Gnosticism by David Brakke
This concise overview explains the diverse religious movements lumped together as Gnosticism, surveying their primary texts and ideas (from Nag Hammadi and other sources), key themes such as mythic cosmologies, sharp dualisms, a deficient creator or demiurge, and salvation by esoteric knowledge (gnosis), and situates those beliefs in the social and historical context of the Roman Empire; it also traces how ancient heresiologists constructed the category “Gnostic,” outlines modern scholarly debates over whether Gnosticism is a coherent phenomenon or a convenient label for many distinct groups, and emphasizes careful use of sources to understand the variety of practices, rituals, and theological influences behind the label.
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- Nationality
- American
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- Pages
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- Original Language
- English
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