Gnosticism

Gnosticism developed alongside Judeo-Christianity over two thousand years ago, but with an important distinction: it emphasizes not faith, but the direct perception of God — gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis, meaning "knowledge." Given the controversial premise that a person can know God directly, the history of gnosticism represents an unfolding drama of passions, political intrigues, martyrdom, and mystery. Dr. Heller traces this fascinating history through time and shows how gnosticism inspired great thinkers such as Voltaire, Blake, Yeats, Hesse, and Melville.