---
product_id: 11094168
title: "Gnostic Philosophy: From Ancient Persia to Modern Times"
brand: "tobias churton"
price: "€ 51.32"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.sk/products/11094168-gnostic-philosophy-from-ancient-persia-to-modern-times
store_origin: SK
region: Slovakia
---

# Gnostic Philosophy: From Ancient Persia to Modern Times

**Brand:** tobias churton
**Price:** € 51.32
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** Gnostic Philosophy: From Ancient Persia to Modern Times by tobias churton
- **How much does it cost?** € 51.32 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sk](https://www.desertcart.sk/products/11094168-gnostic-philosophy-from-ancient-persia-to-modern-times)

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Gnostic Philosophy: From Ancient Persia to Modern Times

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Excellent and informative - if a bit drawn out
  

*by K***. on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 16, 2018*

A supremely well-researched, well-documented book. This book is not for your casual enthusiast nor someone looking for something brief. This book is dense, factual, and authoritative, yet somewhat impenetrable to those not accustomed to reading more scholarly, intellectual texts (myself excluded - I only read books like this). Instantly, one can tell that Churton is a true scholar of the field and I would challenge anyone to find someone more knowledgeable with this level of annotation. However, I do have some cautionary anecdotes.First, Churton seems to have an identity or (perhaps) a thematic crisis in the middle of the book. He spends the first several chapters (particularly 1-4) devoted exclusively to the Gnostics and their development, with an incredible attention to detail. However, the book does get bogged down severely in Chapter Six: The Troubadours. The author goes on a meticulously detailed outline of several major troubadours, their songs, etc, and only after spending no less than 39 pages exploring this (which isn't exactly relevant to the theme of Gnosticism) does he then tie it back and concludes the chapter in 1.5 pages. This seems like filler to me and I actually asked myself repeatedly, "So what does this have to do with the Gnostics?" The answer? Not much, except in some vague, cryptic way (Troubadours could be considered Gnostic and carriers of esoteric knowledge, and indeed were most active and prominent in the Languedoc, where the Cathars [Gnostics wiped out by the Catholic Church] lived, so I suppose there is some relevance), but my point is that to arrive at that conclusion, one must first march through all the fluff which seems drawn out and could be made more concise. To me this was the author showing off and I found it intellectually impressive, but ultimately, irrelevant.The same can be said for his chapters on Freemasonry. Again, one can see Churton's obvious personal interest in Masonic history (one which I share, to a lesser extent) and again, one can see his supreme intellect and research skills, but do I really need to know the entire timeline of Masonic development in France to understand Gnostic philosophical ideas? Absolutely not. Churton seems to recognize this periodically, and will tie it back together, but it comes off as distracted writing, albeit very high quality distracted writing.Yet, despite my criticisms, this book is an impressive one and a must-read for anyone curious about the Gnostics - any serious inquiries into all things Masonic, Gnostic, or even Templar, should begin with this book. I  award 4 stars instead of 5 because as interesting as the material on Masons and Troubadours is, to someone who was looking for a book strictly about Gnostic philosophy and theology, they will find that material to be largely irrelevant.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Gnosis and Jnana are of the same Root
  

*by O***N on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 21, 2005*

_It is fitting that the author reminds us that both gnosis and jnana both come from the same root, i.e. knowledge. Specifically, in this application, it means knowledge leading to union with the divine._I read the author's previous book on this subject through at least three times over the years. I found his idea of the gnosis extending through history to the modern day as both valid and inspiring. No matter how overpowering was the dogma and worldly power of the age, a true spiritual path survived in the background down through the ages. A Golden Thread linked these ages. That is also true in this book, for as the author points out, you can start reading at any of the fourteen chapters and still find the Center, for the chapters mirror each other. This is because where ever this thread intersects with an age, that is where the Center is- stringing seemingly disparate and profane history together on a necklace of higher wisdom. All through history has the gnosis flowed, through the Vedists, Kabbalists, Magi,  Neoplatonists, Hermeticists, Troubadours, Knights Templar, Cathars, through individual mystics, to modern day neo-gnostics._This is no soulless, academic, encyclopedic compilation of gnostic terminology, the inherent meaning of the subject shines through. The meaning of true Gnosis as union with god, or rather, the Divine spark and origin in all of us is repeatedly expounded. Moreover, it is shown that this is why mankind is different from other beings. We come here from beyond to grow through suffering and hard moral choices- and to ultimately awake to our Divine origins. The ultimate reason and purpose of this is that unconscious God may ultimately come to know Himself as conscious God. That was set in place from the beginning._One other small comment of my own on the gnostic concept of the lesser, deranged "creator god." I am not at all sure that at least some of the gnostic writers weren't referring to the Romans here. It is well known that the imperial Romans engineered cults for the purpose of social and political control. The divinization and cults of the emperors are prime examples. They claimed to be gods, demanded worship, and set up false religions to achieve this- sounds like the evil, deranged, lesser god to me, or at least his microcosmic reflection....Oh yes, thanks to this book I now view the character and works of Aleister Crowley with considerably more sympathy and respect._This is a thick book, but it is uniformly a joy to read. If one were to have but one book in their library on this most profoundly significant of subjects this would be a fine choice.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    laughter in an unexpected site
  

*by T***G on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 13, 2012*

Gnosis is sort of a catchall for religious experience which does not fit into orthodox formats.  As a consequence, Gnostics/heretics usually don't get good or accurate press.  Many unorthodox practitioners of religion aren't particularly interested in trying to explain their positions.  They're more intent on reflecting on their experiences as they relate to some ultimate god.If God is the author of all that is good, then why would we not find reason to laugh as we worship?This book is a more universal discussion of the gnostic tradition as it is encountered in and around other religions.  Good job.

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*Product available on Desertcart Slovakia*
*Store origin: SK*
*Last updated: 2026-02-05*