The Complete Idiot S Guide To The Gnostic Gospels

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.

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.

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.

Includes summaries of the Bible's most famous stories, detailed maps of the journeys of its major figures, and descriptions of everyday life depicted in the Bible.

With this helpful guide, learn more about the Scriptures that serve as the foundation of Christianity, from the birth to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and everything in between.

For many, the idea of the Last Days brings to mind concerns and fears about the End of the World, The Antichrist, The Mark of the Beast, World War, and Armageddon. For centuries, man has been occupied with the idea that someday the world will come to an end. These fears and concerns have been fuelled by natural disasters, famines, world wars, and the writings of people such as Nostradamus, Jeane Dixon, and Tim LaHaye. When we think about the Last Days, we have more questions than answers. Is the world really going to end? Should we be concerned about the future? Where are we today in relation to the Last Days? Author Richard H. Perry urges readers to 'consider the source' when caught up in these questions that don't seem to have answers. In The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Last Days, Perry takes readers to the source of all discussion on the subject: the Bible itself.

You’re no idiot, of course. You’re familiar with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Judgment Day—especially in the wake of the new millennium. However, the Book of Revelation has existed for almost 2,000 years and is open to countless interpretations. Don’t get confused by scholarly analysis and religious dogma! The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to the Book of Revelation shows you how so many meanings are derived from the book’s text. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Various ways to interpret Revelation and its symbols • A detailed examination of the key elements, including the Seven Seals and the Antichrist • A look at how the Jewish Old Testament and prophecies relate to Revelation

A comprehensive overview of the life, times, and teachings of Jesus Christ provides valuable information on his life, from birth to ascension, discussing his message of peace and love, his influence on the world around him, and his lasting impact on world history and religion. Original.