The Beliefnet Guide to Gnosticism and Other Vanished Christianities (Beliefnet Guides)

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.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. Front Cover......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 6 Preface......Page 10 Introduction: Not One Religion But Many......Page 18 The Invention of Orthodoxy......Page 22 The "Big Bang" Theory of Christian Origins......Page 25 Timeline: A Chronology of Early Christian History and Literature......Page 28 Jesus and Diversity......Page 32 Multicultural Paul......Page 36 Buried Treasure......Page 40 What Is a Gnostic?......Page 43 What Did the Christian Gnostics Believe?......Page 46 Hidden Knowledge-The Key That Unlocks the Spirit......Page 48 The Myth of Sophia......Page 51 Gnostic Anthropology......Page 54 Gnostic Systems of Salvation......Page 59 Gnostic Biblical Interpretation......Page 60 Demons and Angels......Page 61 Prayer and Mystical Language......Page 62 The Succession of Teachers......Page 63 Who Were the Sethians?......Page 66 What Did the Sethians Believe?......Page 68 Who Were the Valentinian Gnostics?......Page 75 What Did the Valentinians Believe?......Page 80 Who Were the Carpocratians?......Page 85 What Did the Carpocratians Believe?......Page 86 4. A Non-Gnostic Challenge to Orthodoxy......Page 93 Who Were the Marcionites?......Page 94 The Marcionite Scriptures......Page 95 Marcionite Theology......Page 98 5. The Other Gospels......Page 101 The Gospel of Mary......Page 104 The Gospel of Thomas......Page 107 The Gospel of the Savior......Page 109 6. Feeling the Burn: Ascetic Christianity and the Quest for Bodily Purity......Page 111 Who Were the "Continents" (aka Encratites)?......Page 113 A Different Kind of Romance Novel......Page 114 What Was Solitary Monasticism?......Page 119 Who Were the Boskoi?......Page 124 Who Were the Stylites?......Page 125 Who Were the "Fools for Christ"?......Page 126 Who Were the Vagrant Monks?......Page 127 7. Holy Rollers and Sacred Terrorists......Page 129 Who Were the Montanists?......Page 130 What Did the Montanists Believe?......Page 133 Who Were the Donatists and the Circumcellions?......Page 136 8. Challenges to Christianity from the Roman World......Page 144 Who Were the Manicheans?......Page 146 What Did the Manicheans Believe?......Page 148 Who Were the Hermeticists?......Page 152 The Legacy of the Hermeticists......Page 157 What Is Neoplatonism?......Page 158 What Did the Neoplatonists Believe?......Page 162 The Legacy of Neoplatonism......Page 165 APPENDIX 1 - Clement's letter to Theodore......Page 168 APPENDIX 2 - The Biblical Canon......Page 172 Glossary......Page 178 Suggestions for Further Reading......Page 184 About the Author......Page 192 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 Browns blockbuster The Da Vinci Code to Elaine Pagelss critically acclaimed Beyond 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 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. " ... examines the alternative Christian ideas propagated by the Gnostics, Sethians, Valentinians, Marcionites, Encratites, and Montanists ... Special attention is given to sects that presented the greatest challenges to the developing orthodoxy: the Hermeticists, the Manicheans, and the Neoplatonists." Also includes material on "the secret Gospel of Mark and the Gospels of Mary and Thomas, plus the newly discovered Gospel of the Savior." An accessible overview of the history of the early Christian church provides a close-up look at various movements and sects within early Christianity, discussing the Gnostics, Sethians, Valentinians, Marcionites, Encratites, and Montanists, Hermeticists, Manicheans, and others, as well their theological origins, religious traditions, heresies, and influence on the church. Original. 17,500 first printing. Richard Valantasis ; Preface By Marcus Borg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [153]-159).