Against the Protestant GnosticsIn this penetrating and provocative assessment of the current state of religion and its effects on society at large, Philip J. Lee criticizes conservatives and liberals alike as he traces gnostic motifs to the very roots of American Protestantism. With references to an extraordinary spectrum of writings from sources as diverse as John Calvin, Martin Buber, Tom Wolfe, Margaret Atwood, and Emily Dickinson, he probes the effects of gnostic thinking on a wide range of issues. Calling for the restoration of a dialectical faith and practice, the book points to positive ways of restoring health to endangered Protestant churches. |
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... truth , not concerning words , but concerning their own salvation . In gnosticism , there was not that extra step of going to a sacred literature which existed quite apart from the self and finding in it , as a fringe benefit , a truth ...
... truth , not concerning words , but concerning their own salvation . In gnosticism , there was not that extra step of going to a sacred literature which existed quite apart from the self and finding in it , as a fringe benefit , a truth ...
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... Truth, in which the author asserts: Error became powerful; it fashioned its own matter, foolishly not having known the truth. It set about making a creature, with [all its] might preparing, in beauty, the substitute for the truth.32.
... Truth, in which the author asserts: Error became powerful; it fashioned its own matter, foolishly not having known the truth. It set about making a creature, with [all its] might preparing, in beauty, the substitute for the truth.32.
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... truth.32 That is, error has designed matter, and the end result is an artificial creation. Having performed his metaphysical trick, his deliberate misreading of the Old Testament, Valentinus is then enabled to misread the New Testament ...
... truth.32 That is, error has designed matter, and the end result is an artificial creation. Having performed his metaphysical trick, his deliberate misreading of the Old Testament, Valentinus is then enabled to misread the New Testament ...
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... truth which distinguishes her from error, she no longer has the right or the inclination to contend on any other front. It was for a similar reason in the Old Testament that Israel's worst moments were those when the Children of God ...
... truth which distinguishes her from error, she no longer has the right or the inclination to contend on any other front. It was for a similar reason in the Old Testament that Israel's worst moments were those when the Children of God ...
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... truth, but also warning against falsehood. The blessings, if they are to mean anything at all, must be accompanied by the woes.8 When teachings or practises emerge that are wholly different from those of the community of faith, they ...
... truth, but also warning against falsehood. The blessings, if they are to mean anything at all, must be accompanied by the woes.8 When teachings or practises emerge that are wholly different from those of the community of faith, they ...
Contents
Gnosticism Within the Orthodox Faith | |
From Gratitude to Despair | |
From Holy Event to Private Illumination | |
Modern Escapefrom the Home of the Brave? | |
From the Sacred Community to the Inner Self | |
From the Many to the | |
From the Particular to the Nebulous | |
GNOSTICISM ESTABLISHED WITHIN NORTH AMERICAN | |
The Renewal of Hope | |
Epilogue | |
Bibliography | |
Index | |
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accept alienation ancient gnostics Apostle baptism become believe Bellah biblical body Bultmann Calvinist Catholic Christian claim concern confessed congregation cosmos covenant creation divine doctrine early Elaine Pagels elitism Emerson Ernst Troeltsch escape ethical Eucharist evangelical experience faith Fathers Gilles Quispel gnosis Gnostic Gospels God’s grace Greven Hans Jonas Harold Bloom Harper & Row Harvey Cox heresy Holy human human potential movement Ibid individual individualistic Institutes Irenaeus Israel italics Jesus Christ John Calvin Jonas Jonathan Edwards knowledge liberal liturgy Lord Luther Marty medieval ministry modern movement nature Niebuhr Old Testament orthodox Pagels Parrington particular Paul person political preaching Protestant churches Protestant Temperament Protestantism Puritan Quispel Quoted radical reality Reformed Reinhold Niebuhr religion religious Righteous Empire Roman sacraments salvation Scripture secular sense sexual social soul spiritual syncretism teaching theologians theology things thought tradition trans Troeltsch truth understanding University Press Walker Percy William Word