21.11.2020

“The Gnostic Gospels” by Elaine Pagels

Magick Matters
"The Gnostic Gospels" by Elaine Pagels
"In 1945 fifty-two papyrus texts, including gospels and other secret documents, were found concealed in an earthenware jar buried in the Egyptian desert. These so-called Gnostic writings were Coptic translations from the original Greek dating from the time of the New Testament. The material they embodied - poems, quasi-philosophical descriptions of the origins of the universe, myths, magic and instructions for mystic practice - were later declared heretical, as they offered a powerful alternative to the Orthodox Christian tradition. In a book that is as exciting as it is scholarly, Elaine Pagels examines these texts and the questions they pose and shows why Gnosticism was eventually stamped out by the increasingly organised and institutionalised Orthodox...>>
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21.11.2020

“Gnosticism: New Light on the Ancient Tradition of Inner Knowing” by Stephan A. Hoeller

Magick Matters
"Gnosticism: New Light on the Ancient Tradition of Inner Knowing" by Stephan A. Hoeller
"Gnosticism developed alongside Judeo-Christianity over two thousand years ago, but with an important difference: It emphasizes, not faith, but direct perception of God--Gnosticism being derived from the Greek word gnosis, meaning "knowledge." Given the controversial premise that one can know God directly, the history of Gnosticism is an unfolding drama of passion, political intrigue, martyrdom, and mystery. Dr. Hoeller traces this fascinating story throughout time and shows how Gnosticism has inspired such great thinkers as Voltaire, Blake, Yeats, Hesse, Melville, and Jung."...>>
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21.11.2020

“The Gnostic Handbook” by Institute for Gnostic Studies

Magick Matters
"The Gnostic Handbook" by Institute for Gnostic Studies
"We have felt for many years that there is a great need for a study of the principles on which the Gnostic tradition is built. At first we avoided such a task as our knowledge of the Gnostic tradition was still evolving and because any outline of religious symbolism can come across as dogmatic. However, as time progressed we realized that if we waited until all the facts were in and we worked to avoid all possible misconceptions, we would end up with the Gnostic Handbook never being written. Accordingly, we believe that within this handbook is a comprehensive summary of the basic principles of the Gnostic tradition. We realize that what we outline...>>
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21.11.2020

“The Gnostics and Their Remains, Ancient and Mediaeval” by Charles William King

Magick Matters
"The Gnostics and Their Remains, Ancient and Mediaeval" by Charles William King
"In the mid-19th century, eighty years before the chance discovery of a treasure trove of Gnostic manuscripts in a dump in Egypt, C.W. King collected what was known about the Gnostics in this book. At that time there were only three sources of information on Gnosticism: polemics against them by early Christian writers, the Pistis Sophia, and a jumble of confusing images and cryptic inscriptions on Roman-era gems and amulets. In spite of all of the missing jigsaw pieces, King managed to assemble a picture of the Gnostics which is still cited today as authoritative. Rather than one monolithic group, the Gnostics had very diverse beliefs. Some thought that Jesus was a man, while others...>>
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