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I just finished Beyond Belief by Elaine Pagels, and now I am working on The Gnostic Gospels. Is there a book list available that I can work my way through?
Background: I am a gay male, recovering fundamentalist trying to divest myself of the psycho-religious abuse that happened to me growing up in the Evangelical Free Church (Turlock, CA). I was looking at pictures of myself as a child today and I realized that all of those years being force fed Christianity basically was killing my soul. (I used to be such a happy child...sigh) Now - through therapy and my I-Group with the mankind project, I am coming out of the darkness. But it's not easy. I don't know if I am ready to give up Jesus as (pardon the Christian-ese) Savior, but I do want to explore the additional gospels and open up my mind to truth that may have been hidden from me. Thanks, Drucifer
Background: I am a gay male, recovering fundamentalist trying to divest myself of the psycho-religious abuse that happened to me growing up in the Evangelical Free Church (Turlock, CA). I was looking at pictures of myself as a child today and I realized that all of those years being force fed Christianity basically was killing my soul. (I used to be such a happy child...sigh) Now - through therapy and my I-Group with the mankind project, I am coming out of the darkness. But it's not easy. I don't know if I am ready to give up Jesus as (pardon the Christian-ese) Savior, but I do want to explore the additional gospels and open up my mind to truth that may have been hidden from me. Thanks, Drucifer
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Re: Book List?
Sat, June 17, 2006 - 10:55 AMHi Drew,
I applaud your courage and all the other virtues that have led you to seek truer knowledge of Christ as the Light and Life in you.
Here are some reading suggestions:
Gnosticism, by Stephan Hoeller - Perhaps the best introduction to Gnosticism as a living tradition, not just an historical phenomenon.
The Gnostic Paul, by Elaine Pagels - This book will help rescue much of the Apostle Paul's wisdom from the bastardization received at the hands of fundamentalists. All Pagel's books are good.
Inner Christianity, by Richard Smoley - I think this is the very best overview of mystical, gnositc and esoteric streams of Christianity.
The New Man, by Maurice Nicoll - A wonderful guide to intepreting New Testament language as metaphorical keys to psychospiritual transformation.
Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ, by Tau Malachi - The best book anywhere for actually working with Gnostic Christian Qabalah. His other books should also be on the list.
The Second Coming of Reb YHShWH, by Carlo Suares - A radical Jewish Kabbalist's view on the life and words of Jesus as a fully enlighted/self-realized being worthy of the titles Son of God and Son of Man.
Peace.
Griffin -
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Re: Book List?
Sat, June 17, 2006 - 3:19 PMHi Drew, recovering is hard, I was kicked out of a fundementalist Christian group and had to deal with the guilt for awhile before I worked through it. One thing to remember is just because you don't believe their party line doesn't mean you have to throw away Jesus. As a teacher and role model he was a wonderful one, once you recover his real teachings out of the pile of dogma that they have been buried under.
Some books that I have enjoyed are:
Jesus and the Lost Goddess, The Laughing Jesus and The Jesus Mysteries all by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy
The Original Jesus by Holger Kersten which examines the connections between Christianity and Buddhism
Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls by Barbara Thiering examination of the connection between Jesus and the Essene community
The Secret Gospel by Morton Smith great look at the Gospel of Mark and what was added to it.
I find that the more I open my eyes to the possibilities outside of mainstream christianity the more I 'get' out of the teachings and life of Jesus.
Good luck Drew and know that you are not alone.
Dian
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Re: Book List?
Sat, June 17, 2006 - 4:04 PMBentley Layton's Gnostic Scriptures, or Barnestone/Meyer's Gnostic Bible, has many of the Nag Hammadi texts plus others, with excellent commentaries.
Gospel of Truth and Trimorphic Protennoia are found in both books in good translations, and are online here in less ideal but workable translations:
www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhlalpha.html
