The Gnostic Religion: The Message of the Alien God & the Beginnings of Christianity

Rating:
Summary: not so good
Review: Verbose, convoluted, difficult to follow. If you want to learn about the Gnostic Religion go to a more recent account. There are many out there. I picked the wrong one here.

Rating:
Summary: As a Matter of Fact, I Do Have Time
Review: With regard to the review below, I would agree that there are parts of this book that involve swinging the pickaxe. But what's wrong with that? It's a fun activity, and actually causes one to learn things--imagine that! The fact that the prose is densely packed (although never obscure) is part of this book's charm. And the pickaxe usually isn't necessary, due to the overall clarity of the writing. For example, the chapters on the Velentinian speculation and the "Hymn of the Pearl" are magnificently written, and do much to enhance one's understanding of the subjects. As far as the passage you quoted, I would submit that you made it appear much more difficult than it is by omitting the preceding reference to the concept of "theoria." In this very book, Jonas states that, "[t]o look at what is there, at nature as it is in itself, at Being, the ancients called by the name of contemplation, theoria." Theoria is the "there" to which your passage refers. With that in mind, one can see that Jonas is trying to make a point regarding epistemology. The classical notion of knowledge involved the subject's essentially passive observation of Being. Gnosis as viewed by gnostics was a different form of knowledge, one that involved the interaction between subject and object set out in the passage. Most authors merely state that Gnostics sought gnosis (knowledge) and leave it at that. That's what I like about this book. Jonas always takes it to the next level, and leaves you with a thorough understanding of the subject. Swing the pickaxe--it's worth it.