Customer Reviews

Voices of Gnosticism: Interviews with Elaine Pagels, Marvin Meyer, Bart Ehrman, Bruce Chilton and Other Leading Scholars

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being very interested in Gnosticism for quite some time now, I have read many, many books on the subject. Some wonderful, some not so wonderful. Voices of Gnosticism has a style that made for a very rewarding read.
I have a very short attention span, truly, and this book just caught me up and totally sucked me in. Listening to the opinions of the different authors and scholars etc. interspersed with Miguel Connor's engaging writing style is fantastic. If you've ever listened to his show Aeon Byte, you'll know that he is not only entertaining but very intelligent and informative.
An absolute MUST READ, not only for those with a particular interest in Gnosticism and early Christianity, but even for the average Joe.

When I read "Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited" in the "Product Details" section for this book, I was hoping this wasn't some fancy way of saying I could loan it to as many friends as I wanted, but only with a password which expired in 14 days - or some other nonsense such as this. As it turns out, it means just what I was hoping: you can read it with any program that supports the AZW file format.

Kudos to the author/publisher for not putting digital rights management (DRM) controls on this book. Several weeks ago, I swore off ever buying another book with DRM from Amazon because it prevented me from being able to load it into my library manager - Calibre - and read it with Calibre's internal reader.

As for the content of the book, itself, as a relatively new student of Gnosticism (BTW, I make no apologies to Professor Pagels for the use of this term), I found it extremely invaluable. By bringing together some of the most knowledgeable people on this subject and, in an interview format in which the interlocutor appears to be as knowledgeable as his guests, I was able to grasp the differences between the various Gnostic traditions, the subtlety of which, until now, had mostly confused me.

For one who might be swimming in all the books on Gnosticism, wondering which way to go, Voices gives you a very good sense of who you might want to read next. For my part, I will be avoiding Professors Pagels and King (two individuals who seem not to recognize that Gnostic Christianity is different enough from Orthodox Christianity to deserve its own category) and, instead, moving in the direction of folks like Professors Meyer and DeConick whose views, while starkly different on the role of Judas, both serve to enlighten the reader on some of the core beliefs of Gnosticism.

Miguel Conner's fascinating book is a journey into the depths and origins of true Christianity before it was hijacked by a priest cast determined to use Christianity to forward their agenda.

Miguel's 13 interviews are a distillation of some of the most brilliant minds on early Christianity. One might rightfully say true Christianity. It's been said that "theology is intellectual wrapping around the spiritual kernel of a religion. If this is true, then it is also true that most religions are being strangled and stifled by their wrappings." Thankfully Gnosticism is not guilty of this. Reading this book will greatly expand your mind, knowledge and spirituality.

One final note: Miguel's amazingly broad and deep knowledge of this subject matter helps guide the interviews and constantly unearths new nuggets of information while doing so in a greatly engaging and entertaining way.

If you're new to Gnosticism, you'll have no trouble finding countless books that do a terrific job of introducing readers to this notoriously difficult and much misunderstood subject. That's great news, since Gnosticism can be intimidating for some folks, although it really doesn't have to be.

For my money, Stuart Holroyd's ultra-compact "Elements of Gnosticism" remains a runaway favorite for being as insightful as it is efficient and accessible. However, once you've graduated from Gnosticism 101, it can be a bit daunting to plan your next step.

Why? Because there simply aren't any books that have been designed to methodically take your understanding to the next level.

To be sure, you'll find innumerable scholarly works that can help you to explore the seeming infinite depths of all things Gnostic. Unfortunately, these books might also leave you feeling as if you've fallen into a bottomless pit. In an ideal world, there would be a kind of Gnosticism 2.0 that would act as an on-ramp to more in depth examinations of the subject, whether scholarly or arcane. Sadly, this sort of title has been sorely missing from the field.

Until now.

Miguel Conner's "Voices of Gnosticism" finally fills this gaping gap with his highly-approachable and ever-revealing conversations with leading scholars, all of whom were interviewed on Conner's popular webcast at "thegodabovegod.com" (a name that I assume refers to Lutheran theologian Paul Tillich's famous Gnostic-friendly thesis). In any event, he and his guests crawl into just about every significant nook and cranny of the Gnostic world, past or present. The scholars are as erudite as ever, yet easy to follow without being reductionist.

