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Forbidden Faith: The Gnostic Legacy from the Gospels to The Da Vinci Code
The success of books such as Elaine Pagels's Gnostic Gospels and Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code proves beyond a doubt that there is a tremendous thirst today for finding the hidden truths of Christianity - truths that may have been lost or buried by institutional religion over the last two millennia.
In Forbidden Faith, Richard Smoley narrates a popular history of one such truth...more
In Forbidden Faith, Richard Smoley narrates a popular history of one such truth...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
May 8th 2007
by HarperSanFrancisco
(first published April 1st 2006)
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This book fails to live up to its promise of tracing the Gnostic legacy from the Gospels to the Da Vinci Code. In spite of being the editor of the magazine Gnosis for many years, it is unclear if author Smoley understands what the main threads of Gnosticism are. His chapter "Who Were the Gnostics?" is muddy and fails to clearly define the main tenets of the Gnostic faith (there were many Gnostic groups who were not all in agreement).
The rambling history he traces is more one of esoteric hermeti...more
The rambling history he traces is more one of esoteric hermeti...more
Aug 17, 2009
Erik Graff
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
heresiological neophytes
Recommended to Erik by:
Dorothy Gregory
Shelves:
religion
This book is designed to be popular. If you've liked what you've read about "gnostic religion", are intrigued by claims of vast masonic conspiracies, read C.G. Jung or William Blake, or think either The Matrix or The DaVinci Code profound films, then there's a lure here to catch your attention and it will likely be found to deliver at least a foretaste of what you're really interested in. As an introduction to what has traditionally been associated with gnosticizing tendencies in religion, this...more
Mar 22, 2010
Denise
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Shelves:
religion,
donations-library
There were many different schools of thought in early Christianity. The New Testament, as most people know it, was "selected" by church leaders out of many gospels. The Gospel of Thomas was not included because it taught that divinity resides within each person instead of in the place known as "heaven". The church wanted to consolidate power in the hands of church leaders rather than allowing individuals to "find their own way" so such beliefs were condemned and its advocates persecuted. This bo...more
One of the most interesting Gnostic books I've read, very easy to read for the novice and has a lot of details for the starter to grasp and ponder and explore much, much further. Though this book meanders constantly with occultism and esoteric knowledge of other kinds, like Manichaeism, it is sort of like a wide coverage of many important hermetic and secret knowledge and overall, for anyone interested, a good book to check out at least.
Thuis is one of the best books I have read on the subject. And it provided plenty of reference links for my future reading. Very comprehensive without being overburdening. A good book to consider if you are searching out the alternatives to conventional religion, but not so disenchanted to write-off all ancient ideas as simply arcaic and antiquated.
Smoley begins the book by examining various disperate schools of Gnostic thought from antiquity. Smoley then moves to a brief overview of Western Civilization, highlight various groups and movements, that while not fully Gnostic, maintained or professed ideas consistent with Gnosticism
This was a good, easily accessible overview of gnosticism and what is often referred to as gnosticism today. If you are looking for an in depth analysis, you will be slightly disappointed, but for those beginning their research, this is an excellent place to begin.
This is a great introduction to Gnosticism and its influence in thought down through the ages!
Jul 06, 2008
Simon B
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Christians
Recommended to Simon by:
no-one
Shelves:
x
A quick look into the history of the world that surrounds the monotheistic religions that are organized and not organized
This book assumes the reader has a greater knowledge of Catholic Church history than I do. But I really enjoyed it.
awful title and cover. actual content ranging from extremely competent to enlightening.
Apr 04, 2013
Tim Gochenour
marked it as to-read
Nov 17, 2012
Danny Klopovic
added it
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