Gnosticism. Advice please!

[Unwell]

hello there,

have been picking up little bits and pieces over the last few years that have made me want to read more about gnosticism.

can anyone advise me a good place to start? books, websites, forums?

also anyone have any interesting thoughts, ideas, opinions about it (informed would be good ).


many thanks, look forward to some good tips!

 

[stu neville]

I find it absolutely fascinating too .

Andrew Philip Smith's got lots to say about it, in a very clear and comprehensible way. Good place to start is David Barrett's interview with him on this very site, here.

 

[Jerry_B]

Perhaps of some use: Esoterica

 

[Analogue Boy]

I read a fascinating book by Freke and Gandy called 'The Jesus Mysteries' which proposes that the life of Jesus was not a historical fact but a reworking of older and more pagan dying/resurrected mangod legends like Osiris-Dionysus and Mithras. Their sequel 'Jesus and the Lost Goddess' follows the story of Sophia and attempts to reveal the gnostic teachings as the basis for Christianity.

I think Timothy Freke has written a few more books on this subject that delve deeper into gnosticism and is probably worth a look if you're interested in the subject.

 

[Unwell]

^^^ stunevile, thanks a lot mate. will look forward to reading that interview. looks a good start.

^^ jerryb, thanks, looks some good stuff there.

^ jim, thank you too, sounds a fascinating read and ta for the freke tip too.


good days all, cheers!

 

[Unwell]

anyone know much about samael aun weor?

i've started reading his "the elimination of satan's tail", heavy-going to say the least. i'm getting good value for money though- i re-read the first three pages every night! still not entirely sure i have any idea what he's on about!


have a couple of more introductory texts on order as we speak.

cheers all.

 

[Graylien]

I'd suggest that it's well worth having a look at the Gospel of Thomas. There are plenty of translations online - I'd recommend just browsing around till you come across one you find readable. (My own copy of it is a translation by Robert Powell, published under the rather unfortunate title of "Christian Zen". It's not in print any more, but you can still pick up second-hand copies on the usual websites.)

Of course, it's eminently debatable whether or not it's actually a Gnostic text, and what the provenance is, and so on and so forth. I wouldn't even begin to express an opinion on all that. But personally speaking, I find it really rewarding reading.

 

[Unwell]

hi greyalien,

thanks a lot for your kind suggestion, i'll look into that one.

(nice to see another norfolk fellow too- cheers!)