For starters, the interviews are all impressively and evocatively framed with context-setting introductions, each one of them eloquently rendered in Conner's inimitable, highly-caffeinated style. As for the interviews themselves, Conner is an expert raconteur with an uncanny knack for staying out of the way as he brings out the crux of each thinker's body of research, not to mention the spirit behind each researcher's breakthrough discoveries.

Fortunately, Conner is the ultimate interviewer, sine qua non. For starters, he's always thoroughly prepared, although never showy about it. Quite the opposite. In fact, Conner adeptly and humbly functions as something akin to the black holes that lie at the center of every galaxy, which is to say that he's virtually invisible to the naked eye, or ear, and yet the eminent stars of his show all spiral around Conner and the irresistible, gravitational force of his unassuming inquiry.

And by the way, if you're not familiar with Gnosticism, "Voices of Gnosticism" features the full constellation of academic all-stars. Rest assured, you can expect to encounter the most credible voices in the field.

Highlights abound, including Stevan Davies' earthy insights and disarmingly brilliant observations; David Fideler's fascinating exploration of Gnostic numerology; John Turner's astute comments on the influence of Neoplatonism, not to mention certain Gnostic four-letter words; as well as Karen King's observations on idolatry as spiritual adultery. Birger Pearson's discussion on the origins of Gnosticism is alone worth the price of admission. Pearson is undoubtedly the most overlooked expert on Gnosticism this side of Einar Thomassen, who you'll also find here in what amounts to an unprecedented embarrassment of Gnostic riches.

The hits just keep coming and coming, as do the insights and priceless nuggets of information. Even the interviews with over-rated scholars such as Bart Ehrman and Elaine Pagels add something to the mix, if only as contrasting footnotes to the work of their more discerning peers in the field.

If Conner can be criticized for anything in this book, it's that he perhaps is a bit overly gracious in his interview with Pagels. But then, thankfully, Conner is anything but a censor. So, not surprisingly, he's happy to let Pagels unwittingly hang herself from the tree of gnosis with her tortured logic as to why the very subject she's discussing supposedly doesn't exist and never did.

Not only does Pagels fail to make her case against Gnosticism, that is, beyond the slavishly technical observation that the label "Gnosticism" didn't exist before the word was coined in the 1700s (as if this necessarily means the phenomenon itself didn't exist--as if ancient groups of people simply couldn't have been every bit as interested and dedicated to the subject of gnosis--much less the intense study of it--as contemporary, blue-blooded professors like Princeton's Pagels). Unfortunately, Pagels has arrived at least a decade too late for this party line. Her self-defeating, self-contradicting, and thoroughly unoriginal "me-too" argument is as tenuous and bizarrely unconscious as were the handful of failed attempts that have come before her.

Looooong before her.

Never mind the fact that Pagel's grossly-inflated reputation still rests entirely on this "ism." Granted, now with the advantage of hindsight, it's fairly clear that the Grand Old Dame's early fame was strictly a matter of being in the right place at the right time, largely because her book, "The Gnostic Gospels," had the good fortune of cresting with a wave of a New Age (yet now antiquated) brand of feminism.

Pagels herself now admits her work is thoroughly outdated, and scholarship has moved well beyond her. Meanwhile, those-in-the-know are painfully aware that she's added nothing of lasting note to the academic or populist equation since "The Gnostic Gospels" topped the charts in the 1970s. True enough, her white-bread-dunked-in-warm-water publications still see her retaining a best-selling pop star status, but only among the whitewashed masses of those interested in nothing more than a cursory glance at Gnosticism. Amongst the much brighter and knowing company found in this book, her star continues to dim.

But then, I have to give Conner due credit here--it seems only too obvious to me that he rather surreptitiously handed Pagels the aforementioned noose of her own undoing. In fact, he appeared quite content to see the ole gal painting herself into the dreary corner of Christian apologetics as a kind of latter-day church mother cum Episcopalian good girl. I'm sure her pastor is just as approving of her work as are her publishers, given the relative market size of their respective flocks.

But in the end, her interpretation of the historical data is a classic case of "as goes my personal life, so goes my scholarship." Mind you, I have no axe to grind here, as I'm not a Gnostic and I see abundant virtues in orthodox and/or mainline Christianity. But the latter disposition is no excuse for distorting yourself to miss the patently obvious. But then, this much is obvious in the Pagels interview, and it's precisely because Conners lets the cow chips fall where they may. That said, I really don't mean to be too critical of Pagels. if you've ever seen Pagels on the lecture circuit, she's quite a genteel and well-meaning lady, and she's certainly well-informed.

Thing is, if you're exploring Gnosticism, you can turn to the work of far better thinkers and writers, all of whom remain current with the latest scholarship, or in fact, generate it.

Speaking of 'far better', the author saves the best for last per his interview with April DeConick, who takes us to the bleeding-edge of contemporary investigations in the field with her groundbreaking work on what might be called 'astro-Gnosticism' and her definitive interpretation of the Gospel of Judas. I'd love to tell you the secret identity of Judas right now, but I don't want to spoil it for you. In any case, suffice it to say that DeConick has shed her status as a mere "rising star" in Gnostic studies--she's become an academic sun casting her light from the center of the Gnostic solar system.

Then there's Mr. Conner himself, who has ensconced himself as a solar deity in his own right. I'm sure this book will go a long way towards sealing his position as the indisputable leading light of Neognostic circles or thereabouts. On that score, it's well-worth noting that his book's lofty goal is to be found in its opening Acknowledgements, which are dedicated to the author's recently diseased parents. Conner expresses his simple and heartfelt hope that the conversations found within this book might "lead others to a greater life." Of course, that's exactly the sort of thing that a truly great book can do.

Mission accomplished Mr. Conner.

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough to anybody who wants to deepen his or her knowledge of these erstwhile "knowers," or as most of the world knows them--the Gnostics. Thanks to "Voices of Gnosticism," you can expect to come to know this subject exponentially better than you ever knew it. That's a major testament to Miguel Conner, not to mention his guests, and it's exactly why this book should be on everyone's list as "the next book to buy" on the subject of Gnosticism, Gnostics, and gnosis.

Miguel Conner's New Book is at the Forefront of The Gnostic Movement. He has all the Right Connections in making this a "Must Have" to all those desiring a Gnostic Book on the Cutting Edge. His Book is not only Scholarly with the Greatest Gnostic Minds Anywhere! Infact, in the Gnostic Realm you cannot get any better than Elaine Pagels, Marvin Meyer, Bart Ehrman, Plus, Many More Favorites. His Book is not only Informative of a General Overview of Where Gnosticism has Been, Where it is Today, and Where it is going in the Future. But his Text gives Direction for the Novice as Well as the Polished Expert. His Interviews do not Disappoint, with These Scholars of Gnostic and Religous Academia. His Insights in asking the Right Questions of these Leading Scholars is Simply Phenomenal and will Rock any Gnostic's World, as well as one just Seeking to Know More about the Fascinating Gnostic Gospels and The Nag Hammadi Library. Furthermore, Miguel offers a Very Readable Text, which allows one to Understand Easily Sometimes Very Difficult Concepts. I am the Founder and President of The Gospel of Thomas Association and have Recommended to all Our Members this Wonderful and Fascinating Book. You Will Love Miguel's Book, It will not Disappoint and it is Well Worth the Money. May the Gnosis be With You, Infact, if you buy this Book, It Will!

Did you hear a mysterious tale of ancient heretics who supposedly held the mysteries of the Holy Grail in the palms of their hands? Did you, upon investigating these enigmatic and largely-forgotten voices of a different world, come across a roaring din of contradicting claims from a chorus of spokespeople far more interested in looking spooky in fancy robes than they seemed interested in a real understanding of these ancients? Did you, upon digging for pearls in a sea of mud, become lost and confused at the many disparate views that all proclaim themselves to be the authoritative modern interpretation? Perhaps most importantly, were you hoodwinked into believing that a kind of new age, nondualist, holism consciousness, a perspective that is actually the opposite of the classical gnosis and which the "gnostics" sought to refute, is a legitimate portrayal of how these ancient peoples really thought?

