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Gnosticism: Digest
This issue of the Rosicrucian Digest presents a compendium of materials that provide a solid introduction to the most important aspects of Gnosticism.
- GenresTheologyPhilosophy
95 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2015
About the author
Rosicrucian Order AMORC
42 books12 followersThe Ancient and Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis (AMORC), also known as the Rosicrucian Order, is the largest Rosicrucian organization in the world. It has various lodges, chapters and other affiliated bodies throughout the globe, operating in 19 different languages. It operates as a fraternal order in the mystical tradition, and supports secular research and learning in the arts and humanities.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 27, 2017
Gnosis means knowledge and insight, so Gnosticism means a method of gaining knowledge and insight. 'To know oneself at the deepest levels is to know God.' Gnostics don't believe that there is a need for religious 'officials' to tell us about God and about ourselves.
The book starts out with an introduction and then enters the subject of the Cathars, who practiced Gnosticism. The book covers Gnostic beliefs, alchemy, the Kabbalah, the Renaissance and other related areas. Then it goes into the Church's absolute hatred of Gnostics and what was essentially an all-out war against them.
The war included massacring women and children, by the way.
The book also talks about some gospels that are not part of the Bible such as the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary. There's even one called the Gospel of Judas.
The main Pope that started the war was Pope Innocent III who was, in many ways, a near-duplicate of Adolph Hitler and who, if he had tried his stuff today, would have been put up on war crime trials and executed.
The book then goes into the founding of the Rosicrucians (1915), their work on radio, and then prints the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rosicrucian Declaration of Human Duties. They do both because they believe people have rights but they also have duties to perform.
The book starts out with an introduction and then enters the subject of the Cathars, who practiced Gnosticism. The book covers Gnostic beliefs, alchemy, the Kabbalah, the Renaissance and other related areas. Then it goes into the Church's absolute hatred of Gnostics and what was essentially an all-out war against them.
The war included massacring women and children, by the way.
The book also talks about some gospels that are not part of the Bible such as the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary. There's even one called the Gospel of Judas.
The main Pope that started the war was Pope Innocent III who was, in many ways, a near-duplicate of Adolph Hitler and who, if he had tried his stuff today, would have been put up on war crime trials and executed.
The book then goes into the founding of the Rosicrucians (1915), their work on radio, and then prints the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rosicrucian Declaration of Human Duties. They do both because they believe people have rights but they also have duties to perform.
June 22, 2022
Interesting Overview
An interesting entry level overview of Gnostic history and thought. As an anthology, the readings are on balance well done and focus on the Cathars and the Early Christian thinkers - with a somewhat incongruous inclusion of two essays on human rights. On balance, a decent intro to Gnosticism.
An interesting entry level overview of Gnostic history and thought. As an anthology, the readings are on balance well done and focus on the Cathars and the Early Christian thinkers - with a somewhat incongruous inclusion of two essays on human rights. On balance, a decent intro to Gnosticism.
May 7, 2019
basic but insightful book of gnosticism and its history
Wish the book was longer but does paint an interesting picture and well documented account of the Cathars. The Cathars we still no so little about to this day and this book gives much into their plight
Wish the book was longer but does paint an interesting picture and well documented account of the Cathars. The Cathars we still no so little about to this day and this book gives much into their plight
November 19, 2025
Good history and information
This digest tells a lot about the history and persecution of so-called heretics of the Christian church who practiced Western esotericism. It also provides a peak into the present and future circumstances of what I consider the Believers of Truth.
This digest tells a lot about the history and persecution of so-called heretics of the Christian church who practiced Western esotericism. It also provides a peak into the present and future circumstances of what I consider the Believers of Truth.
March 18, 2024
Had a lot of information, so much so that I was lost for the last half. I was interested at first, but then the book seemed to switch gears and continue down a path I didn’t understand.
March 13, 2019
Fair
Not what I expected. Instead of an explanation and exploration of the concept, the text was repetitive and heavy handed.
Not what I expected. Instead of an explanation and exploration of the concept, the text was repetitive and heavy handed.
October 21, 2015
Everyone should read this
No matter your faith or lack thereof, this book should be required reading. The author relates some interesting history and theologies, but it is the end of this work that gives a very important lesson on humanity. However, the whole text must be read in order to fully appreciate the profound wisdom.
No matter your faith or lack thereof, this book should be required reading. The author relates some interesting history and theologies, but it is the end of this work that gives a very important lesson on humanity. However, the whole text must be read in order to fully appreciate the profound wisdom.
November 26, 2016
Of special note in this issue is Bill Anderson's article "The Cathars: Trials and Tribulations in the Languedoc". I had only a cursory knowledge of the Cathars and their dramatic and heartbreaking decline and destruction during the Crusades. This was by far the most compelling read in this issue and remains one of my favorite articles on the subject to date.
May 30, 2016
Great Read
A wonderful introduction to Gnosticism with a variety of articles that cover a broad base of knowledge. If you are looking for somewhere to start, this is it.
A wonderful introduction to Gnosticism with a variety of articles that cover a broad base of knowledge. If you are looking for somewhere to start, this is it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews