Gnosis and Faith in Early Christianity: An Introduction to Gnosticism

By Riemer Roukema

Gnosticism, a form of religious knowledge that dates from the early centuries of the Christian movement, has often been characterized as a bizarre and even perverse distortion of Christian theology.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563382997
• ISBN13: 9781563382994
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Trinity Pr Intl
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Superb for an introductory book

If I were currently teaching a course on the very complex religious phenomenon of gnosticism in the ancient world to an audience unfamiliar with the subject, this would undoubtedly be on the required reading list. There are at least six reasons for my enthusiasm about this book. First, the book is simply organized. This perhaps may not be such a feat in and of itself, but with a topic as difficult to pin down as gnosticism, this is done very well. Anyone can follow the author's layout. Second, Roukema's parlance is not for the scholar, but for the beginner. His syntax is not characterized by multiple subordinate clauses and the fifty-cent words of academia, but is simple and straight-forward. I imagine a high schooler could read this book with as much ease as anyone. Third, the author simplifies the subject, but does not over simplify -- at least, not too much. When he does, however, he lets you know. Fourth, although he finally disagrees with the gnostic perspective, his evaluation of it is practically undetectable until the end. That is, it reads very impartially. He is even sympathetic with the gnostic ideology at times. Fifth, the reader comes away with some interaction with primary sources. While there are no lengthy quotations here (after all, it's just an introductory book), Roukema offers commentary on specific texts he feels are representative of certain communities. Sixth, there are recommendations for further reading, which puts the icing on this lovely cupcake of a book.