Google no more. Miguel Conner has brought the intellectual smack-down you've been waiting for. The anticipated new book by Miguel Conner, host of the Aeonbyte Gnostic Radio show and palmtreegarden.org contributor, Voices of Gnosticism contains a series of interviews by leading scholars in the field on a variety of subjects intended to break through the walls of disinformation and give you the straight dope. The voices and attitudes of ancient heretics have been translated by the top minds in the field into common English in a cordial and fun radio-style interview environment. Andrew Phillip Smith's excellent forward is a much-needed summary of the importance of scholarly voices in the dialog about the ancient sects commonly called "gnostics." Smith succeeds in highlighting the hard work these folks have done to bring us the best picture to date of the heretics behind the Nag Hammadi Library, and Miguel's excellent interviewing talents cut right to the chase and gut the false prophecies of what he terms "The Da Vinci Code media-machine". Many of the questions in the interviews revolve around hot-button issues that were being discussed in forums online and are thus a source of correction in the sea of misconception that has enveloped popular understanding of these materials. In this sense, the book does an excellent job in cutting through the echo-chamber of many modern "gnostic" circles where misconceptions are made dogma, taught, and taught again to credulous audiences. Of much importance here are the discussions of the appropriateness of the label "gnostic," the nature of "gnostic" dualism, the correct use of terms and their applicability to "gnostic" materials, and the important question of "where the heck did all these heretics go?"

Some might say, "but isn't self-knowledge so much more important than history?" To them I ask, are we not products of history?

In conclusion this book ought to become a standard for the bookshelf of any enthusiast interested in the history of early Christianity and ought to have a permanent spot on the bookshelf of any serious scholar who might need to know the gist of these thinkers' views without the time to read something as dauntingly huge as a Brill volume. There are a lot of uninformed "voices" on the web that are dressed up like heretics who would prefer that you come to them, selling the koolaid that they must be the herpetologists in light of their lizard costumes. Don't bother with the noise. Voices of Gnosticism is a radical in-breaking of light into the dark world of "gnostics," meant to clear up the cobwebs and finally allow the gnostics, not their appropriators, to speak for themselves. This book truly is about the voices of the ancient phenomenon commonly called "gnosticism".

A gem for scholars and enthusiasts alike.

This is a wonderful and very readable collection of interviews with thirteen leading scholars in Gnostic studies - including Elaine Pagels, Marvin Meyer, Karen King, April DeConick and other internationally recognized authorities on Gnostic tradition. For several years, Miguel Conner has engaged the most prominent writers and scholars on Gnosticism and early Christianity on his AeonByte Gnostic Radio show, a weekly internet audio podcast. The interviews published here represent some of the best of his many broad-ranging conversations.

If you have ever thought it might be interesting to sit down for an informal converstation with "the people who write these books on Gnosticism" -- the books you will find widely referenced and recommended on The Gnosis Archive (gnosis.org) -- then you will very much enjoy this book. While the interviews are animated by the personal commitment each of these scholars feels for Gnostic tradition, they also reveal the wide range of perspectives that now focus on Gnostic studies. These interviews provide one of the best ways to get to know ancient Gnosticism, as seen through the eyes of its best informed modern students. This is fun, easy, and informative reading.

"Voices of Gnosticism" is an excellent resource for exploring the ideas of the groups now referred to as "Gnostics." Miguel Conner proves an able interviewer and gives his guests ample opportunity to illustrate why they are the leading experts in their field. Worth adding to any library of Western religious studies, and worth returning to again and again!

This book cuts to the chase..so much fun and engaging, you may forget what it was you were chasing. Like chasing a little white bunny down a deep black hole. Loved it!

I'm not an expert on Gnosticism by any means but I'm not a lightweight when it comes to topics concerning transcendental ontologies.

This book wore me out fast. The introduction was so packed full of jargon and sophistry I kept having to grab a dictionary just to clear a fancy word where a more common word would suffice. That's my first gripe.

Beyond that, my mental energy and interest was drown out by the overwhelming amount and all-pervasive presence of mental speculation.

I only made it to page 88 before I finally decided that nothing more of substance could be gained because almost every sentence contained phrases born of mental speculation. THIS BOOK IS MEANT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO SPECULATE ABOUT THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH.

Here are some quotes that are very typical responses to the questions asked:

"I think that..." (pg11)

"That seems to be the reason..." (pg11)

"I think that's true..." (pg11)

"What I think is...." (pg12)

"Yes, well there is a debate..." (pg12)

"I don't think..." (pg14)

This sort of stuff kills me or anyone else who is used to the lucid and comprehensive transcendental knowledge of the Vedic tradition. This book really is meant more for those who want to dabble in mental speculation. I'm happy to be done with that.