... would free one from the fragmentary and illusory (or evil) material world (bodily existence) and teach one about the origins of the spiritual world to which the gnostic belonged by nature. Radical discontinuity between appearance and reality; between bodily, literal perception (both experiential and exegetical) and spiritual insight (the inner perception); between historical existence (frequently expressed as being under the sway ... this, bullying and exhorting his lost, co-dependent flock over the cosmic cliff. All of this makes for diverting copy, to be sure, but does little to expla...

• Word Count: 1846
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate