Understanding Gnosis

Gnosis is not only based on a doctrine or myth or feeling, but upon an experience, a true vision. It’s not just knowing or insight, but a mode of knowing. It works, at least, to produce a higher mode of knowing, and one higher than normal human cognition. Gnosis was perceived to be suprarational (above reason), and supraempirical (not using the normal five senses). Accordingly, gnosis granted access to a higher or spiritual level of reality. After defining gnosis versus Gnosticism, this book presents seven key features of ancient gnosis based on Nag Hammadi and related literature: the divine spark, deferring the demiurge, God as Human, the specter of syncretism, gnostic politics, gnostic morality, and the maintenance of secrecy. The conclusion sums up fourteen principles of ancient gnostic spirituality which can be applied today. Study questions are at the end of each chapter. Read more