At the age of forty, Ethel, who grew up in Los Angeles, California, decided to take possession of her true name, Hannah-the name on her Israeli birth certificate. To make a little ceremony of it, she asked the bishop of an esoteric storefront Gnostic church in Hollywood to baptize her. Without preconception or preparation, she found herself pulled into a world of early Christian myths and symbols. The "dreamtime" world that engulfed her after this baptism became her guidance, as marriage and family disintegrated. As Hannah, she was drawn up through church sacraments from a suburban life she'd never wanted to live, through a mystical initiation she never asked for, which culminated in ordination to the Gnostic priesthood. But that attainment was not the conclusion. Hannah Rappaport's memoir of this journey is mystical and pragmatic, heartbreaking and healing. "I am mesmerized by Hannah's story. When a Jewish woman can be utterly transformed by her encounter with an ancient Christian Wisdom Way, and still honor her roots, there is hope for peace on earth. Hannah Rappaport is a living example of the power of the interspiritual life. Highly recommended." Mirabai Starr, Author of GOD OF LOVE: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity & Islam "Hannah Rappaport's uniquely beautiful and accomplished tale of spiritual transformation will serve as guidance and inspiration for those who hear the call of the transcendent in their own lives." Sean Murphy, Author of: Hope Valley Hubcap King, Time of New Weather, The Finished Man, One Bird One Stone

Spiritual practice is essential to the Johannite tradition, and this book will show you how to begin. Using the framework of the Logos Service, the quintessential Johannite practice, you will learn the basic techniques of many different types of prayer, meditation, contemplation, asceticism, and esoteric practice from a Johannite perspective. Whether you attend mass regularly at a Johannite parish, or if you live far from one, you will find a practice or two that will help guide you on the path to Gnosis.

The ACT Clergy Handbook is an invaluable tool for Gnostic clergy in formation. It is a useful reference book for all levels of clergy, and a fascinating glimpse into Gnostic theology, exegesis, history, and liturgical practice for anyone interested in ecclesiastical Gnosticism. Included are liturgies, theurgic operations, theoretical studies, and a comprehensive outline of the entire Minor Orders curriculum. Also includes the full text of The Kybalion and the Sepher Yetzirah.

Gnostics are those who have faith in Grace through Wisdom. They know their Redeemer liveth along with the evil angels of our worst nature. If God existed as a great guru and manic delusion, they would have to kill Him to keep him out of their lives, lest the crux and soul of truth be lost.

In the second century, Platonist and Judeo-Christian thought were sufficiently friendly that a Greek philosopher could declare, "What is Plato but Moses speaking Greek?" Four hundred years later, a Christian emperor had ended the public teaching of subversive Platonic thought. When and how did this philosophical rupture occur? Dylan M. Burns argues that the fundamental break occurred in Rome, ca. 263, in the circle of the great mystic Plotinus, author of the Enneads. Groups of controversial Christian metaphysicians called Gnostics ("knowers") frequented his seminars, disputed his views, and then disappeared from the history of philosophy-until the 1945 discovery, at Nag Hammadi, Egypt, of codices containing Gnostic literature, including versions of the books circulated by Plotinus's Christian opponents. Blending state-of-the-art Greek metaphysics and ecstatic Jewish mysticism, these texts describe techniques for entering celestial realms, participating in the angelic liturgy, confronting the transcendent God, and even becoming a divine being oneself. They also describe the revelation of an alien God to his elect, a race of "foreigners" under the protection of the patriarch Seth, whose interventions will ultimately culminate in the end of the world. Apocalypse of the Alien God proposes a radical interpretation of these long-lost apocalypses, placing them firmly in the context of Judeo-Christian authorship rather than ascribing them to a pagan offshoot of Gnosticism. According to Burns, this Sethian literature emerged along the fault lines between Judaism and Christianity, drew on traditions known to scholars from the Dead Sea Scrolls and Enochic texts, and ultimately catalyzed the rivalry of Platonism with Christianity. Plunging the reader into the culture wars and classrooms of the high Empire, Apocalypse of the Alien God offers the most concrete social and historical description available of any group of Gnostic Christians as it explores the intersections of ancient Judaism, Christianity, Hellenism, myth, and philosophy.

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1922 Edition.

Is it possible that Heaven is beyond our capacity to see because it is molecular scale? What if the Creator of Adam and Eve was DNA? What if the Devil was an ancient molecular virus? God is DNA is an unprecedented religious detective story-a modern scientific translation of ancient Gnostic secret teachings and ideas. Rogue scholar and author Paris Tosen takes one of the most controversial and revolutionary positions on the subject of pre-Christian religiosity, flying in the face of the foundation of the Christian faith and decodes the true meaning of God. This is a work that strongly resonates with alternative thinkers and anyone who is seeking salvation from the material prison. Not recommended for devout churchgoers.

