Gnosticism

Abstract: As discussed in The Da Vinci Code...Long buried and suppressed, the Gnostic Gospels contain the secret writings attributed to the followers of Jesus. In 1945 fifty-two papyrus texts, including gospels and other secret documents, were found concealed in an earthenware jar buried in the Egyptian desert. These so-called Gnostic writings were Coptic translations from the original Greek dating from the time of the New Testament. The material they embodied - poems, quasi-philosophical descriptions of the origins of the universe, myths, magic and instructions for mystic practice - were later declared heretical, as they offered a powerful alternative to the Orthodox Christian tradition. In a book that is as exciting as it is scholarly, Elaine Pagels examines these texts and the questions they pose and shows why Gnosticism was eventually stamped out by the increasingly organised and institutionalised Orthodox Church.

Abstract: Part I. The Background: 1. The setting in early Christianity 2. The higher religion of Hellenism: the Hermetic literature 3. Hellenistic Judaism: Philo of Alexandris 4. Rabbinic Judaism 5. Gnosticism 6. Mandaism Part II. Leading Ideas: 7. Symbolism 8. Eternal life 9. Knowledge of God 10. Truth 11. Faith 12. Union with God 13. Light, glory, judgment 14. Spirit 15. Messiah 16. Son of man 17. Son of God 18. Logos Part III. Argument and Structure: 19. The Proem: prologue and testimony 20. The book of signs 21. The book of the passion Appendix Index locorum Index nominum.

Abstract: Part 1 From Jerusalem to Rome: the Jewish background the earliest church the Gentile Church encounter with the Roman empire. Part 2 Faith and order: the bonds of unity gnosticism the ministry and the Bible forms of the ministry. Part 3 Expansion and growth: causes of success the geographical extension of the Church the defence of the faith. Part 4 Justin and Irenaeus: Justin Martyr Irenaeus. Part 5 Easter, the monarchian controversy, and tertullian: Easter the monarchian controversy tertullian. Part 6 Clement of Alexandria and Origen: Clement of Alexandria Origen. Part 7 Church, state and society in the 3rd century: the pagan revival and the persecution of Decius Cyprian the great persecution and its consequences. Part 8 Constantine and the council of Nicaea. Part 9 The Arian controversy after the council of Nicaea: from Nicaea to the death of Constantine the Church under the sons of Constantine from Julian to Theodosius I. Part 10 The conflict of paganism and Christianity in the 4th century. Part 11 Church, state and society from Julian to Theodosius. Part 12 The ascetic movement. Part 13 The controversy about Origen and the tragedy of John Chrysostom. Part 14 The problem of the person of Christ: Diodore, Theodore, and Apollinaris Cyril and Nestorius the "Monophysite" council of Ephesus and reaction at Chalcedon the search for reconciliation the doctrine of one will. Part 15 The development of Latin Christian thought: Jerome and the beginnings of maturity the conversion of Augustine the Donatist schism and the problem of coercion "The City of God" and the Pelagian controversy the holy trinity. Part 16 The papacy. Part 17 The Church and the Barbarians. Part 18 Worship and art: liturgy daily offices early Church music Christian art.