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The Gnostic Jesus Christ & Yaldabaoth His Ignorant Unbegotten Brother: Gnosticism 2022
Whether you're new to Gnosticism or you've been studying it for a long time I'm certain you'll find this book highly thought-provoking. Giving a unique perspective on the texts from the Nag Hammadi library.
A completely different theological narrative in comparison to the Christianity that formed out of the Roman Catholic Church. Gnosticism and the "Gnostic-Christ" contain a far more revealing problem facing humanity. Ignorance.
As these topics and concepts become more popular in the mainstream I've noticed some glaring misconceptions and misunderstandings when it comes to comparing traditional Christianity & Gnosticism. I hope this book helps clear up some of the problems people may have trying to understand the ramifications of this different narrative of Christ and his revelations for humanity.
Covering topics ranging ExperiencesEntheogensMount Saint HelensFossils & Anomalous ArchaeologyThe Great Deluge (Flood) and GeologySecret SocietiesOther World ReligionsAngels, Archons, and DemonsSimulation TheoryHypnosis & Neuro-Linguistic ProgrammingPerception & ConsciousnessQuantum Physics & The ObserverCarlos CastanedaMeditation & Yoga ...
and more seemingly unrelated topics all mixed in with the Gnostic texts.
The following are some excerpts from the reviews of the previous edition. I hope this edition is even better.David Allen Neron has provided the connections that made themselves in my mind/heart, a home, and representation through the art of his Word.Wow, great book and a refreshing translation of a hard text.Read this and understand more fully how the breath of forgetfulness has made you lost.The amazing thing about this book is the comparison between the God of the Old Testament vs the God of the New Testament.
A completely different theological narrative in comparison to the Christianity that formed out of the Roman Catholic Church. Gnosticism and the "Gnostic-Christ" contain a far more revealing problem facing humanity. Ignorance.
As these topics and concepts become more popular in the mainstream I've noticed some glaring misconceptions and misunderstandings when it comes to comparing traditional Christianity & Gnosticism. I hope this book helps clear up some of the problems people may have trying to understand the ramifications of this different narrative of Christ and his revelations for humanity.
Covering topics ranging ExperiencesEntheogensMount Saint HelensFossils & Anomalous ArchaeologyThe Great Deluge (Flood) and GeologySecret SocietiesOther World ReligionsAngels, Archons, and DemonsSimulation TheoryHypnosis & Neuro-Linguistic ProgrammingPerception & ConsciousnessQuantum Physics & The ObserverCarlos CastanedaMeditation & Yoga ...
and more seemingly unrelated topics all mixed in with the Gnostic texts.
The following are some excerpts from the reviews of the previous edition. I hope this edition is even better.David Allen Neron has provided the connections that made themselves in my mind/heart, a home, and representation through the art of his Word.Wow, great book and a refreshing translation of a hard text.Read this and understand more fully how the breath of forgetfulness has made you lost.The amazing thing about this book is the comparison between the God of the Old Testament vs the God of the New Testament.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 21, 2022
This book does well to make available extended extracts from the Gnostic Gospels. But, otherwise, it rambles in seemingly inconclusive and unconvincing ways.
The thesis of the book is that the fourth century Gnostics were correct to say that the god of the Old Testament (called, here, Yaldabaoth) is not the true God. The author thinks that Yaldabaoth is an ignorant, lying tyrant and that Jesus’s role was to ensure that people no longer confuse Yaldabaoth with the true God.
This is an interesting idea, but there is an obvious problem. If correct, why are there no texts in the (canonical) gospels about Yaldabaoth? The author believes that this is because the Early Church censored the material, burning and banning texts.
Yes, the early Church did exercise some censorship on what it took to be fake materials. But the fact remains that (canonical) gospel fragments are generally dated earlier than most Gnostic texts, so they are a more authoritative record of Jesus’ ministry. To justify a heavier weighting to the later dated Gnostic texts would take significant evidence and argument which the book does not present.
A problem in trying to resurrect Gnosticism as a contemporary religion, is that it had a degree of plausibility in its original setting, because of the philosophical assumptions in background worldviews. The ancient world struggled to explain how an immaterial God could have contact with matter, so they tried to bridge the difference of infinitude with layers of gnostic intermediaries (archons) resulting ultimately in the demiurge (Yaldabaoth).
Modern philosophers do not generally see a particular difficulty for an immaterial god to create a material world. So they see no need for gnostic intermediaries. This means that Gnosticism is a needlessly complicated hypothesis, with no explanatory power for modern philosophers. So it is implausible. These kinds of issues are serious problems for the author’s proposal, but they are not explored by the book.
The book’s presentation is, at times, rambling. At one point the author even admits, ‘…but I digress’ (51%). It also includes, arguably, irrelevant ideas like aliens, flat earth, humans hunting dinosaurs… etc. I think professional editing could have streamlined the argument of the book and reduced the length by perhaps a third.
The book also contains factual inaccuracies. There is a reference to Pope John Paul IV (33%). But there has never been such a pope.
