Customer Reviews

Love Does Not Condemn: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil According to Platonism, Christianity, Gnosticism, and 'A Course in Miracles'

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Although many books on A COURSE IN MIRACLES have now been published, this is the first volume to seriously address some of the theological issues raised by the Course teachings. It is a superb piece of scholarship. Specifically, this brilliant book relates the Course's thought system to that which underlies many of the Gnostic movements of the early centuries of Christendom, along with Platonism and Neo-Platonism. Dr. Wapnick has done students of the Course a great favor by providing this information, which can only serve to enhance the Course's credibility in the years to come, not least in the face of the growing dysfunctionality of "orthodox" Christianity.

Even though I'm not an "A Course in Miracles" follower, this book is really a gem. Although this book is directed to Course students, it explain very thoroughly and rationally the relation between Ancient Christianity, Platonism, Neo-Platonism and Gnosticism. There is only one small flaw in all of this: it looks at "A Course in Miracles" as Jesus' original message, and hence he views Gnosticism very close to Jesus' original message in its metaphysical level. It is very interesting that he looks at the Gnostic's own mistakes as those which Course students frequently fall into.

Other than that, he chooses Bible translations very well; he chooses the appropriate Bible scholars, he chooses good authorities on the issue of Gnosticism, he shows the pertinent passages of philosophy authors (Plato, Aristotle, Philo, Plotinus), and shows the historical, social, political, religious realities of Christianity, Ancient Philosophy, Gnosticism and how they are related to each other.

I have an MA in Philosophy, and not a scholar. However, although I'm not a scholar, I would dare say that it is a reliable source to know these ancient movements.

After reading the Nag Hammadi Library, I became aware of "The Course in Miracles" and became a student. I was looking for a book that captured the higher perceptions of the gnostics and measured them against ACIM. Dr Wapnick did it again. It is a real treasure and one I will keep as part of my library. Basically anything that I have read of Dr. Wapnick's has helped me tremendously. This is not an easy read. It is technical and very deep.

This is an outstanding work! The scholarship bringing together the threads in the early Church and A Course in Miracles is wonderful. For those who enjoy Ken Wilber's work (thinking types), you'll love this book.

This volume puts into perspective the key differences between orthodox Christianity and the Course. If you are working through a decision concerning which of these spiritual belief systems to embrace, Wapnick's thorough "root study" of Christian thought systems will be of immense value. I also found the fundamental explanation of the Course's themes to be very helpful, even though I have been a student of the Course off and on for years. One of the aspects I found most helpful was the clear dilemna Wapnick brings to the fore: until you can come to terms with how evil and man's apparent separation from God came into existence, all spiritual thought systems are meaningless. This volume challenges the reader to come to terms with this core philosophical and spiritual question.

Very well researched and clearly laid out. Exactly what one would expectfrom Wapnick. Very illuminating.

This book is a very scholarly work. It is well written and very well researched. Dr. Wapnick has left no stone unturned. He covers the subject matter, a wide path of somewhat disparate philosophies, respectfully. If you are familiar with A Course in Miracles (ACIM) and are interested in the history of Gnosticism, then I strongly recommend this book. If you are not familiar with ACIM, but would like to learn more about it, I recommend The Disappearance of the Universe by Gary Renard.