Gnosticism: New Light on the Ancient Tradition of Inner Knowing

An attempt at defining Gnosticism but it loses you and there are many loose ends. Frustrating read because it trails off in the middle of things, starts in a new direction and The best you can make out is a blurr. I found a great book called “The Secret Book of John: the Gnostic Gospel” by Stevan Davies. This book explains the foundations of Gnosticism through a commentary format about the Secret Gospel of John. This gospel is the central teaching within Gnosticism. The other excellent book I found was “What is Gnosticism?” by Hilliard.

While I'm not Gnostic, and have some serious problems with some of its principles...I must admit a certain fondness for it because of Dr. Holler.
Anyone familiar with Dr. Hoeller's lectures on the Gnosis.org website knows that he has charming turns of phrase and an amazing fund of knowledge on Gnosticism. This book reflects that. It is an indispensable introduction to the subject of Gnosticism--its history, and principles. For those more familiar with Gnosticism it is just as useful, if for no other reason than it is so approachable and well written.
One reviewer mentioned Dr. Hoeller's bias in interpretation. True enough, but everyone is biased after all, and we can afford Holler some tolerance in his own because he communicates it so delightfully. Beyond this, the very premise of Gnosticism is one of deep subjective 'knowing,' so for a Gnostic to play the objective historian would be nonsensical.
If you're interested in the subject, buy the book. For fun, I'd listen to a couple of his lectures first so when you read it you hear him talking in his rich Hungarian(?) accent (he sounds like Dracula!)
=)
KS

This book does a good job of explaining the basic teachings of Gnosticism and the differences in various schools. Hoeller explains how the Gnostic view of the divine and the world differs from conventional Christianity. He explains the concept of the Demiurge as the creator of the material universe versus the true God of Jesus who created the spiritual realms. He explains the significance of Sophia, the Gnostic goddess that symbolizes wisdom. He includes brief biographies of the leaders of some of the better known Gnostic groups and schools from early Christinity. He also covers how Gnosticicm has influenced many great minds including Blake, Voltaire, Yeats and Jung. He also takes a look at the growing interest in Gnosticism and how it may guide us into the future.

This is a very readable, interesting and comprehensive account of the content and history of Gnosticism. It is also very relevant to the contemporary renewed focus on human spirituality. As Stephan Hoeller eloquently points out, our current understanding is materialist and mental. Physicalism and rationality are taken to explain all phenomena, including humanity itself. This is a reductionist view and in any case is not conclusive, as physicalism so far has no account of metaphysical realities, for example of consciousness, and rationality does not determine virtue, value, or what we consider reasonable. It does not explain how rationality originates. Religion itself has become a mental assertion to creed and doctrine. Gnosticism's attention to spirituality, its pursuit of the transcendental, its focus on a gnosis which generates self enlightenment and inner transformation, is therefore a welcome, holistic, and potentially liberating view. The attempt to eliminate Gnosticism through a long history of persecution highlights the inadequacy of the orthodox doctrinal Christian position.

The complaint of Irenaeus is that Gnosticism denies incarnation. This may originate as a theological complaint, but does have wider significance since it renders Gnosticism other-worldly, specifically disinterested in political engagement. Gnosticism critiques the world, and then disengages, rather than campaigning for reform. It opts out of human social responsibility.

Stephan Hoeller does point out that there is much gnostic material in orthodox Christianity. The apostle Paul's conversion encounter on the Damascus road is a clear case. John's gospel is gnostic in tone. Christ's resurrection is only temporarily corporeal, and is as a body which defies physical reality, rendering the resurrection more of a spiritual than a physical event. Moreover, the creedal doctrinal version of Christianity which became evangelical orthodoxy is itself highly gnostic in its insistence on special salvific knowledge revealed to a chosen elite. The modern charismatic phenomenon includes much gnostic experience - it is a `baptism in the Holy Spirit'.

Hoeller portrays Gnosticism as liberating. If it represents a free spiritual journey then this may be so, but in attempting to define Gnosticism, he then ties it down. A spiritual gnosis is now required, rather than being permissive. On pages 187-189 he sets out 14 points which define Gnosticism, and then claims that `At least the first ten of the fourteen points may be considered wholly authoritative... the absence of any of them from a person's worldview might disqualify him or her as a Gnostic'. Along with the view that Gnosticism is knowledge revealed to an elite, we now have a constraining, strictly limiting spiritual religion. We are back to where we started.

Far better is the emphasis on Gnosticism as myth. Myth as an interpretation of religion offers meaning which is powerfully relevant to the human condition. But it is best as an open narrative, not one which insists on anything, but offers everything. Herein lies a renewed spirituality for our materialist mentalist age.

Geoff Crocker
Author `An Enlightened Philosophy - Can an Atheist Believe Anything?'
Editor web forum `Atheist Spirituality'

This is a wonderful book. I love this book, from the cover with the colourized woodcut of the Quester breaking through to another world, to the informative back cover. I recommend it to anyone interested in Gnosticism, the history of Christianity, or even to someone just looking to read something learned, fascinating, but unusual. I particularly recommend it to the person who may feel they have gnostic sensibilities. To such a person this book will be a revelation. In Gnosticism Dr. Hoeller took so many of what were to me intriguing loose ends and wove them into the beginnings of a substantial personal gnostic fabric. After reading this book, I was left feeling much happier in the knowledge that I was following, and indeed was a part of, an ancient tradition, and that there have always been others, and are currently a significant minority of others, who think in a similar way to me. Indeed, the book leaves one with the feeling that doors have been opened, but that, consequently, much more can now be accomplished, always bearing in mind that, 'The subject (Gnosticism) is not one that lends itself to an all too elementary treatment; rather, it requires a certain subtlety of thinking and a proclivity for an intuitive perception.' Preface, xi.

While Dr. Hoeller is always a consummate scholar, the book is written in a contemporary, readable, and extremely entertaining style. It has an excellent index, bibliography, and a helpful glossary. Highly recommended.

If you're wanting an understandable explanation of the history, beliefs and writings of Gnosticism then this is the book for you. Very comprehensive, well written.

This is a great place to begin for the seeker who wishes to learn about the path of Gnosticism. The problem is that Gnosticism is largely an umbrella term for a wide body of sometimes conflicting beliefs and traditions, which pre-date even Christianity. Much of the books available, while scholarly, are often long-winded and confusing. Perhaps this is due to the nature of the Gnostic path itself, being heavily based on myth and symbol, unique to each individual. Dr. Stephan A. Hoeller, whose contributions to the 20th century Gnostic revival are immeasurable, has done a fine job of assembling some of the basic tenets, influences, and history of Gnosticism, in this introductory book.

Excellent Information on the History of Gnosticism in the World!

A book on Gnosticism written by a Gnostic bishop, I think he knows what he's talking about! This book presents Gnosticism as a living spiritual tradition, not a relic that has been deposited in the dustbin of history. If you are looking for a book that treats th Gnostics as a cluster of sects that were a part of the history of the Early Church that died out, then don't read this book. Bishop Hoeller follows the development of Gnostic thought the the middle ages to modern times.

This is great!+ As a Gnostic, this is an excellent book and covers Gnosticism throughly. I recommend this book.