The Complete Idiots Guide To The Gnostic Gospels

Download or read book The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Gnostic Gospels written by J. Michael Matkin and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2005 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The founding of the early Christian Church had as much to do with politics and intrigue as it did with theology and religion. This history and the documents uncovered at the Nag Hammadi site in Egypt have formed the basis of some of the most interesting and mysterious questions today. Was Mary Magdalene a disciple of Jesus? What role did Jesus mother Mary play? What does the Gospel of Thomas tells us? Enter The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Gnostic Gospels. Expert author J. Michael Matkin has provided easy and understandable overviews to all these major works and more. With chapters discussing each of the major and minor documents found at Nag Hammadi, the book also includes an overview of Gnosticism and its most influential people. Readers get an easy, understandable view of the early Church, these relatively new documents, and their meaning to modern religion and philosophy today.

Download or read book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Early Christianity written by J. Michael Matkin and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2008 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With around 2 billion followers, Christianity is the most widespread religion in the world. Especially dominant in the western world, today's Christianity has a wide variety of forms, beliefs, and practices. But what kind of world was Jesus of Nazareth born into? How was the initial Christian message received by the different cultures into which it was spread? What was its early background and foundation, and how did it set the stage for what Christianity became? The Complete Idiot's Guide to Early Christianity explores who the early Christians were, how they lived, what they believed-and what their impact was on the church we know today.

Download or read book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Biblical Mysteries written by Donald P. Ryan and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2000 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides insight into biblical stories, miracles, and figures through historical context and scholarship, and explores the present controversies over lost texts, creationism, and archaeological findings.

Download or read book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Mary Magdalene written by Lesa Bellevie and published by Alpha Books. This book was released on 2005 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Who was Mary Magdalene, really? Mary Magdalene plays a prominent role in the Bible, but who was she, really? How did her identity change from an intimate friend of Christ to a prostitute? The Complete Idiot's Guide to Mary Magdaleneexplores the woman she was, who she might have been, what we know for a fact, and how the persona of Mary of Magdalene has been interpreted and reinterpreted over the last 2,000 years. " Offers a balanced, easy-to-follow look at a very controversial subject " Includes scriptural references throughout and a quick look-up appendix to track mentions of Mary Magdalene, as well as resources and a chronology

Download or read book The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Gnostic Gospels written by J. Michael Matkin and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2005-09-06 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The birth of the Christian Church—and what it means for modern religion and philosophy. This engaging guide presents an accessible overview of the birth of the Christian Church, using the historical works found at the famous Nag Hammadi site in Egypt. With chapters discussing each of the major and minor documents found at Nag Hammadi, this volume also includes an overview of Gnosticism and the major players, revealing not only what the texts say, but also what they mean. - Renewed interest in Gnosticism and the Gnostic gospels is driven by interest in the Nag Hammadi documents, The Da Vinci Code, the Matrix movies, the Kabbalah, renewed interest in the divine feminine ideal, and the fact that many who’ve left the Church are looking for new answers in the early church. - Author is a scholar and expert who’s studied with some of the top people in the field.

Download or read book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Mythology written by Kevin Osborn and published by Penguin. This book was released on 1998 with total page 428 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An introduction to Greek and Roman mythology provides explanations of all the gods and their roles, origins of the myths and theories on who wrote them, and the function of myths in society

Download or read book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam, 2nd Edition written by Yahiya Emerick and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2004-11-02 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An up-close and up-to-date look at an often misunderstood faith This completely revised and updated guide explores the tenets of the Qu’ran (a.k.a. Koran), examines the history of the religion and its relationship to Christianity and Judaism, and features an expanded section on the true story behind “jihad.” It explores Islamic views on war and terrorism, including the Muslim perspective on the tragic events of September 11, and the subsequent U.S. presence in both Afghanistan and Iraq. • Excellent sales for the first edition • Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, with more than six million devoted followers • Features an expanded section on women in Islam, including their status within the Taliban, and the Islamic practice of polygamy