Category Archives: Gnosticism

Quran So Far Away

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Nathan

I’ve now read through the Quran, mostly using this translation. I know it’s really only considered authentic in Arabic, but I can’t read that language. Discussing Islam can be kind of awkward, especially because the amount of Islamophobia in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arabian, Book Reviews, Christianity, Gnosticism, History, Islam, Judaism, Language, Magic, Middle East, Mythology, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Oh, What a Jubilee There Will Be

Posted on February 6, 2022 by Nathan

I had started reading the Book of Jubilees some years ago, but I don’t think I ever finished, so I returned to it recently. It’s a pseudepigraphic work, attributed to Moses based on dictation straight from God, but it’s generally … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Gnosticism, History, Judaism, Kirby, Names, Religion, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Comic Confusion

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Nathan

My general formula for deciding what comics to read consists of seeing what looks interesting on the shelves at the library. The problem is that a lot of what I see there is a follow-up to something else, and even … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Babylonian, Book Reviews, Christianity, Comics, Gnosticism, Humor, Mythology, Religion, Semitic, Star Wars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Reaching Across the Aisle

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Nathan

The Acts of Simon Magus in the First Century AD: A Search in Secret Egypt, by Glendenning Cram – I read a review copy of this after the author commented on my blog post on Simon Magus, and announced that … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Celtic, Christianity, Comics, Gnosticism, Humor, Judaism, Mythology, Politics, Religion, Snobbery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Splitting the Adam

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Nathan

There are quite a few things I don’t really get about the Adam and Eve story, but one that I thought of recently involves the notion of being fruitful and multiplying. Actually, this isn’t part of the same story, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Etymology, Gnosticism, Judaism, Language, Relationships, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Save Our Souls

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Nathan

There’s a saying that I’m sure you’ve come across on occasion: “You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” It’s often misattributed to C.S. Lewis, but I don’t think he ever actually said anything of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animism, Christianity, Egyptian, Gnosticism, Greek Mythology, Judaism, Mythology, Philosophy, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Modern-Day Marcionism

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Nathan

I’ve read a few times about the Marcionites, an early Christian sect that had significant influence but was declared heretical. It has some ideas in common with Christian Gnosticism, but lacks the emphasis on secret teachings. Instead, Marcion held that … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Fundamentalism, Gnosticism, History, Jack Chick, Judaism, Religion, Roman Empire | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Gladly the Chrono Cross I’d Bear

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Nathan

Chrono Trigger is a somewhat unusual game in that it kills off its main character. The hero, known as “Crono” because the game only allows for five-character names, is taken out by the alien parasite Lavos in the Kingdom of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Chrono Trigger, Gnosticism, Islam, Religion, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Kiss Before Crucifying

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Nathan

The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot: A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed, by Bart D. Ehrman – This author is one of my favorite writers on early Christianity, and here he looks primarily at this gospel, which was apparently … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Christianity, Gnosticism, Historical Personages, History, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Holy Family Reunion

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Nathan

I’ve examined Jesus’ immediate family before, but what about beyond that? John 19:25 refers to a woman named Mary of Clopas, called as Jesus’ “mother’s sister,” being present at the crucifixion. But since his mother was named Mary, does that … Continue reading →

Posted in Catharism, Catholicism, Christianity, Conspiracy Theories, Gnosticism, Holidays, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments