The Wisdom of the Knowing Ones: Gnosticism: The Key to Esoteric Christianity

by Manly P. Hall

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.

Genres: Gnosticism, Philosophy, Religion, Christianity, Esoterica, Nonfiction, Mysticism

170 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Canadian born, Manly Palmer Hall is the author of over 150 published works, the best known of which are Initiates of the Flame, The Story of Healing, The Divine Art,Aliens Magick and Sorcery The Secret Teachings of All Ages, and An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy.
He was also the author of a masonic curiosity, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923, more than thirty years before he joined a lodge. The preface of later editions states "At the time I wrote this slender volume, I had just passed my twenty-first birthday, and my only contact with Freemasonry was through a few books commonly available to the public." Later, in 1944, he wrote The Secret Destiny of America which popularized the myth of a masonic purpose for the founding of the USA. In 1950 he weighed in again on the meaning of Freemasonry with his booklet: Masonic Orders of Fraternity.
***
Initiated: June 28, 1954
Passed: September 20, 1954
Raised November 22, 1954
Jewel Lodge No. 374
Source: Grand Lodge of California records ; William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, vol. ii. Trenton, MO. : Missouri Lodge of Research / Educational Bureau, Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 1958. p. 165.

Reviews

[Kevin Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good introduction to what can be a very difficult subject. Gnosticism, due to it's liberality and syncretism, does not lend itself easily to dogmatic understanding. The basic tenets in Christian Gnosticism are explained in an almost breezy manner, where other authors such as Elaine Pagels, though illuminating, can tend to the scholarly and synthetic. Manly Hall's representation of the so called 'lost' Wisdom is comprehensive yet understandable.

To those unfamiliar with the subject....Christian Gnosticism consists loosely of the ideas that the god of the Old Testament was perhaps a tad bit too nasty, provincial and limited in power to be the One, True God. Consequently, Christ was incarnated in order to remind men of their truly Heavenly origin and eventual return, so that the veil of ignorance could be lifted and Salvation could be won by this Saving Knowledge. Though man's mortal body was crafted by an inferior Demiurge, he was an ensouled Being who had a Divine spark that once ignited, could burn inwardly and illuminate himself as well as others.

There is a short survey of Eastern Gnosis as found in the more Northern esoterically minded Buddhists, and a slight seque into the more conservative Eastern branches of Hinduism, Taoism and Confucianism.

At a time when Pagan philosophy had produced disciples whose ethics perhaps rendered them nicer than Yahweh, yet the sublime Truths of the Christos were undeniable in their Spiritual efficacy, Gnosticism became an original, experential combining of Greek mystery tradition and Christian Revelation.

Well worth the read, if one is so inclined to such a subject!

[Greg Sudmeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished it. Very effective in me reconnecting with my western roots. Definitely worth reading.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a history than actually going into any esoteric teachings

[Keefe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book about the history of Gnostic teaching...

[Dan Zarfati · Rating 5 out of 5]

May be a bit obsolete, but it is very advanced in time, and very well thought, out by someone who does understand a lot about esoterica and mysticism, it is actually an essential item, but still would not start the research on Gnosticism with this book, but would read after a good introductory work. It does examine the historical part in detail, though some positions are a bit obsolete in my understanding.

[Eugenia Montiel Aceti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well crafted, and researched.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imparts some wisdom and truths in short stories.