Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions and Literature

by Birger A. Pearson

Even as public interest is attracted to this esoteric religion, Escholars have debated its origins, its relationship to Judaismand Christianity, and even whether one distinctive and separateGnostic "religion" ever existed. Birger Pearson's expert andaccessible introduction brings the reader into the debate.Directly addressing the nettling questions of origins anddefinition, Pearson situates the advent of Gnosticism within theGreco-Roman religious world and critically appraises the sources.With illustrations, maps, timeline, and bibliography, Pearson'svolume facilitates the pursuit of gnosis, at least historically, bygeneral readers, students and scholars alike.

Genres: Gnosticism, Religion, History, Philosophy, Spirituality, Theology, Christianity

378 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2007

About the author

Birger A. Pearson was an American scholar and professor studying early Christianity and Gnosticism. He held the positions of Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Professor and Interim Director of the Religious Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley.

Reviews

[Art Killings · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Guide to the Ancient Gnostic Religion
This is without a doubt the best introduction to ancient Gnosticism in all of it's variety. Dr. Birger A. Pearson is well suited to write an introduction to ancient Gnosticism. The first two chapters are on what is ancient Gnosticism and the early Gnostic teachers know to us mainly from early Christian heresiological reports(such as Simon Magus, Menander, Saturninus of Antioch, Justin the Gnostic and the Ophites and Ophians). There's also meition of the so-called "Cainties", a sect that never actually existed as an historical Gnostic group. There's also meition of the Gospel of Judas in this chapter as well as the next chapter which is focused on Sethian or Classic Gnosticism. The next two chapters are focused on Sethian or Classical Gnosticism and Gnostic biblical interpretation(Pearson talks more about this stuff in Gnosticism, Judaism and Egyptiian Christianity)

The next two chapters focus on the two schools of ancient Gnostic Christianity such as Basilides of Alexandria and Basilidian Christian gnosticism and Valentinus and Valentinian Gnostic Christianity(which was an very influential branch of gnostic Christianity). Chapter 7 of the book focuses on ancient Gnostic groups that advocated systems of mythology thst posited three principles.

Chapter 8 of the book includes an large number of Gnostic writings preserved in Coptic translations(but were originally composed in Greek).

Chapter 9 is entirely focused on an related ancient religious system called Thomas Christianity(based in Edessa of Northern Mesopotamia). Eastern Syrian based Thomas Christianity originated in Edessa of Northern Mesopotamia. The apocryphal Acts of Thomas(and the Hymn of the Pearl that's contained within it), the Gospel of Thomas and the Book of Thomas the Contender are focused on here. I wish that Birger Pearson had mentioned that Christians on the Indian subcontinent and Christians in the Indian diaspora believe that the apostle Judas Thomas was the founder of the Indian church in his discussion of the apocryphal Acts of Thomas.

Chapter 10 is focused on the legendary figure of Hermes Trismegistus and Hermetism(another related ancient religious system just like Thomas Christianity) and the literature associated with the movement.

Chapters 11 and 12 are focued on Mani and Manichaeism(also an type of ancient Gnosticism) and the Mandaeans(another type of ancient Gnosticism). I especially love the chapter on Mani and the gnostic world religion that he founded. The chapter on the Mandaeans is informative too. This is the BEST introduction to ancient Gnosticism by an historian of religion. Birger A. Pearson is America's leading expert on ancient Gnosticism and is my favorite scholar of ancient Gnosticism.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book filled with summaries of firsthand sources from a serious and knowledgeable scholar. Although, I do wish he would have spent more time synthesizing broader outlines of Gnosticism and describing it in more abstract and general terms.