About this title: 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. Many people now are delving into the byways of this tradition of inner Christianity, hoping to find an alternative to stale dogmas and blind beliefs. Among the most compelling of these lost traditions is Gnosticism. "Forbidden Faith" explores the legacy of the ancient esoteric religion of ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: First Edition; First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harpersanfrancisco, San Francisco
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: Fine in Fine dust jacket. 9780060783396. 0.8 x 9.1 x 6.1 Inches; 256 pages. read more
Description: Good. Publishers Overstock. A Good copy with a Remainder Mark and wear to the extremities. There is a small tear on the dust jacket and chipping to the edges. read more
Edition: First EDITION
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins, Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: Very Good in Very Good jacket. RELIGION. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. PALE YELLOW JACKET. 244 PAGES. OVERSTOCK MARK, ELSE BOOK IS CLEAN, BRIGHT AND SECURE. read more
Description: Very good. Very Good. Copyright 2006 hardcover//Unmarked pages, uncreased spine, mild wear, and a vertical fold mark on the rear flap of dust jacket. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: Fine in Fine jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. ix, 244 pp. As issued. Remainder stripe on bottom text block edge. History of Gnosticism and its many incarnations over the ensuing 2, 000 years: Hermeticism, Kabbalah, alchemy, Manichaeism, Catharism, Theosophy, Jung, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, the Da Vinci Code, etc. read more
Description: Brand New. Hardcover. Why should Gnosticism exercise such a peculiar and lasting fascination? Throughout most of Christian "history, " Gnosticism was condemned by the official "Church, " which might actually have endowed the movement with glamor. But for the Gnostics to have such lasting "appeal, " they must have offered solutions to some problems overlooked by mainstream religion. Smoley provides the enduring story and continuing legacy of these errant faithful who have had direct experiences ... read more
Binding: book Hardcover
Publisher: Harper San Francisco
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: Brand New. Brand new. Never read or owned. May have a remainder mark. 244 pages. 9.00 x 6.30 x 1.00 in. 16.8 oz. A popular history of the lost traditions of Gnosticism reveals some of the long-lost secrets of Christianity as it discusses the tenets and principles of a movement that flourished during early Christianity until it was declared heretical by the Church, and its long-lasting influence and legacy for world religion and modern-day popular culture. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco 2006
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: ISBN 0060783397. Hardback. First Printing. Very Good to Near Fine condition book in a Very Good to Near Fine condition dustjacket. Tight, bright, attractive copy with no markings except for black remainder slash on bottom edge of book near spine. $24.95 original price is present and unclipped on front flap of dustjacket. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco 2006
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: ISBN 0060783397. Hardback. First Printing. Very Good to Near Fine condition book in a Very Good to Near Fine condition dustjacket. Tight, bright, attractive copy with no markings to the book except for black remainder slash on bottom edge of book. $24.95 original price is present and unclipped on front flap of dustjacket. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco 2006
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: ISBN 0060783397. Hardback. First Printing. Very Good to Near Fine condition book in a Very Good to Near Fine condition dustjacket. Tight, bright, attractive copy with no markings to the book except for black remainder slash on bottom edge of book. $24.95 original price is present and unclipped on front flap of dustjacket. read more
Edition: First Edition; First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harpersanfrancisco
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: New in New dust jacket. 0060783397. New stated first edition, first printing hardcover and dust jacket in excellent condition. Protective mylar cover.; 0.91 x 9.28 x 6.34 Inches; 256 pages. read more
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper San Francisco, USA
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781845294670ISBN:184529467X
Description: New in New jacket. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. HB, pictorial card covers, 233pp index. This is a new, unmarked copy with light shelf wear to covers & a reaminder streak to lower edge. 550g when packed. read more
Description: Good. Shiny cover Good used book may contain highlighting and or some markings inside. Condition as would be found in your used bookstore. Ancillary items such as CDs not included unless noted. Satisfaction guranteed! read more
Description: Good. Dust Jacket present. GOOD with average wear to cover and pages. We offer a no-hassle guarantee on all our items. Orders generally ship by the next business day. Default Text. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harperone
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780060783396ISBN:0060783397
Description: Fine. No dust jacket. No dust jacket o/w Brand New. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 244 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
"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 hermeticism and occultism than Christian Gnosticism - and, while there may be Gnostic similarities in occultism, alchemy and other philosophies, Smoley fails to show how they carry on the Gnostic tradition. Repeating much studied history of the Templars and Masons may be interesting, but Smoley is unable to demonstrate that they were in any way Gnostic.
The fault really is not the research Smoley has done, but his inability to organize and structure the information into a cogent and coherent argument that proves his point. Smoley seems to think that presenting the facts is proof enough. It's not; he needs to link the threads together for us to show how all these different groups and philosophies are, in fact, Gnostic.
While mentioning the Cathars, Smoley leaves out many other medieval Christian groups who more easily fit the Gnostic mold than the esoteric groups he mentions: the Waldensians, the Brethren of the Free Spirit, the Friends of God, the Brethren of the Common Life, the Beghards and Beguines and others. He mentions Eckhart and Boehme, but mysticism alone does not make one Gnostic. And he also neglects to follow-up on the heirs to Boehme, the followers of George Fox who seek corporate Gnosis: the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers.
Smoley ends the book by trying to find Gnostic trends in contemporay literature and popular culture - this part of the book can be skipped as there is nothing to be learned in it. In passing, Smoley dismisses the popular work of Elaine Pagels as some sort of New Age feminism - while attempting to write a popular book himself! In the end, I would trust Pagels' scholarship over Smoley's rambling and vague musings."
"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 isn't all that bad although, with marketing in mind, it does pay more attention than it ought to very recent cultural phenomena, a disproportionate emphasis which will date it pretty quickly. While there are some errors of fact, all trivial, the overall approach is within the playing field of contemporary debate. While vastly oversimplified, the text and appended bibliography do point toward some worthy books for those wishing further information.
Most noteworthy in my opinion are the occasions in which the author presents what may amount to real insights into ancient gnostic texts and the worldview(s) they may represent. Like G.R.S. Mead a century ago, the author appropriates these traditions with constructive intent, without sacrificing caution to credulity."
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