scriptures of every mystical tradition, especially the Bible, The Theban Recension (Egyptian Book of the Dead), and the Bardo Thodol (Tibetan Book of the Dead), yet they are veiled in cryptic symbolism and are difficult for most people to understand. Now, for the first time, this book fearlessly approaches the topics of death, dying, and the afterlife for our day and age -- and for those who are tired of theories and are ready to know the truth through their own experience.
Neoplatonism And Gnosticism
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Author : Rich T. Wallis
language : en
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Release Date : 1992-07-07
Neoplatonism And Gnosticism written by Rich T. Wallis and has been published by State University of New York Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 1992-07-07 with Religion categories.
In recent decades our view of Gnosticism has been revolutionized by the discovery of a Coptic Gnostic library at Nag-Hammadi, Egypt. Currently, Gnosticism is seen as a phenomenon extending far beyond Christianity and displaying a strong Platonic influence. The opposition between the two systems was certainly not as sharp as Plotinus claimed. Where, why, and how the ideological lines were drawn is discussed in the light of the new historical evidence.
The Gnostics
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Author : David Brakke
language : en
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Release Date : 2012-09-03
The Gnostics written by David Brakke and has been published by Harvard University Press this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2012-09-03 with Religion categories.
Who were the Gnostics? And how did the Gnostic movement influence the development of Christianity in antiquity? Is it true that the Church rejected Gnosticism? This book offers an illuminating discussion of recent scholarly debates over the concept of “Gnosticism” and the nature of early Christian diversity. Acknowledging that the category “Gnosticism” is flawed and must be reformed, David Brakke argues for a more careful approach to gathering evidence for the ancient Christian movement known as the Gnostic school of thought. He shows how Gnostic myth and ritual addressed basic human concerns about alienation and meaning, offered a message of salvation in Jesus, and provided a way for people to regain knowledge of God, the ultimate source of their being. Rather than depicting the Gnostics as heretics or as the losers in the fight to define Christianity, Brakke argues that the Gnostics participated in an ongoing reinvention of Christianity, in which other Christians not only rejected their ideas but also adapted and transformed them. This book will challenge scholars to think in news ways, but it also provides an accessible introduction to the Gnostics and their fellow early Christians.
Gnosis
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Author : Kurt Rudolph
language : en
Publisher: A&C Black
Release Date : 2001-06-20
Gnosis written by Kurt Rudolph and has been published by A&C Black this book supported file pdf, txt, epub, kindle and other format this book has been release on 2001-06-20 with Religion categories.
Translated by R. McL. WilsonA full-scale study based on the documents of the Coptic Gnostic library found at Nag Hammadi providing a comprehensive survey of the nature, the teachings, the history and the influence of this religion.