He talks about the logos and ancient concepts of harmony and symmetry, Greek numerology and many Gnostic concepts become very clear without the need to even refer specifically to the Gnostics.
Pagels ultimately fails to be the most compelling writer because she uses Gnosticism to talk about other points of general theology that interest her, rather than discuss Gnosticism on its own terms.
Of course, ultimately the best thing to read is the Nag Hammadi codices. Bentley Layton from Yale has a good annotated version, and if you want to delve deeper, there's always the Brill academic version.
Pagels ultimately fails to be the most compelling writer because she uses Gnosticism to talk about other points of general theology that interest her, rather than discuss Gnosticism on its own terms.
Of course, ultimately the best thing to read is the Nag Hammadi codices. Bentley Layton from Yale has a good annotated version, and if you want to delve deeper, there's always the Brill academic version.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
The Gnostics by Andrew Phillip Smith ( 2008 )
- 28/12/2009 04:36:34 AM
918 Views
I would recommend other books above this one.
- 28/12/2009 04:04:29 PM
628 Views
Re: I would recommend other books above this one.
- 28/12/2009 05:15:36 PM
762 Views
Fideler is the most interesting one of the bunch.
- 29/12/2009 01:01:29 AM
622 Views
Even before I clicked on this response, I knew you'd mention Pagels 
- 29/12/2009 01:47:49 AM
655 Views
- 29/12/2009 01:47:49 AM
655 Views
*NM*