Gnosticism: New Light on the Ancient Tradition of Inner Knowing

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. We learn about: The Gnostic view of the Divine and the manifest world. Good and Evil, and the essence of the human soul. The Gnostic Christ as the messenger of Light and the guide to sacred mysteries. Sophia, the Gnostic archetype of the Feminine Wisdom. The scriptures, sacraments, and rituals of Gnostic religions much as the Mandaean, holding secret wisdom traced back to John the Baptist; the Manichean, founded b