Customer Reviews

The Wisdom of the Knowing Ones: Gnosticism: The Key to Esoteric Christianity

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Although I had heard of the term "Gnosticism" previously, I was never quite sure what it really entailed - all I knew was that it was some form of religion or spirituality. So I purchased this book with the goal of gaining an understanding of this form of esoteric christianity - and, after having read it, I think this is probably the best book I could have chosen for this purpose.

In "The Wisdom of the Wise Ones", Hall discusses the beliefs held by the Gnostics; the parallels between Gnosticism and both Eastern & Western philosophies; Alexandria - the seat of mysticism; what happened to Gnosticism; as well as the symbolism used by this group.


Here are some of the insights I gained re: Gnosticism:

*Gnosticism is a form of esoteric christianity

*Gnostics didn't take bible stories literally - instead, they searched for the hidden meanings

*Gnostics were very tolerant of other religions - believing that a person's religion was based on their current emotions & perceptions. In other words, we interpret things differently based on "where we are" at the time.

*They viewed spirit as the highest state of matter, and matter as the lowest state of spirit

*They saw human beings as the bridge between nature & God

*They believed that each soul ascends through successive stages of being - learning & growing along the way

*They saught to find the middle-ground between the 2 most prevalent theologies of the time - christianity & paganism

*They believed that it's the mystery, not the interpretation that's real (and our interpretation = our religion)

*They believed that everyone would grow & change over time, and as such, their interpretations (religious choices)would grow & change as well.


Through reading this book, I was also reminded that much of what we deal with today - such as violence, scams, war & conspiricies - isn't new. The people who lived thousands of years ago were dealing with the same things...


Overall, I found "The Wisdom of the Knowing Ones" to be quite interesting. So, if you are interested in learning about Gnosticism, or enjoy reading about ancient cultures, I would highly recommend it.

This is a good introduction to what can be a very difficult subject. Gnosticism, due to it's liberality and syncretism, does not lend itself easily to dogmatic understanding. The basic tenets in Christian Gnosticism are explained in an almost breezy manner, where other authors such as Elaine Pagels, though illuminating, can tend to the scholarly and synthetic. Manly Hall's representation of the so called 'lost' Wisdom is comprehensive yet understandable.

To those unfamiliar with the subject....Christian Gnosticism consists loosely of the ideas that the god of the Old Testament was perhaps a tad bit too nasty, provincial and limited in power to be the One, True God. Consequently, Christ was incarnated in order to remind men of their truly Heavenly origin and eventual return, so that the veil of ignorance could be lifted and Salvation could be won by this Saving Knowledge. Though man's mortal body was crafted by an inferior Demiurge, he was an ensouled Being who had a Divine spark that once ignited, could burn inwardly and illuminate himself as well as others.

There is a short survey of Eastern Gnosis as found in the more Northern esoterically minded Buddhists, and a slight seque into the more conservative Eastern branches of Hinduism, Taoism and Confucianism.

At a time when Pagan philosophy had produced disciples whose ethics perhaps rendered them nicer than Yahweh, yet the sublime Truths of the Christos were undeniable in their Spiritual efficacy, Gnosticism became an original, experential combining of Greek mystery tradition and Christian Revelation.

Well worth the read, if one is so inclined to such a subject!

If I were to recommend a book on Gnosticism to someone who knows little or nothing on the subject but would like an overview, this would NOT be the book I would recommend. That's not to say this book wasn't without it's merits but it's a little overly complicated and narrow in it's scope of understanding. It also was a little boring in parts and I found myself having to "push through" to the end.

I did gain a clearer understanding of ancient Gnosticism compaired with more modern Gnostic beliefs presented by authors such as Samael Aun Weor. This book was also very unique in that it dealt with a lot of the ancient symbology around Gnosticism which is something I've never seen before.

If you already have a basic understanding of Gnosticism and you're looking to expand your knowledge this book might be for you, If you want information about ancient Gnostic symbols this book is for you, If you want an introduction to Gnosticism I say look elsewhere.

Let's keep in mind that Hall wrote back in the 1930s and 1940s, when there was far less in print on esoterica than today. Still, Hall's book on gnosticism is overly complicated and terribly pedantic. One has the sense, too, that Hall is regurgitating received ideas. There is no hint of real scholarship, or of an individual approach to the material. I'm biased, however, by the fact that Hall fancied himself as a master of all esoterica, given the breadth of his writings. If I knew as much about anything as Hall knows about everything . . . Add to this Hall's fervent championing of freemasonry as a repository of real wisdom, and one has to wonder who Hall was, and where he got the ego to appoint himself as an authority on sacred teachings. There are far better books on gnosticism.