There is a very odd section where the author admits that his earlier version of the book was not ideal in its claims that Constantine invented the bible at the council of Nicaea…, but he is going to leave those claims in the book because no one has proved that it is definitely not true (36%). That is a very odd style of argument. If we are justified in believing anything that has not been definitely disproved, then that justifies belief in every imaginable superstition, as it is notoriously difficult to prove a negative. A more reasonable way of arguing is to drop claims which lack factual evidence to support them. And so it would have been more reasonable to drop the Constantinian claims.
Overall I was disappointed with the quality of the argument, and the unedited presentation of ideas. I was also disappointed in the anti-Catholic tone of the book, describing Catholic ideas as ‘nonsense’ and ‘ridiculous’ (37%). It is perfectly possible to advance the thesis of the book in a positive way, without unnecessary polemical negativity about other faiths.
The thesis of the book is that the fourth century Gnostics were correct to say that the god of the Old Testament (called, here, Yaldabaoth) is not the true God. The author thinks that Yaldabaoth is an ignorant, lying tyrant and that Jesus’s role was to ensure that people no longer confuse Yaldabaoth with the true God.
This is an interesting idea, but there is an obvious problem. If correct, why are there no texts in the (canonical) gospels about Yaldabaoth? The author believes that this is because the Early Church censored the material, burning and banning texts.
Yes, the early Church did exercise some censorship on what it took to be fake materials. But the fact remains that (canonical) gospel fragments are generally dated earlier than most Gnostic texts, so they are a more authoritative record of Jesus’ ministry. To justify a heavier weighting to the later dated Gnostic texts would take significant evidence and argument which the book does not present.
A problem in trying to resurrect Gnosticism as a contemporary religion, is that it had a degree of plausibility in its original setting, because of the philosophical assumptions in background worldviews. The ancient world struggled to explain how an immaterial God could have contact with matter, so they tried to bridge the difference of infinitude with layers of gnostic intermediaries (archons) resulting ultimately in the demiurge (Yaldabaoth).
Modern philosophers do not generally see a particular difficulty for an immaterial god to create a material world. So they see no need for gnostic intermediaries. This means that Gnosticism is a needlessly complicated hypothesis, with no explanatory power for modern philosophers. So it is implausible. These kinds of issues are serious problems for the author’s proposal, but they are not explored by the book.
The book’s presentation is, at times, rambling. At one point the author even admits, ‘…but I digress’ (51%). It also includes, arguably, irrelevant ideas like aliens, flat earth, humans hunting dinosaurs… etc. I think professional editing could have streamlined the argument of the book and reduced the length by perhaps a third.
The book also contains factual inaccuracies. There is a reference to Pope John Paul IV (33%). But there has never been such a pope.
There is a very odd section where the author admits that his earlier version of the book was not ideal in its claims that Constantine invented the bible at the council of Nicaea…, but he is going to leave those claims in the book because no one has proved that it is definitely not true (36%). That is a very odd style of argument. If we are justified in believing anything that has not been definitely disproved, then that justifies belief in every imaginable superstition, as it is notoriously difficult to prove a negative. A more reasonable way of arguing is to drop claims which lack factual evidence to support them. And so it would have been more reasonable to drop the Constantinian claims.
Overall I was disappointed with the quality of the argument, and the unedited presentation of ideas. I was also disappointed in the anti-Catholic tone of the book, describing Catholic ideas as ‘nonsense’ and ‘ridiculous’ (37%). It is perfectly possible to advance the thesis of the book in a positive way, without unnecessary polemical negativity about other faiths.
December 15, 2025
Really just a collection of Gnostic contemplations. Written in a very modern millenial tone. References to online Memes, and mantras.
I suspect this is an author who is very intriguing to meet and talk to directly about his faith or beliefs. But written in a book in this style it comes across as a little incoherent.
I suspect this is an author who is very intriguing to meet and talk to directly about his faith or beliefs. But written in a book in this style it comes across as a little incoherent.
August 29, 2024
Condensed Gnosis
Excellent summary of many core gnostic tenets. Having read a number of books on Gnosticism and much of the Nag Hammadi, I can say this book was dead on, and very well written, with the author’s own humor and insight to add much needed commentary along the way. Looking forward to the author’s forthcoming books - well done!
Excellent summary of many core gnostic tenets. Having read a number of books on Gnosticism and much of the Nag Hammadi, I can say this book was dead on, and very well written, with the author’s own humor and insight to add much needed commentary along the way. Looking forward to the author’s forthcoming books - well done!
February 13, 2025
Fabulous
This subject matter is something that came profoundly transform one's personal perspective on life. I've got my own perspectives on the God of Moses, which the author may want to take into consideration.
This subject matter is something that came profoundly transform one's personal perspective on life. I've got my own perspectives on the God of Moses, which the author may want to take into consideration.
February 19, 2024
This book was like having a fascinating conversation while having a beer with a friend.
August 11, 2024
I was looking for something more serious. The book has a lot of memes and it is confuse to follow and the author jumps around constantly
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews