- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Three Leaves (Feb 21 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0385514557
- ISBN-13: 978-0385514552
- Product Dimensions: 14 x 1.5 x 20.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 91 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,654,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
It is said that history is written by the victors, and Christian history is no different. From its inception, followers of Jesus have tried to formulate a belief structure that they think best reflects their understandings of the person and mission of the Nazarene. This book, part of Beliefnet's series of short primers on religion, examines what the author calls the "conflictual diversity of early Christianity," focusing initially on three Gnostic sects considered schismatic by the keepers of orthodoxy. Valantasis, an Episcopal priest who is professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, then studies other interpretations and both inside and outside the church, including the influence of Neo-Platonism on the church's mystical self-understanding. Along the way we meet the Montanists, the Manichaeans and other familiar groups proclaimed heretical by the church. But Valantasis goes beyond the familiar, introducing us to an assortment of smaller, lesser-known groups such as the "Fools for Christ" and the "Stylites," all in a compact, entertaining style that is sure to please the casual reader. This book offers a concise but fact-filled approach to the study of early Christianity in its broad diversity. (Feb. 21)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
This authoritative, fully accessible guide to early Christian movements sheds light on the hidden histories and intriguing mysteries that fueled the extraordinary success of books ranging from Dan Brown’s blockbuster The Da Vinci Code to Elaine Pagels’s critically acclaimed Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas.
From its earliest days, Christianity has been marked by a rich diversity of beliefs and practices. Different interpretations of Jesus’ life and mission, as well as conflicting views about worship and rituals, gave rise to numerous sects in the first centuries C.E. Condemned as heretical by the official Church, these early movements were lost to history until the twentieth century, when the discovery of ancient documents opened a new perspective on the evolution of Christianity.
The Beliefnet® Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities is a fascinating look at the diverse strands of the early Christian church. It examines the alternative Christian ideas propagated by the Gnostics, Sethians, Valentinians, Marcionites, Encratites, and Montanists, illuminating the philosophical sources and religious traditions that fostered them. Special attention is given to sects that presented the greatest challenges to the developing orthodoxy: the Hermeticists, the Manicheans, and the Neoplatonists. There are also thought-provoking discussions about the secret Gospel of Mark and the Gospels of Mary and Thomas, and the newly discovered Gospel of the Savior.
From the premier source of information on religion and spirituality, the Beliefnet Guides introduce you to the major traditions, leaders, and issues of faith in the world today.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a perfect introduction, April 27 2007
By Jane Rivera "RobertRivera--lifelong learner" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Beliefnet Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities (Paperback)
This book simplifies a very complicated subject. I easily read it in one sitting, and I am a slow reader. This is an excellent introduction to gnosticism and early Christianities, and is a perfect example of what "introduction" means.
It does not go into great detail, but this is the perfect book if you have not read anything about gnosticism. It covers quite a wide range of early religious groups, so you can pick the ones you might be really interested in. There are more in depth books out there, which take longer to read, but this should be your first venture into Gnosticism.
there is a list of recommended readings that will point you in the right direction. I highly recommend "Lost Christianities" by Bart D. Erhman.
6 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay, but there are better books available, Mar 21 2006
By Peter J. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Beliefnet Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities (Paperback)
This is an okay book that has a lot of interesting information. However, there are better books available for those who want to know what real spirituality is all about. For example, "The Disappearance of the Universe" by Gary Renard really captures the spirit of The Gospel of Thomas, and gives an exciting vision of the early days of the Disciple's attempt to give the true message of Jesus before it was lost. I don't have anything against this Belienet Guide, but they could certainly do more to bring people the passion behind true spirituality, as opposed to what is usually (and tedpidly) passing for spirituality in today's marketplace.
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