The tradition of Gnosticism developed parallel with Christianity, but has been systematically suppressed and condemned as heresy by the mainstream Judeo-Christian hierarchy.

In recent times, much has been made of the origins, history and beliefs of gnostics, including the Cathars and the relationship between secret societies, alchemy and much other besides.

In this well-paced book we have a complete survey of the history and current activities of the Gnostic church by one of the foremost Gnostic bishops and Director of the Gnostic Society in Los Angeles.

The book is, of course, a sympathetic treatment of a subject that many find mysterious, occult and slightly scary.

It is arranged in sections that reflect the basic tenets of the Gnostic point-of-view. The core beliefs have origins far older than mainstream Christianity and it almost seems that Gnosticism found in the emerging Christian church a useful but not entirely compatible dogma. This is where the notions of heresy and the subsequent persecutions started.

Dr Hoeller sets out the history and core beliefs proceeding from the Gnostic worldview through the creation, notions of Sophia, Christ, the view of evil and the initiatory sacraments.
Each section is carefully justified and the philosophical and scriptural underpinnings are set out clearly. Sophia as a manifestation of the universal feminine is a very familiar concept for many of us.

In almost every culture the feminine archetype emerges. It may be as Athena, Sarasvati, Minerva, Brigid, or many of the other feminine expressions of wisdom. Nevertheless Sophia is a complex Gnostic subject and needs careful attention. The Gnostic Christ is equally complex, and the chapter discusses Christ as Gnostic teacher and liberator from this dense world of the Demiurge – evil.

In Gnosticism many of Jesus’ sayings were recorded in non-canonical gospels and writings. In this section we have quotes from those more elusive gospels (many of which can be obtained from the New Dawn Book Service), and they have the ring of authority. This Jesus the Christ has less to do with the historical Jesus and more with the eternal saviour.

A large section, and justifiably so, is that of the Gnostic view of evil. It can run quite contrary to what is taught by mainstream Christianity. The big question is where did evil come from? The general Christian view of a loving God may not make sense when you ask “why do terrible things happen?” Dr Hoeller discusses the huge issue logically and with a lively spirit.

Gnostic belief points to a dualism where this world is a creation of the Demiurge and inherently evil. Our task is to make our way out of this place, be ‘in the world, but not of it’, perfect our beings and reunite with the divine. I paraphrase too simply and I do apologise to Dr Hoeller.

The concepts around these beliefs are shared by many other religions. For instance, the Buddhist view of the world of suffering and Wheel of Life expresses just such a stance. The whole nature of Gnosticism denies that we are simply physical beings that evolved on Earth with everything else and will pass into dust again. There are far more spiritual dimensions to life. Ultimately, these are more important.

Gnosticism has many rituals and sacraments that enable the soul to gradually liberate itself. Dr Hoeller explains these as tools for the reunion of the soul with the divine. As long as the deep symbolic significance of the various rituals, talismans, signs and sacraments are accepted, they are not evil in any way. Unfamiliar, yes. Esoteric, yes. Easy to understand? Perhaps not to the casual observer.

In the second half of the book, a thorough history of the roots of Gnosticism is traced. This is from the earliest times in Samaria, to the Alexandria of Christian beginnings.
Dr Hoeller examines the lives and activities of some of the earliest Gnostic teachers and charismatic visionaries, prophets and leaders.

For those readers new to the concept of Gnosis, some of these identities will surprise you. Gnostic groups such as Mandaeans, Manichaeans and Cathars are discussed in detail. They were all persecuted groups and Dr Hoeller explains why.

My own thought is that these religions were very liberating on an individual level and therefore the ‘state’ – such as it was – had less control over the members. This was especially true of Catharism. The subtle and not-so-subtle differences between the groups are examined in detail.

The recent Gnostic revivals are also surveyed, from the Reformation times up until the present. Individuals and groups that tend to a personal salvation or spiritual evolution are included here. Personal responsibility for spiritual development had all but disappeared from Catholicism and Orthodoxy and in fact was brutally persecuted until – in my opinion – Vatican 11 council.

Also noted by the author is the not insignificant influence of Gnosis on Islamic thought in the Sufi and Ismaili sects. From the late 18th century onwards we are shown that the Western esoteric tradition is often firmly tied to Gnostic thought and beliefs, including alchemy, ritual magic, Rosicrucianism and Theosophy.

The dawning of psychology gives us C. G. Jung as a modern Gnostic thinker along with mythologist Joseph Campbell and religious historian/philosopher Mircea Eliade.

Dr Hoeller shows that the strongest revival of a true Gnostic church really arose in France from the very soil of the worst persecutions of Gnostics. This is a fascinating section. It traces the intellectual and spiritual revival with all the implications for the present day world of politics and mainstream churches, as they battle their way through the serious questioning of their dogma and theology. It would appear that Gnosis or Gnosticism is still much feared by Christian theologians.

As Dr Hoeller states, it is quite hard to define Gnosticism. There is the Gnostic church, alive and well all over the world with its own set of beliefs, rituals, sacraments and scriptures. There is also the harder-to-define Gnosis, the state of apprehension of the divine. This can occur through art, ritual, meditation, spiritual exercises, or any number of circumstances. Both the church and the search for Gnosis are ancient beyond memory, yet the pulling toward the divine is just as strong today.

Dr Hoeller’s book is accessible and readable. His sections are logical and full of scholarly information that is well supported by a fine reading list at rear.
This book will reward any student approaching Gnosticism for the first time, or those seeking a masterly overview.

– Reviewed by Jennifer Hoskins in New Dawn No. 96