Looking for a good book on Gnostic traditions, beliefs, history etc. Could anyone please advice...?
475382
There is a book called The Gnostic Bible, edited by Willis Barnstone and Marvin Meyer.  Also look at books by Elaine Pagels, she had done a lot of research on Gnosticism, and her books are VERY readable.  Her book Beyond Belief would be a good place to start.\n\nIf you wouldn't mind, take a minute to answer my question on Gnosticism here:\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsRYRzyKVbpNmHhm3Caj3qvsy6IX?qid=1006041910948
983050
Hello there. Funny you mention this because, as a boy, the first truly inspiring text I read was the Tao Te Ching. I still find myself reading it, at least in part, once a week. This text is so simple yet profound it put me on a path to seek out even more esoteric knowledge. I have also studied the writings of Confucius, the Vedic texts  of India, Buddhism,  Zen, Shinto, Suffic Islam, etc. All in all, the Tao really opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of things. I can read about Quantum Mechanics and sub-atomic physics and find the spiritual parallels within the science. I wish more westerners could be exposed to this. My email is viewable in profile.
307607
There are four "accepted" Gospells, that you will find in the King James Version of the New Testement.  If you want to get into the Gnosstic Gospells ~ there are as many as 30 KNOWN Gospells, to include the Gospell of Mary, The Gospell of Thomas, and now the much publisied Gospel of Judas. \n\nHowever, if you really want to tie things up, I would recommend a book entitled "The Arm of Hiram" \n\n*WARNING*  Should you read the "Arm of Hiram" ~ you're NOT going to like what you're going to read.  In it, it ties the Shroud of Turin, the Knights Templar, The Freemasons, the Gnosstic Gospels, the story of Christ up in one neat little package.  \n\nThe Roman Cahtolic Bible, the Orthodox Bibles, and the King James version of the Bible was meant for the un-educatd, illiterate masses.  The Gnosstic Gospels were meant for the more initated, educated, and informed ~ that is to say the more enlightened people ~ thus the Illuminati.  Be careful of where you thread with this ~ The more your dig ~ the deeper you get.  And, it is deep.  Pity that the Libary of Alexander was destroyed by the Romans ~ which if you study Roman strategty ~ goes against everything that they did when the conquered a city.  The first thing they did ~ was NOT to burn a city's library ~ but to seize it and make it safe ~ so why did they burn the library of Alexander?  \n\nEverything in the Bible is indeed true ~ however its like reading the Cliff Notes version or at best the Reader's Digest condensed version.  Its as I said intended for the un-educated, the illietrate, the common man, the masses.  \n\nWhen you see the most base of televanglist on television ~ this is the most base of people appealing to the simplest of people ~ which is why Jessie Ventura ~ the former Governor and Navy Seal was quoated as saying "Christian's are simple-minded people"\n\nTo give you but a taste ~ we're not earthly beings having a spiritual expiernce ~ we're spiritual beings having an earthly experience.  Who we are ~  what we are ~ is not of this Earth.  We are all children of God, and therefore gods ~ which is why Christ spoke of having but the faith of a mustard seed ~  and you can move mountains.  (The Book of Seth)  We come to this world~ to learn, to grow, to experience ~ but the experiment has gone awire ~ and we have forgotten who and of what we are.  What we truly are. \n\nIt can be proven mathematically ~ that an person who is of an eighth dimesion can walk through solid walls, solid objects.  This isn't speculation, nor falacy. Its pure math. Which is the absolute language of the universe.  An eigth dimesional person (Discory Magazine ~ I forget the year and edition) can walk through solid object in a three dimesional world.  \n\nThere is also the "Physics of Immortainlity"  another book I've read. Probally out of print.  A physicist, with a PhD in Nuclear Physics, who was trying to complete Einstien's "Unified Field" theory and who started out as an atheist ~ became a Christian based upon pure mathematics and physics.  \n\nYOU THREAD WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO GO!
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Heck, Scientology is just what you are looking for.  That faith is all about ghosts OF aliens.  Jackpot!!!\n\nhttp://www.scientology.org/\n\nDisclaimer:  The author of this post in no way endorses the beliefs of the "Church of Scientology"
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_theism
987504
I read it and found it very good.  I have been studying the Gnostic scriptures for quite a while now.
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I find those books to be very helpful when you don't want a complete in depth book to read but you just want to know enough information to get you through - \n\nThere are also "The Complete Idiots guide to ____" books and "The Everything _____ Books"\n\n"The Everything World Religions Book" is a great one. If you want to talk to a buddhist, pagan, mormon, wiccan or jehova's witness without sounding like a complete jerk, this book will help you.
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The Koran is an excellent guide, as are some Hindu texts, American Indian legends, and many others, and upon those things which all agree is most likely the most firm truth.\n\nI personally only credit the gospel of Thomas as being at least on par with the other four gospels, the rest of the gnostic texts seems to be inconplete, or contrary to wisdom.\n\nOnce again I agree with "lit the light up" (first answerer), whom I respect in my heart, except I believe Christ has already come again, and much of the truth has been firmly laid out. God's truth can never been entirely related in books, hence I say much of the truth, not all.\n\nSee sources for more.
