Understanding Gnosticism with Miguel Conner

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May 25, 2025

Miguel Conner, host of the Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio podcast and author on Gnosticism, delves into the rich tapestry of Gnostic beliefs and their historical roots. He traces Gnosticism's influence on modern thinkers like Philip K. Dick and reflects on its connections to traditions like Neoplatonism. Conner also highlights the experiential practices within Gnosticism and encourages a personal quest for enlightenment. Additionally, he discusses the resurgence of Gnostic ideas in today's spiritual landscape, urging listeners to question societal norms and seek self-discovery.

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INSIGHT

Essence of Gnosticism Explained

Gnosticism is an experiential tradition originating in late antiquity's Greco-Roman world.
It views reality as an illusion or simulation controlled by archons, and awakening is through Gnosis, direct divine experience.

INSIGHT

Gnosticism's Interconnections

Gnosticism shares parallels with Jewish Kabbalah and ancient Egyptian beliefs about the divine feminine and cosmic sparks.
The idea of serpents can represent both danger and wisdom within Gnostic symbolism.

INSIGHT

Gnostics on Cosmic Struggle

Gnostics interpret cosmic forces as a struggle between good and evil, seeing worldly rulers as misguided or malevolent archons.
Gnostics view earthly institutions as part of a system designed to keep humanity ignorant and trapped in illusion.

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Other Voices of Gnosticism

Miguel Conner

David BRAKKE

Gary Lachman

Willis Barnstone

Erik Davis

Sean Martin

Nicola Denzey Lewis

Stephan Hoeller

Tobias Churton

Robert M. Price

Nag Hammadi Library

Charles River Editors

The Occult Elvis, The Mystical and Magical Life of the King

None

Miguel Conner

Voices of Gnosticism

Miguel Conner

Gospel of Philip

Robert McLachlan Wilson

Gospel of Thomas

Richard Valantasis

The Gospel of Thomas is a non-canonical gospel, meaning it's not included in the Bible. It's a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus, differing significantly in style and content from the canonical gospels. It's considered Gnostic in origin, emphasizing secret knowledge and spiritual enlightenment. Scholars debate its historical accuracy and relationship to the canonical gospels. Its unique perspective offers insights into early Christian thought and diversity. The Gospel of Thomas's focus on spiritual understanding rather than historical narrative sets it apart from the canonical texts.

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Moby-Dick is a novel that tells the story of Captain Ahab's maniacal quest for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg. Narrated by Ishmael, the story follows the crew of the whaling ship Pequod as they embark on a journey that explores themes of obsession, man vs. nature, and the existential questions of good and evil. The novel is rich in detailed descriptions of whale hunting and life aboard a culturally diverse crew, and it has become a cornerstone of American and world literature[2][3][5].

book of Enoch

Fr. Stephen DeYoung

The Gnostic Gospels

Elaine Pagels

In 'The Gnostic Gospels', Elaine Pagels delves into the mysteries and meanings of the Gnostic texts discovered at Nag Hammadi in 1945. These texts, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, present a diverse and often conflicting view of Jesus and early Christianity compared to the New Testament. Pagels examines how these gnostic texts challenged the orthodox Christian church, questioning the literal interpretation of Christ's resurrection, the gender of God, and the role of clergy. She highlights the individualistic and democratic nature of Gnosticism, which emphasized self-knowledge and spiritual search over hierarchical church doctrine. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to the gnostic movement and its significance in the history of Christianity[1][3][4].

Understanding Gnosticism with Miguel Conner

Miguel Conner is host of the Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio podcast. He has authored two books of interviews about gnosticism, Voices of Gnosticism and Other Voices of Gnosticism, and also four novels. His newest book is The Occult Elvis: The Mystical and Magical Life of the King. His website is https://www.miguelconner.com/

Here he explains the origins of Gnosticism in late antiquity. He describes how it impacted both the Christian, Greek, and Persian worlds. He discusses the influence of Gnosticism upon a range of modern thinkers and writers. And, he distinguishes Gnosticism from other similar movements including Neo-Platonism and Hermeticism.

New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. He is Co-Director of Parapsychology Education at the California Institute for Human Science.

(Recorded on April 14, 2025)

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