The Gnostic Religion was the 1st decent introduction to gnosticism for the modern world & is still of value today. It includes both heresiological & original texts--Nag Hammadi only uncovered later. It holds useful material on Simon Magus, the Hermetic Poimandres (shown here to be equally a gnostic document), the Valentinians, Mandaeans, Manichaeans & the "Hymn of the Pearl". The existentialist bent--Jonas a student of Martin Heidegger--makes an interesting contrast to Pagel's more orthodox view of gnostic religion as theistic. This volume & the Nag Hammadi library will provide good coverage of the diverse teachings of gnostic & related movements.
Introduction: East & West in Hellenism
The Meaning of Gnosis & the Extent of the Gnostic Movement
Gnostic Imagery & Symbolic Language
Simon Magus
The "Hymn of the Pearl"
The Angels that Made the World. The Gospel of Marcion
The Poimandres of Hermes Trismegistus
The Valentinian Speculation
Creation, World History & Salvation According to Mani
The Cosmos in Greek & Gnostic Evaluation
Virtue & the Soul in Greek & Gnostic Teaching
The Recent Discoveries in the Field of Gnosticism
Epilogue: Gnosticism, Nihilism & Existentialism