Calling the Bogomils Gnostics is like calling Baha'is Christians. Additionally, it sounds as though Smith is one of those people who got caught up in actually following Gnosticism as a means of reinterpreting Christianity to suit what they were looking for Christianity to say.
The study of gnosticism has come a long way since the discovery of the Nag Hammadi codices made it fashionable. Michael Allen Williams' Rethinking "Gnosticism" is probably one of the best recent books on the subject. He analyses how the entire category "gnosticism" was invented by early Church fathers (particularly Irenaeus) as a catch-all phrase that was used to lump together divergent and in many cases contradictory branches of early Christianity. This is evident in the way that Gnostics are on the one hand said to be completely ascetic, and on the other hand, hedonistic.
Elaine Pagels is a great source of Gnostic information, with The Gnostic Gospels and The Gnostic Paul (the latter presupposes an understanding of the subject matter before reading). Freke & Gandy's controversial hypothesis in The Jesus Mysteries and Jesus and the Lost Goddess should be taken with a heavy dose of skepticism as they have an attachment to Gnosticism as the "Answer". Still, it is a fun read.
Ultimately, even Ehrman's Lost Christianities is an acceptable reading choice on Gnosticism, though I don't like his pro-orthodox stance (note: "orthodox", not "Orthodox"). However, I think the best book on the subject is Fideler's Jesus Christ, Sun of God.
The study of gnosticism has come a long way since the discovery of the Nag Hammadi codices made it fashionable. Michael Allen Williams' Rethinking "Gnosticism" is probably one of the best recent books on the subject. He analyses how the entire category "gnosticism" was invented by early Church fathers (particularly Irenaeus) as a catch-all phrase that was used to lump together divergent and in many cases contradictory branches of early Christianity. This is evident in the way that Gnostics are on the one hand said to be completely ascetic, and on the other hand, hedonistic.
Elaine Pagels is a great source of Gnostic information, with The Gnostic Gospels and The Gnostic Paul (the latter presupposes an understanding of the subject matter before reading). Freke & Gandy's controversial hypothesis in The Jesus Mysteries and Jesus and the Lost Goddess should be taken with a heavy dose of skepticism as they have an attachment to Gnosticism as the "Answer". Still, it is a fun read.
Ultimately, even Ehrman's Lost Christianities is an acceptable reading choice on Gnosticism, though I don't like his pro-orthodox stance (note: "orthodox", not "Orthodox"). However, I think the best book on the subject is Fideler's Jesus Christ, Sun of God.
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
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I would recommend other books above this one.
- 28/12/2009 04:04:29 PM
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Even before I clicked on this response, I knew you'd mention Pagels 
- 29/12/2009 01:47:49 AM
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- 29/12/2009 01:47:49 AM
540 Views
*NM*