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WASATCH GNOSTIC SOCIETY
Salt Lake City, Utah
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Spring 2007 Lecture Series
The Gnostic Gospels
Four Introductory LecturesSixty years ago an extraordinary library of ancient Christian writings was discovered buried in the sands of Egypt near the village of Nag Hammadi. Concurrent with their first publication in English translation three decades ago, Dr. Elaine Pagels authored an introductory book about the discovery, The Gnostic Gospels. This classic work has introduced a generation of readers to the vision of a Christian tradition once condemned as heresy.
Since Dr. Pagels pioneering publication there have been many new scholarly insights into the Gnostic Gospels. In recent years the importance of these ancient documents has also reached wider popular recognition. Dan Brown’s best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code, certainly helped catalyzed interest. But aside from that fictionalized treatment, books about the meaning and message of the Gnostic Gospels by respected professors of religious studies have lately been best-sellers. Last year's National Geographic Society television special about the newly discovered Gospel of Judas brought the story of the Gnostic Gospels to an even wider audience.
So what are the Gnostic Gospels? In this series of four lectures we will take an unbiased look at these ancient documents and attempt to explain what they are, who wrote them, why they were lost or destroyed, and what message they bring to our modern age.
All lectures in this series are presented by Dr. Lance Owens. Lectures are free and open to the public, and will be held at the Salt Lake Public Library, Anderson-Foothill Branch, located at 1135 South 2100 East, Salt Lake City. (Click here for directions to the library.)
Lecture Schedule
Monday, April 2 at 7 pm
Rediscovering a Lost Christianity: The Gnostic Gospels
Monday, April 9 at 7 pm
The Gospel of Thomas: The Oldest Surviving Gospel?
Click to Listen to the Lecture
(MP3 format - 83 minutes)
Monday, April 16 at 7 pm
Gnosis of the Beloved Disciple: John’s Secret Revelation
Monday, April 23 at 7 pm
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene: Feminine Mystery in Christianity
Click to Listen to the Lecture
(MP3 format - 80 minutes)
Suggested Readings and Resources
Lecture 1: Rediscovering a Lost Christianity: The Gnostic Gospels
On Line Resources:
The Nag Hammadi Library, section of the Gnosis Archive.
Recommending Reading:
The Gnostic Discoveries: The Impact of the Nag Hammadi Library by Marvin Meyer
Another masterful introductory work by Marvin Meyer, one of the leading scholars of Gnosticism and editor of the new 2007 edition of the Nag Hammadi Library (now published under the title The Nag Hammadi Scriptures). Meyer seems particularly interested in making the message and significance of the Gnostic texts intelligible to a general readership. In this wonderful little book he introduces the Nag Hammadi discovery, the themes and visions of the Gnostic texts, and the way in which the discovery of these documents is transforming our understanding Christianity's origins. Even if you have read the other introductions to the Nag Hammadi library collection, this book merits attention -- and if you are entirely new to the subject, this is a great place to start. For a taste of the book, read the introductory chapter, provided here. Buy the Book
Lecture 2: The Gospel of Thomas: The Oldest Surviving Gospel?
On Line Resources:
The Gospel of Thomas Collection, including the complete text of Thomas
Recommending Reading:
The Fifth Gospel: The Gospel of Thomas Comes of Age by Stephen J. Patterson and James M. Robinson
Very readable edition of the important Gospel of Thomas. The translation is accompanied by two excellent introductory essays placing Thomas within the historical Gospel context. The book is written by recognized scholars but addressed to a general audience. A highly recommended introduction to this important Gnostic Gospel. Buy the Book
Lecture 3: Gnosis of the Beloved Disciple: John’s Secret Revelation
On Line Resources:
The Apocryphon of John Collection, including the complete text of The Secret Book of John
Recommending Reading:
The Secret Book of John, translation & annotation by Stevan Davies, Skylight Paths Publishing, 2005
Our first recommendation is Stevan Davies' superb new translation of The Secret Book of John. Davies has produced a readable translation that is profoundly true to the source material: it is both accurate and beautiful. The author provides a useful and detailed verse by verse commentary on facing pages. For any reader, this is currently the place to start. (Dr. Davies has given us permission to include his translation in this collection, however the commentary is only available in the print edition.) Stevan Davies is Professor Religious Studies, College Misericordia. Buy the Book
Read an excerpt from the Introduction.