1003551
There is a good collection of Pagan symbols on Google Images. Lots of good historic books in the library, look at American Folk Magic. I hope your class work is positive, young people should be introduced to the old religions and rituals.
1173008
My friend, anyone considering ANY form of Christianity or worship of ANY Christ should do so only after reading the eye opening text The Hiram Key by Robert Lomas and Christopher Knight.  Their research into Masonic ritual has led them to uncover truths long kept secret by the Church for more than two thousand years.  The book is both frightening, and at the same time seems to be authentic.  It discusses the Illuminati (and NOT the Dan Brown Illuminati everyone seems to be so familiar with), Freemasonry, and their links to early Christianity; the origian teachings of Jesus Christ, before the Church decided what should be written.  The book is powerful, and revealing.  I reccomend it to anyone with an open mind who is seeking a high truth than whta is given to us by those who know nothing!\n\nAve,\nShawn
1110902
Yes, but be careful.  There were many, MANY branches of belief (the very philosophies of gnosticism made that a foregone conclussion) and it is deeper and richer than some of the stuff you'll see on line.\n\nMay I suggest a source to you?
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I don't know any group that reads more than Pagans! \n\nThere's a book called Wise Woman... er something about the Child Bearing Year, by Susun Weed that she might like.\nOr Circle Round by Starhawk (I am not a personal fan of this because it doesn't relate to my tradition in the slightest, but alot of people I know rave about it)\nA subscription to Blessed Bee Magazine might be nice. That's a Pagan parenting magazine.\n\nPregnancy is a very special time in a Pagan woman's life as she gets to serve as a vessel of creation, the image of the Goddess incarnate, a living celebration of Her gift to women of the power of creation. Anything that will help her commemorate or celebrate this time will be wonderful as well as anything to pamper her to honor the Goddess in herself, especially in a natural, organic or aromatherapeutic way.\nMotherlove gift basket here might be appreciated http://store.kidbean.com/2000013.html\n\nMeditation or nature sound CDs are nice for the labor room too. If she's into it. Not all Pagans are that far out. Stay away from the Goth and Hot Topic stuff too, though someone suggested it, contrary to popular belief, the majority of Pagans are, in fact, not into the Goth scene. Granted, quite a few are, but if you assume she is, she'll probably just be offended. Wouldn't you be offended if someone bought you a Pilgrim outfit cause they heard you were Christian?\n\nIf you want to go for candles, or candle holders, as so many other folks are suggesting (and it's true we can never have too many) some symbolic shapes relating to pregnancy, fertility and having a healthy baby are the cauldron, a Goddess image with a pregnant belly, of course, anything involving the union of male and female, wells, fruiting trees, any sort of fruit, rabbits, eggs, birds. Mother and child images are also very nice and you can find lots of them. I personally get weepy over these.\n\nYour first poster is ignorant. Most Pagans already own Bibles and have read them cover to cover multiple times.
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i suggest getting the book called "Lucifer rising" it is all about mainly Satanism and how it had the effect ont he beginning of "Black Metal". very good book. has interviews with some black metal bands in it as well. Also has infoa nd articles on Anton Lavey, Aleister Crowley..etc..
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Look for Books by Elaine Pagels.  Particularly the following two:\n\nThe Gnostic Gospels: A Startling Account of the Meaning of Jesus and the Origin of Christianity Based on Gnostic Gospels and Other Secret Texts\n\nBeyond Belief : The Secret Gospel of Thomas\n\nThey are very well written, easy to understand, and very good starting points for the study of Gnosticism in my opinion.  She will also reference other books in her book that are good reads as well.
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I recommend that you look into the folklore literature which will demonstrate how similar the bible and its themes are to other mythologies. Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung are excellent authors to start with. Christians basically believe what every other faith believes. Their way is the only TRUE path to God. In my opinion (as a Christian) that's incredibly narrow-minded. If you've read the Chronicles of Narnia (and if you haven't you should) the last chapter of book 7 "The last Battle" has a scene where Aslan (Christ) allows a young man who was a follower of Tash (another god/demon) into the real Narnia (Heaven) because his actions were congruent with the Aslan's teachings even though the young man didn't realize it. Basically I believe that those who are following Christ's spirit or philosophy even if they're not doing so in name have as much if not more truth than most christians.
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That is a hard question I have over two hundred books in my personal library and have read at least double that. What exactly are you looking for? An overview or something more in depth on a particular subject.\n\nEmail me and I can steer you in the right direction.
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Discipleship 101\na beginner's guide to Christianity\nhttp://www.wcg.org/lit/disc/01God.htm\n\nLOTS of FREE online books\nhttp://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/trinity.html\n\n\nFREE online Bible for download\nhttp://www.e-sword.net/\n\nNASB download\nhttp://lockman.gospelcom.net/download/index.php\n\n\nAbout your New World Translation but it into the trash it is a JW bible and is full of errors\n\nThe New World Translation (1950) \nA Corrupt sectarian Paraphrase!\nhttp://www.bible.ca/Jw-NWT.htm