Forbidden Faith - by Richard Smoley (Paperback)

About the Book

In this sweeping history of Gnosticism, the school of spiritual seekers that flourished between the first and fourth centuries A.D. is revealed along with the movement's influence on early Christianity and beyond.

From the Back Cover

The success of books such as Elaine Pagels's Gnostic Gospels and Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code proves beyond a doubt that there is a tremendous thirst today for finding the hidden truths of Christianity - truths that may have been lost or buried by institutional religion over the last two millennia.

In Forbidden Faith, Richard Smoley narrates a popular history of one such truth, the ancient esoteric religion of gnosticism, which flourished between the first and fourth centuries A.D., but whose legacy remains even today, having survived secretly throughout the ages.

Review Quotes

"No one interested in contemporary spirituality can afford to ignore the Gnostic legacy. Richard Smoley's lively, learned, and level-headed book is the perfect guide to the subject." - Ptolemy Tompkins, author of Paradise Fever and Senior Editor, Guideposts Magazine
Richard Smoley's survey of Gnosticism is replete with fascinating conceptual reflection and historical detail. Erudite and lively, this enlightening text on the breadth and influence of Gnosticism is essential." - Willis Barnstone, author of The Gnostic Bible and The Other Bible
"Richard Smoley has written both a very readable and a very well-informed history of Christianity, though not the 'official' version of the established churches, which have become all-too empty of the reality of religion, but rather the off-beat version of Christianity, from the 'heresy' of Gnosticism to New Age experiences of today, which is where religious experience is actually taking place." - James M. Robinson, author of The Gospel of Jesus
"Richard Smoley elegantly tracks one of our wildest and most vital inner lineages, the one that comes down through Plotinus, the Gospel of Thomas, the Cathar perfects, Pico, Blake, Madame Blavatsky, Jung, and the Matrix films." - Coleman Barks, author of The Essential Rumi
"Richard Smoley, whom I have long admired as editor of the splendid Gnosis magazine, has presented us with an insightful and accurate work, which will be welcomed by all who have an interest in the faith once forgotten, but now rediscovered, that is known as Gnosticism." - Stephan A. Hoeller, author of Gnosticism, The Gnostic Jung, and other works
"Gnosticism, in its various forms, is a major part of our Western spiritual heritage, just emerging from Church-led repression, and Smoley's book on it is eminently informative and readable." - Dr. Charles Tart, author of Altered States of Consciousness
"[A] clear, concise primer... Throughout, Smoley reinforces that Gnosticism is, and always has been, here to stay. He paves a wide, clear path to understanding it, accessible even by the weekend seeker." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"[A] clear, concise primer... a wide, clear path to understanding Gnosticism, accessible even by the weekend seeker." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Drawing on an impressive mastery of the subject matter, Smoley traces Gnosticism from the first century C.E. to the present. A compelling and accessible argument. A thoroughly enjoyable read; highly recommended for all libraries with strong religious collections. - Library Journal
"A compelling and accessible argument. A thoroughly enjoyable read; highly recommended for all libraries with strong religious collections." - Library Journal
"If you are interested in the appeal of these popular manifestations of Gnosticism, Smoley is certainly your best guide." - Spirituality and Health magazine
"Richard Smoley's deep scholarship and accessible writing are once again on display in this excellent book on the gnostic legacy. I found this book impossible to put down and luminous in its revelation of the roots of so many of our modern spiritual movements and philosophies. Every spiritual seeker should read this book to appreciate where we are today and how we got here in our journeys towards deeper knowledge. An immediate classic!" - David Spangler, the author of Blessing: The Art and the Practice and Down to Earth: Discovering an Incarnational Spirituality