The Gnostic Religion [Paperback]

Hans Jonas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2001

The Message of the Alien God and the Beginnings of Christianity

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press; 3rd edition (January 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807058017
• ISBN-13: 978-0807058015
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #252,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still a Classic, March 30, 2005

By 

Bu-Chan (Aotearoa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gnostic Religion (Paperback)

I have heard from others that Jonas' book is less difficult to follow than Rudolph's book "Gnosis". I would agree with this assessment, in some ways. I found Jonas' book to be well organised and less "wordy" than that which Rudolph wrote.

While Jonas does not cover as wide a range of types of Gnosticism, he does enter into greater detail. He uses Valentinian and Manichaean Gnosticism as examples of different streams of Gnostic thought. The detail into which he goes with the different elements of these schools is excellent, and is quite easily understood. He also covers the imagery and symbolism of Gnostic religion, as well as some on Marcion, Simon Magus and other topics.

One drawback is the book's age, and it is a little dated. Here, Rudolph's book offers a more recent analysis with more of the Nag Hammadi Codices easily available than in Jonas' time. Despite this, Jonas still presents an excellent overview, and his book is rightly considered a classic in the field.

Overall, the book is worth the money and worth the effort to read. It provides a sound basis and introduction to Gnosticism that is not too loaded with incomprehensible words and rubbish.

If you know little to nothing about Gnosticism, start with Hans Jonas.

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "A Classic Treatment of the Gnostic Religion", April 10, 2002

By 

Johannes Platonicus (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Gnostic Religion (Paperback)

As an introduction to this insightful work, Hans Jonas opens with one of the most illuminating overviews of the condition of the Greco-Roman and the Orient from times of Alexander the Great to the early centuries of the Christian Era. Then, moving into the Gnostic texts, Jonas discusses the meaning of "gnosis", as the ancient man understood it, along with other terms pervasive throughout Gnostic literature. At last, in part one, Jonas describes the extent of the Gnostic movement, and ultimately sets the stage for his in-depth analysis of the various schools and Gnostic systems of thought in part two, namely those of Simon Magus, Marcion, Valentinian, Hermes Trismegistus, and the infamous Manes. In part three, Jonas deals with the Gnostic cosmology and morality, with some of the new discoveries in the field, and finally, in the epilogue, he closes with a dissertation on Gnosticism, Existentialism, and Nihilism. Hans Jonas' work, overall is an excellent, comprehensive study of the multifaceted belief systems of the Mediterranean World. While his treatment may exhaust even the most concentrated of readers, it nevertheless will furnish such a wealth of knowledge that it will act as a superb reference tool and will be a valuable source for religious, cultural, or philosophical studies.

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best in gnosticism, January 12, 2000

By 

O. B. Makhubela (South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gnostic Religion (Paperback)

As a Gnostic, it was a delight to read this book. Everything I knew and did not know, I found in detail in this book by Jonas.

You will find the background on the history of Gnosticism in Alexandria; history on its development; the various contributors (e.g. Babylon, Syria, Greek), the various "systems of thought" (eg Valentinian) and their proponents; and a bit of philosophy on Metaphysics.

The excerpts and quotations from ancient Gnostic sources like the Mandaeans tracts and Manichaean books are very helpful and exciting. It is well structured and very easy to follow!

A disadvantage is that it tends to overlook the influence of ancient Egyptian mythology of the after-death (regarding the journey of the soul after death), which influeced Gnosticism profoundly! Also it does not mention the Cathars and Catharism. But this should detract nothing from the book, it is a classic and a masterpiece on Gnosticism!