17 books
—
4 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Gnostics” as Want to Read:
The Gnostics
by
Gnostics have always sought to “know” rather than to accept dogma and doctrine, often to their peril. This inquiry into Gnosticism examines the character, history, and beliefs of a brave and vigorous spiritual quest that originated in the ancient Near East and continues into the present day.
Lawrence Durrell writes, “This is a strange and original essay, more a work of lite ...more
Lawrence Durrell writes, “This is a strange and original essay, more a work of lite ...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 128 pages
Published
January 1st 2001
by City Lights Publishers
(first published 1973)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
The Gnostics,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about The Gnostics
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of The Gnostics
Оченаш, уз плес и пиће, до бесвести
Студију Жака Лакаријера "Гностици" на српском језику објавило је Уметничко друштво "Градац", 2003. године, у преводу Милојка Кнежевића. На српском му је објављен и "Речник заљубљеника у Грчку", студија "Људи опијени Богом", о православном аскетизму, као и "Грчко лето", које је нека врста путописа.
Пре него што сам почела да читам, помислила сам: ух, биће то мукотрпно искуство, биће много (филозофских у најширем значењу речи) референци које нећу разумети. Књига ...more
Студију Жака Лакаријера "Гностици" на српском језику објавило је Уметничко друштво "Градац", 2003. године, у преводу Милојка Кнежевића. На српском му је објављен и "Речник заљубљеника у Грчку", студија "Људи опијени Богом", о православном аскетизму, као и "Грчко лето", које је нека врста путописа.
Пре него што сам почела да читам, помислила сам: ух, биће то мукотрпно искуство, биће много (филозофских у најширем значењу речи) референци које нећу разумети. Књига ...more
This is the second time I've read this book; the first time was about a decade ago. I considered it one of my favorite books back then and had recommended it to a number of friends. Reading it again, I do remember the beauty of the writer's thoughts. I was mesmerized by the topic: the a-history of the gnostics. I include this book in my list of books of reading for insomnia - a sort of collection of books which come to my mind when I think of that liminal space between dreaming and being barely
...more
One of the better books on Gnosticism that I have read. Jacques Lacarriere writes in a poetic way that helps evoke the overtly mystical quality of the great Gnostic age of Basilides and Valentinus. He is less squeamish about tackling the Gnostics often bizarre ritualistic practices (as they come down to us through their Christian opponents), and he makes a decent case in rescuing their complex ideology from being that as simply 'world hating'.
...more
This book is a lyrical meditation on ancient gnosticism as the 'betrayal' of the physical cosmos. It is beautifully written. Lacarriere has heavyweight fans like Lawrence Durrell and Marguerite Yourcenar.
Lacarriere nicely conveys the alienated horror the ancient Gnostics felt for the world around them. And he maintains that this is in some ways comparable to our contemporary alienation under capitalism. In this way, an ancient heresy and modern revolution are used to illuminate each other. And o ...more
Lacarriere nicely conveys the alienated horror the ancient Gnostics felt for the world around them. And he maintains that this is in some ways comparable to our contemporary alienation under capitalism. In this way, an ancient heresy and modern revolution are used to illuminate each other. And o ...more
Upped to 5 stars after a second reading.
The Gnostic attitude repudiates history and dogma: enlightenment is to be achieved from within. Moreover, resources on Gnosticism are scant, and many extant works were written through the hostile lens of the Church. How fitting then that this book attempts first and foremost to reconstruct and impart glimpses of the inner life of the Gnostics--historical survey is only a secondary concern. The first part is correspondingly a Gnostic meditation on 'The Work ...more
The Gnostic attitude repudiates history and dogma: enlightenment is to be achieved from within. Moreover, resources on Gnosticism are scant, and many extant works were written through the hostile lens of the Church. How fitting then that this book attempts first and foremost to reconstruct and impart glimpses of the inner life of the Gnostics--historical survey is only a secondary concern. The first part is correspondingly a Gnostic meditation on 'The Work ...more
A wonderful essay on the life and times of this religious movement that stirred the christian world for a few centuries. Easily read, lets you know the movement's main branches and protagonists and keeps you curious and interested in each page.
