An Interesting Look at Gnosticism

books:

	• The Wisdom of the Knowing Ones: Gnosticism: The Key to Esoteric Christianity Manly P. Hall Philosophical Research Society, 2000 - 170 pages average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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An Interesting Look at Gnosticism

Although I had heard of the term "Gnosticism" previously, I was never quite sure what it really entailed - all I knew was that it was some form of religion or spirituality. So I purchased this book with the goal of gaining an understanding of this form of esoteric christianity - and, after having read it, I think this is probably the best book I could have chosen for this purpose.

In "The Wisdom of the Wise Ones", Hall discusses the beliefs held by the Gnostics; the parallels between Gnosticism and both Eastern & Western philosophies; Alexandria - the seat of mysticism; what happened to Gnosticism; as well as the symbolism used by this group.

Here are some of the insights I gained re: Gnosticism:

*Gnosticism is a form of esoteric christianity

*Gnostics didn't take bible stories literally - instead, they searched for the hidden meanings

*Gnostics were very tolerant of other religions - believing that a person's religion was based on their current emotions & perceptions. In other words, we interpret things differently based on "where we are" at the time.

*They viewed spirit as the highest state of matter, and matter as the lowest state of spirit

*They saw human beings as the bridge between nature & God

*They believed that each soul ascends through successive stages of being - learning & growing along the way

*They saught to find the middle-ground between the 2 most prevalent theologies of the time - christianity & paganism

*They believed that it's the mystery, not the interpretation that's real (and our interpretation = our religion)

*They believed that everyone would grow & change over time, and as such, their interpretations (religious choices)would grow & change as well.

Through reading this book, I was also reminded that much of what we deal with today - such as violence, scams, war & conspiricies - isn't new. The people who lived thousands of years ago were dealing with the same things...

Overall, I found "The Wisdom of the Knowing Ones" to be quite interesting. So, if you are interested in learning about Gnosticism, or enjoy reading about ancient cultures, I would highly recommend it.

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Not For Beginners

If I were to recommend a book on Gnosticism to someone who knows little or nothing on the subject but would like an overview, this would NOT be the book I would recommend. That's not to say this book wasn't without it's merits but it's a little overly complicated and narrow in it's scope of understanding. It also was a little boring in parts and I found myself having to "push through" to the end.

I did gain a clearer understanding of ancient Gnosticism compaired with more modern Gnostic beliefs presented by authors such as Samael Aun Weor. This book was also very unique in that it dealt with a lot of the ancient symbology around Gnosticism which is something I've never seen before.

If you already have a basic understanding of Gnosticism and you're looking to expand your knowledge this book might be for you, If you want information about ancient Gnostic symbols this book is for you, If you want an introduction to Gnosticism I say look elsewhere.

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If any group, which shared in the Christian mystery, possessed the esoteric secrets of the early Church, it was the Gnostics. This order preserved to the end the high ethical and rational standards which confer honor upon a teaching. The Church therefore attacked Gnosticism vigorously and relentlessly, recognizing these mystical philosophers as being the most formidable adversaries to the temporal power of Christian theology.