The Secret Revelation of John, by Karen King, Harvard University Press, 2006
The second recommended book is Karen King's The Secret Revelation of John. This is an extensive and scholarly -- but still very readable -- study of the text and the cultural milieu that both influenced, and in turn was influenced by, the Apocryphon Iohannis. Included are translations of the "short" and "long" version of the text (based on the Waldsein and Wisse edition), an in-depth analysis, an extensive multi-faceted commentary, and copious academic notes and citations. Karen King is Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Harvard University. Buy the Book
Read an excerpt from the Introduction.
Lecture 4: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene: Feminine Mystery in Christianity
On Line Resources:
The Gospel of Mary, the complete text of The Gospel of Mary
Recommending Reading:
The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle by Karen King
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene is one the most surprising and delightful of the rediscovered Gnostic texts. This excellent new print edition of the Gospel of Mary of Magdala by the widely respected scholar Karen King is the best authorative edition available. It incorporates translations of the Coptic Gospel of Mary found in 1896 in Cairo, along with the two small Greek fragments of the text found at Oxyrhynchus. Included is a superb introduction along with extensive commentary on the text and its implications for modern understandings of early Christianity. Highly Recommended.
Past Lectures
Click here to see a list of other previous lectures at the WGS
Winter 2005 Lecture Series
C.G. JUNG: PORTRAIT OF A TWENTIETH CENTURY WIZARD
From Merlin to Gandalf, the figure of the wizard has a primal place in the Western imagination. In our legacy of legends, the wizard stands as intermediary between seen and unseen worlds. He councils and guides men in the perilous journey through the ancient forest of destiny where light and dark forces intermingle.
Occasionally the appellation of “wizard” falls upon a historical figure, an exceptional being who mysteriously touches our collective imaginal definition of a wizard. The Swiss physician and psychologist Carl Gustav Jung was just such a man.
Throughout his long life, Jung labored to share a vision that stretched out beyond the common ken. True to the wizard archetype, he was pitched in his own personal quest between realities seen and unseen, conscious and unconscious, known and forgotten. And in spirit, he remains a consummate guide to the modern soul on the ancient path that “passes through the Great Hedge and leads beyond the familiar world of the Shire.”
In this series of four lectures, Dr. Lance Owens will examine the life and work of C. G. Jung, and reflect upon the nature of his wizardry. In our discussions, we will search to understand the human experience that motivates our enduring interest in Wizards. (This is a special tenth anniversary edition of Dr. Owens’ popular “Jung course”, formerly offered at the University of Utah.)
These lecture will also be available on-line -- just click on the links below.
Lecture Schedule:
I. Archetype of the Wizard
Tuesday, February 1st at 7:00 pmListen to the Lecture Now Online Click Preferred Audio Format:
(RealAudio) (MP3 part 1 / part 2)II. Jung and the Tradition of Vision
Tuesday, February 8th at 7:00 pmRealAudio) (MP3 part 1 / part 2)Listen to the Lecture Now Online Click Preferred Audio Format:
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III. Jung and the Alchemical
Renaissance
Tuesday, February 15th at 7:00 pm
RealAudio) (MP3 part 1 / part 2)Listen to the Lecture Now Online Click Preferred Audio Format:
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IV. Jung and the Wizard in Modern
Culture
Tuesday, February 22nd at 7:00 pm
RealAudio) (MP3 part 1 / part 2)Listen to the Lecture Now Online Click Preferred Audio Format:
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For Church services in the Salt Lake area visit The Holy Gnosis of Thomas Chapel page.
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