To be honest, I doubt this is an objective depiction of the gnostics. Some of them are presented something as poets of religious doctrines rather than religious leaders. Then you need to read something from the side that likes Gnostics, since they have muc ...more
To be honest, I doubt this is an objective depiction of the gnostics. Some of them are presented something as poets of religious doctrines rather than religious leaders. Then you need to read something from the side that likes Gnostics, since they have muc ...more
This is a beautiful essay on The Gnostics (leaders, groups, ideology, theology, etc.). It's a short tome, but the writing is beautiful and waxes poetic as it tries to embody the ideology through it's performance on the page. The essay isn't interested in being didactic or overly historical, and is written in a very personal manner which makes it very unique and more engaging. If I were to teach a class on gnosticism, this would definitely be on my required reading list.
...more
Nov 13, 2019
Aleksandar Sarkic
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
history,
religion,
philosophy,
occult,
mysticism,
gnosticism,
essay,
non-fiction,
spirituality
I have always been amazed by gnostics and their views on life and our existence, they were always enigma in the history of our civilization, maybe they spoke the truth and because of that they were crushed by establishment and it's main device, the church. Jacques Lacarriere essay is crucial one to understand more about who were they, what they believed and what they preached. This essay is more philosophical one than historical and Lacarriere transports you to III century Alexandria, one of the
...more
I very interesting overview of Gnostic thought from it's early Christian beginnings. This is not as much an historical look, but the approach of an essayist examining Gnostic thought and it's appeal to those who felt disenfranchised by the world around them.
...more
Such a wonderful piece. At some points I was wondering if this is a novel or a historical essay. The book was highly recommended by Henry Miller and Lawrence Durrell (I think Durrell gave it to Miller). A lot to be learned from Lacarriere.
fascinating on a historical level, still a dream of a read.
Fascinating attempt at understanding Gnosticism via tracing it back to basic phenomenological experiences.
Author takes early christian slander against gnostics as truth but considers the orgies as something positive instead, because he was big in May 68 spirit. The eating-babies-at-liturgy parts were omitted for convenience, though.
History has made every attempt to destory all records of the gnostic belief. History is written by the victors and Christianity stomped Gnosticism out millenia ago. This book examines the information available and tries to piece together a model we can understand. An impossible undertaking which was done reasonably well. Overall, it was ok.
Not so much a scholarly work, but a poetic meditation on the gnostics. I've sited this book in more than on paper.
...more
A candle once lit/read you cant blow out. Our pure darkness illuminated.
Unique look/interpretation of their history.
A magnificent, lyrical and thought provoking essay.
Read Grant Morrison's The Filth all the way through in one sitting then read Jacques Lacarriere's The Gnostics.
...more
...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Jacques Lacarrière
2 December 1925 – 17 September 2005 was a French writer, born in Limoges. He studied moral philosophy, classical literature, and Hindu philosophy and literature. Professionally, he was known as a prominent critic, journalist, and essayist.
A passionate admirer of ancient Greece and its mythology, Lacarrière wrote about it extensively. His essay L'été grec (Greek Summer) was an im ...more
2 December 1925 – 17 September 2005 was a French writer, born in Limoges. He studied moral philosophy, classical literature, and Hindu philosophy and literature. Professionally, he was known as a prominent critic, journalist, and essayist.
A passionate admirer of ancient Greece and its mythology, Lacarrière wrote about it extensively. His essay L'été grec (Greek Summer) was an im ...more
Related Articles
Speaking with Adam Grant feels like having your brain sandblasted, in a pleasant sort of way.
As an author, professor, and psychologist,...
32 likes · 0 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
