Helpful Score: 3
This is a lecture about Gnosticism, loosely packaged in a story. If you've wondered about the Gnostics, early Christianity, and the evolution of Christendom in its first few hundred years, this book will give you a good basic understanding and overview (which is why I gave it 4 stars). It's written in an easy-to-understand, plain English style, with lots of questions and answers between the protagonists.
The "adventure" story framing the information is rather lame - if you expect an exciting da Vinci Code-like read, don't get the book. Read it because it will expand your horizon.
The "adventure" story framing the information is rather lame - if you expect an exciting da Vinci Code-like read, don't get the book. Read it because it will expand your horizon.
Helpful Score: 3
This book was truly enlightening. I enjoyed it from the very beginning.
Having not been raised in any specific religion I'm a little lost when it comes to some of the stories and characters in The Bible. I do know the basics and the older I get, and the more I read, I'm beginning to piece together a fuller understanding of The Bible.
I had never heard of the Gnostics before reading this book. So I was coming to this one with a complete open mind. I think that is part of wh...more This book was truly enlightening. I enjoyed it from the very beginning.
Having not been raised in any specific religion I'm a little lost when it comes to some of the stories and characters in The Bible. I do know the basics and the older I get, and the more I read, I'm beginning to piece together a fuller understanding of The Bible.
I had never heard of the Gnostics before reading this book. So I was coming to this one with a complete open mind. I think that is part of why I enjoyed this so much. The revelations made about Gnostic beliefs and current Christian beliefs seemed plausible to me. But, again I have a limited knowledge of The Bible, and an even more limited relationship with it.
This was not an action filled book. The things that the characters did was kind of a sub story, at least in my opinion. The main story was really a historical account of the Gnostics. There is a plot and there are things that happen that move the story along.
I think this was very well written and I didn't get the feeling that it was trying to discredit modern Christian beliefs. I think the book takes the stance of: Here's some things that happened in The Bible and here's what people believe about them. One more than one occasion it is mentioned that just because it is believed that some don't count The Bible as an accurate historical account does it make Jesus' teachings any less valuable? I would say that it doesn't, but that's just my opinion.
Having not been raised in any specific religion I'm a little lost when it comes to some of the stories and characters in The Bible. I do know the basics and the older I get, and the more I read, I'm beginning to piece together a fuller understanding of The Bible.
I had never heard of the Gnostics before reading this book. So I was coming to this one with a complete open mind. I think that is part of wh...more This book was truly enlightening. I enjoyed it from the very beginning.
Having not been raised in any specific religion I'm a little lost when it comes to some of the stories and characters in The Bible. I do know the basics and the older I get, and the more I read, I'm beginning to piece together a fuller understanding of The Bible.
I had never heard of the Gnostics before reading this book. So I was coming to this one with a complete open mind. I think that is part of why I enjoyed this so much. The revelations made about Gnostic beliefs and current Christian beliefs seemed plausible to me. But, again I have a limited knowledge of The Bible, and an even more limited relationship with it.
This was not an action filled book. The things that the characters did was kind of a sub story, at least in my opinion. The main story was really a historical account of the Gnostics. There is a plot and there are things that happen that move the story along.
I think this was very well written and I didn't get the feeling that it was trying to discredit modern Christian beliefs. I think the book takes the stance of: Here's some things that happened in The Bible and here's what people believe about them. One more than one occasion it is mentioned that just because it is believed that some don't count The Bible as an accurate historical account does it make Jesus' teachings any less valuable? I would say that it doesn't, but that's just my opinion.
Helpful Score: 1
This book seemed to be the author teaching the reader, however it was interesting, just oddly written.
A friend loaned me this book to review for her store, otherwise it's probably not one I would have chosen on my own. Having said that, I really did enjoy the book. I had had only a very rudimentary understanding of Gnosticism before reading the book and this was a good "primer" on their belief system, wrapped up in a fictional story. The writing itself was amaturish, but an easy read that held my interest. As for the Gnostic aspect, the book references several other nonfictional works on Gnosticism that I'll definitely be looking for to do additional reading on the subject.
All in all, an easy to read book on a topic that'll make you go hmmmmm.......
All in all, an easy to read book on a topic that'll make you go hmmmmm.......
