Son of Perdition: The Magic and Hubris of Simon Magus

by M.R. Osborne

Much has been written down the centuries regarding the sorcerer Simon Magus and his confrontation with the early Church.

Many of the stories surrounding Simon's legendary battles with St. Peter are now increasingly forgotten. This fascinating account of the conflict between Apostolic authority and ancient magic is ripe for the retelling.

In this leading work, M. R. Osborne considers the relationship between miracles and magic as they played out in this dramatic encounter.

Paperback

Published June 30, 2022

About the author

M.R. Osborne is recognised for his contributions to Christian mysticism, which combine orthodox theology with mystical and alchemical traditions. He has published extensively and earned recognition in Rosicrucian circles, and continues to work on deep-seated spiritual currents in the Western tradition. In 2018, he was awarded the Companion of Christian Rosenkreutz Award by the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia for his research on a branch of French esoteric Freemasonry.

He often appears in online podcasts and interviews, introducing his books, discussing faith and Christian esotericism.

 
Bibliography:
 
Osborne, M.R., The Lessons of Lyons (Rose Circle Publications, 2021, ISBN: 979-8-8926986-4-1)

Osborne, M.R., The Brazen Serpent: Chaos and Order (Rose Circle Publications, 2022, ISBN: 978-1-9479071-9-5)

Osborne, M.R., The Most Holy Trinosophia: A Book of the Dead (Rose Circle Publications, 2021, ISBN: 978-1-9479071-6-4, LCN: 2021917880)

Osborne, M.R., Son of Perdition: The Magic and Hubris of Simon Magus (Rose Circle Publications, 2022, ISBN: 978-1-0684008-6-5)

Osborne, M.R., Pierre Fournie: What We Have Been, What We Are And What We Will Become (Rose Circle Publications, 2022, ISBN: 978-1-0684008-4-1)

Osborne, M.R., Allegory in Stone: A Short Study of the Shakespeare Monument (Rose Circle Publications, 2022, ISBN: 978-1-0684008-3-4)

Osborne, M.R., Time Slip Phenomena: The Ghosts of the Trianon, The Legend of Lucy Lightfoot and the Haunting of William Hogarth (Whitestone Esoteric, 2023, ISBN: 979-8-8921779-0-0)

Osborne, M.R., Martinez de Pasqually: Treatise on the Reintegration of Beings (Rose Circle Publications, 2023, ISBN: 979-8-8926986-9-6)

Osborne, M.R., The de Grainville Manuscripts (Rose Circle Publications, 2024, ISBN: 979-8-8926988-3-2)

Osborne, M.R., The Alchemy of William Blake: The Three Principles of the Divine Essence and 'An Allegory on the Spiritual Condition of Man' (Rose Circle Publications, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-0369118-2-9)

Osborne, M.R., The Threefold Anglican Ministry in the Writings of Thomas Cranmer, Richard Hooker and Jeremy Taylor (Whitestone Esoteric, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-06884008-8-9)

Osborne, M.R., William Laud (1573-1645) Writings the Church, Ministry and Sacraments (Whitestone Esoteric, 2024, ISBN: 978-1-0684008-7-2)

Osborne, M.R., Martinez de Pasqually and the Office of the Holy Spirit (Rose Circle Books, 2025, ISBN: 978-1-0684008-9-6)

Osborne, M.R., The Rainbow: A layman's Guide to Managing Spiritual Crisis with The Confessions of Jacob Boehme (Rose Circle Books, ISBN: 978-1-0684008-0-3)

Osborne, M.R., Rosicrucian Death - The Manner and Meaning of Death in Modern Rosicrucianism (Rose Circle Books, 2025, ISBN: 978-1-0369677-0-3)

Reviews

[Goodness CN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know who Simon Magus is? Before reading Son of Perdition: The Magic and Hubris of Simon Magus, neither did I. After Christ's death, there was Simon Magus, a Samaritan, according to the Bible. The gnostic religion's founder is thought to be Simon. He is referred to by Irenaeus as the originator of all heresies. Others saw him as a sorcerer capable of feats like levitation, while some see him as the creator of Simonianism, which teaches the six roots. Readers will witness Simon's life described from a variety of angles in this book, including those of St. Hippolytus, and St. Irenaeus, who discussed The Great Declaration, and many others. Read Son of Perdition: The Magic and Hubris of Simon Magus by M.R. Osborne to learn more about Simon Magus' true identity and the classification of his power.

I discovered Simon Magus, who I had never heard of once while reading this book. I commenced doing my research and came across the passage of Simon Magus while reading the New Testament of the Bible. Simon is called "the man of wizardry" in Acts 8:9, while Acts 8:19 depicts Simon Magus trying to convince Peter and John to sell him their power.

Normally, I wouldn't pick a book about in-depth theology. But Simon Magus' name caught my attention. I was deeply bothered by the fact that I had never read about him or heard of his name before then. After completing my research, I was curious to find out more about Simon because he only had a brief appearance in the Bible. Osborne included some information to categorize Simon Magus and the power he held. Since he aspired to buy the power of the holy spirit, he was viewed differently by the early church. Later in this book, it is revealed that Simon was part of the Christian movement under John the Baptist's leadership. In essence, he was "second in authority." The question now is whether Simon was a prophet of some kind and if his power was used for good or evil. Which, as you read this book, you will come to comprehend.

Because this book is a little bit of a biography of Simon, there wasn't a lot of suspense. This issue isn't a concern, though. Some of the strongest elements in this book included biblical allusions that were made. After stating a scripture from the Bible, Osborne follows it up with a commentary. The meaning of the biblical passages about Simon Magus' life is revealed to the audience piece by piece. This book doesn't compel you to turn the pages; instead, it provides context so that readers may understand the author's thesis.

I didn't find anything objectionable about this book. Before I started reading this book, I had no idea who Simon Magus was. I'm glad I read this book since it helped me understand the difference between Magus’ relationship with the early church.

Moreover, this work was exceptionally edited, and I didn't find any errors at all. In light of this, I rate Son of Perdition: The Magic and Hubris of Simon Magus 4 out of 4 stars.

I recommend this book to everyone who wants to understand more about Simon's life, including theologians, enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys reading.