WHAT IF? What if our task in life is to develop a spiritual understanding of our place in the Universe and the ability to relate harmoniously to all other species on Earth is a part of this development? What if each of us is already complete with an Inner Self, so that, given the right opportunity and conditions, we are sufficient of ourselves, to carry out this task of spiritual development? What if each of us is already a spiritual being with an indestructible relationship with God, regardless of any Man made religious overlay? What if God really has no interest in our physical welfare as this is mostly, within Man's abilities? And what if history is seen to suggest this is so? What if Science and Philosophy are the two ends of the same stick? What if death is simply a change from one form of reality into another? Perhaps, to the non-physical reality we experience as dreaming? What if, at death, each of us leaves this world as a spiritual identity - as we entered it, and then proceeds on to another stage of spiritual development appropriate to our level of understanding? What if all of this is so and we really have no need for competing man made religious systems of personal, spiritual salvation, with attendant religious guilt, domination, bigotry, and so on? Thin k about each of these for a minute or two and then ask yourself, truthfully, why they shouldn't be so..... About the Author: Robert Rowe, as a lad, he attended a local Methodist Church for his basic Christian religious upbringing. However, as many others have also discovered, answers to questions, which arose from enquiring minds, were either unavailable, or were a matter of opinion. This, of course, led to a confused understanding that, the Christian religion was divided in its views on various aspects of their beliefs, in many cases, according to each Churches selfish, points of view and, in some instances, the need for monetary gain. So, how could this be? Over the years, this led him to a very rudimentary interest in religions generally, with an emphasis in the three mono-Theistic religions, as these are inter-related, and, much later, a broadening of this interest to include basic Philosophy - the theory of living, and Science - the practice of living, to try to arrive at an irrevocable understanding that would include both disciplines, as these are the very basis of our lives. Further, if, as put forward by Science, that the Universe is composed of energy, then it's reasonable to assume that its Creator, whom we call God, will also be an energy source. Following this, it's also reasonable to allow for spiritual energy visualisations to also exist, on occasion. It was during these later years that it was apparent to him, that most of the problems associated with the three mono-Theistic religions arose, because they were based mainly on hearsay and opinions, put forward in ancient times by scholars and mystics. These were, later, interpreted and re-interpreted down through the years, often for religious gain rather than a search for truth, and that, without some rationalisation, these were no longer acceptable today. However, he felt that if God, is accepted as the supreme energy source, creating an energy Universe, and that both Philosophy and Science are the two instruments by which Mankind can "know" his creator, it is considered that Mankind will have taken a great step forward in his evolution, and History will have served its purpose as a background to the march forward. This book, "God - a balance of probabilities?" discusses this possibility into a probability. It is hoped you will agree.

Learn how we got the books of the Bible. There were prophets who proved they were from God by performing miracles and making localized predictions with one hundred percent accuracy. Their long range predictions were then recorded in the sixty-six books of the Bible. We can know this for a fact because over fifty of those long range prophecies have come to pass since the nation of Israel was reborn in AD 1948. The ancient church fathers teach the Gnostic gospels were demonically inspired. They contain no prophecy and their teachings contradict the teachings of the prophetically proven Word of God. In some cases the church fathers record which cults wrote which gnostic books and why they are to be considered heresy. The demonic Gnostic gospels teach reincarnation, that there are multiple gods, and that humans are divine. They teach that the use of sorcery is imperative for salvation. The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one God. We do not have a spark of God in us, nor are we evolving into gods. It also teaches that the use of sorcery is a sin that will damn people to an eternal hell, and that everyone will die only once, physically resurrect, and be judged. The Gnostic gospels are summarized in their own chapters showing why these are truly demonic gospels Brought to you by Biblefacts Ministries, biblefacts.org

"Everything you ever wanted to know about gnosis, but were afraid to ask " In "How to Think Like a Gnostic," Jeremy Puma builds upon his previous work in Gnostic philosophy, approaching it as a functional worldview for a solitary practitioner. Breaking down the Gnostic myth to its basic components, Puma clarifies the often inscrutable aspects of Gnostic thought without talking down to the reader or oversimplifying the material. Accessible, interesting, and often humorous, "How to Think Like a Gnostic" is a must for the library of anyone interested in the Gnostic Way. ""How To Think Like a Gnostic" explores a genuinely Sethian Gnostic path with plenty of perceptive insights and new perspectives." - Andrew Phillip Smith, author of "A Dictionary of Gnosticism"

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Early Heresiological Works Against the Gnostics

From the time of the founding of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, over a hundred years ago, there has been a continued and increasing interest in ancient Egyptian spirituality. Brian Brown's book, written in 1923, is a wonderfully insightful study of the Religion and Philosophy of this ancient people, revealing the astonishing depth and subtlety of the Egyptian world-view. His work covers such diverse topics as Creation myths and sun-gods, through the hymns of the 'Book of the Dead', to Hermetic Philosophy and Egyptian Magic. An invaluable overview of this fascinating subject that will be of unfailing interest to all those drawn to esoteric and occult matters.

This book is guaranteed to contain some ideas many of you have never heard before. Many of these ideas are directly from the bible, history and scientific research. The book presents facts, theories, theologies, and hypothesis that are highly controversial and will spark your mind into either anger or heavy thought. You will agree with, ponder or hate the bearer of this imaginative and innovative fact finding research. It's the author's hope that whatever feelings you may receive from reading this document, whether it is joy or anger, you will always question what others tell you, no matter how renowned they may be. If you wholeheartedly believe the bible or in a deity then it may be best that you not read this book, as it contains several ideas that will bring into question the validity of the bible and may differ greatly from your beliefs. However, if you have always had questions and not enough answers then this may be what you've been searching for, your entire life.