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 To Know Oneself Truly...
Review of: "The Gnostic Bible, Gnostic Texts of Mystical Wisdom from the Ancient and Medieval World."
The Gnostics were religious mystics who proclaimed Gnosis as a way to salvation without any need for the mediation of rabbis, priests, bishops, imams, or other religious officials.
Religious officials, who were not pleased with such freedom and independence, condemned the gnostics as heretical and a threat to the well being and good order of organized religion.
The Gnostic Bible then is a compilation of Pagan, Jewish, Christian, Mandean, Manichaean, Islamic, and Cathar writings by practitioners of Gnosis; a special knowledge or insight into the infinite and divine by way of direct spiritual experiential knowledge.
The sacred texts presented in this volume help to clarify what gnosticism is and who the gnostics were. The similarities and differences among the writings are equally instructive as are the connections among them whether historical or otherwise. The gnosis sought by the authors of these texts is hardly ordinary knowledge. A text from the Nag Hammadi library (included in this volume), declares that the restoration of the soul to a state of wholeness "is not due to rote phrases or to professional skills or to book learning." As such, mystics have commonly emphasized that mystical knowledge cannot be attained by simply reading books. In the Secret Book of John the savior or revealer announced that she or he will teach "what is, what was, and what is to come," and in the Book of Thomas the revealer commands, "Examine yourself and understand who you are, how you exist, and how you will come to be."
To attain this knowledge--to become a gnostic--is to know oneself, God, and everything. Or in the words of the maxim from the oracular center dedicated to the God Apollo at Delphi, Greece, a maxim cited frequently in the texts of this book: gnothi sauton, "know yourself."
According to many of these sacred texts, to know oneself truly is to attain this mystical knowledge. Without hesitation or reservation I rate this volume at five stars. Superb!
JP
The Gnostic Bible
A very good one-in-all book for ALL the gnostic books. Great for studying and comparing them all in one book.
A good translation.
One of several to collect
I was looking for a "definitive" gnostic bible and thought I'd found it with this. Unfortunately it's not that simple, but this volume is the best place to start in my opinion.
 Interesting read
I purchased this book because I like to study different religions. I actually heard about Gnostic Christianity on an educational program I was watching about the life of Jesus.
Although this book is not an "easy" read, I do think it is an "interesting" read. For those people who have inquisitive minds and perhaps are looking for answers, this is a book that I would recommend. Does it have all the answers...no. However, it does open the door to alternative ways of looking at religion and belief systems. It may answer some questions you have, or it may give you more questions that need to be answered.
For me, I am glad I purchased the book. I am enjoy learning and growing in my own spirituality.
Very Happy
Prompt delivery, Great quality, very happy all the way around. The subject matter is intriguing and makes one look at the Christian faith with new eyes.
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