I personally preferred Timothy Freke's other book the Jesus Mysteries. I felt that it explored the gnostic ideas very well, going back to the greek roots in the Dyonisian and other mystery schools. Jesus and the Lost Goddess sort of built on this earlier work a little bit and I think the two together are a nice body of work.

I got "The Laughing Jesus" for christmas and am reading it now. It is awesome and really makes a strong look at religion in it's fundementalist view and how that is bad for the world. I think it is just as strong as the other two books and I would recommend it strongly.

I agree with the assessment that after becoming involved in Gnosticism the debate on whether Jesus was or was not an historical person became a lot less important. The other thing I have noticed with myself, is that the more I explore the Gnostic Jesus, the more value I find in the Bible and other Christian writings. I have also read several of the books by Holger Kerstein (spelling?) which explore the buddhist influence on Jesus and his teachings. It's fascinating stuff and has really caused me mind to further illumination through reflection and meditation.

Fiat Lux,

Dian

What is meant by achieving gnosis and who is going to do it?

What knowledge is going to be useful to you?

How are you going to discern between truth and fantasy when you yourself are that fantasy?

There is a tendency in human beings to "rush the gold mines."

There is a calculation of worth and then an investment of energy. Then what?

Some get rich and fat, others die in collapsed tunnels.

Historical existence of Jesus is important.

First of all, what is history? What is continuity? What is time?

Max Planck discovered long ago that energy is emitted in discrete packets of information (quanta).

This means there is no 1, 1.2, 1.7, 2, etc., but only 1, 2, 3, 4. No in betweens. It is or it isn't. You do or you do not.

Is it possible for a person to 50% exist? Can I hand you 0.5 cents?

No, I can only hand you 1 penny, 1 nickel, 1 dime.

Can I step in the water 50% of the way?

No, either I am in the water or I am out of the water.

Can a baby in the womb exist 50%? When does the baby become a baby? When it is or when it isn't?

Obviously the answer is WHEN IT IS!

Our whole entire system of measurement turns out to be rather absurd and self-serving.

We represent discrete reality with symbols that suggest continuity -- lines, curves, fractions, decimals, etc.

Why? Because we want to continue!

We want to know, we want to predict, we want to be in control of our lives.

We want to have an answer to the question.

But how to arrive at the answer to the question when we ourselves are the question?

Do you want to die?

The coming of Jesus Christ is not an event in time.

It was a transformation of eternity.

The merits of Christ were poured out on the entire creation.

He voluntarily came into the world to accept the punishments of Divine Justice on behalf of those who could not withstand them.

And what did Jesus ask? That we do the same in return. As you have been given, so shall you give.

You don't become like the one who buries the coin in the dirt, but double and quadruple what is given to you.

Otherwise, even what has been given will be taken away.

If you want to become like Jesus then become like Jesus.

His head will become your head, and you can wear the mighty crown of thorns.

Then you can purchase souls and alleviate the Lord's burden with your own voluntary suffering.

How much Love is there in such an act? Tremendous!

You are loving the Lord. You are loving your neighbor.

That is the height of gnosis. There is nothing beyond that.

With everything else, you are just seeking an experience.

If you want an experience, you can give up spirituality entirely and still have plenty of those.

But if you want to know what Love is, you are going to have to suffer.

Just as the Lord suffers.