This module will provide an introduction to the histories, beliefs, doctrines and ritual practices of certain Gnostic religious movements which emerged in the ancient near eastern, Greek, and Roman worlds during the Classical age and in Late Antiquity. Students will be given the opportunity to examine varieties of Gnosticism, including Greek, Jewish, Christian, and Manichaean forms of Gnostic religious expression, through investigations into the textual (in translation), visual and material sources for Gnosticism in antiquity.

The module will also consider an example of a ‘living’ Gnostic religion, the Mandaeans of southern Iraq. 

An important consideration for students will be the construction of ‘Gnosticism’ by ancient and modern commentators as a typological category for defining religions from antiquity, which are regarded as demonstrating heterodox and counter-cultural forms of doctrinal thought and ritual practice.

A further aspect of the course will consider the extent to which assumptions about ‘Gnosticism’ have influenced the emergence of modern forms of theological and philosophical expression: this will involve investigating the thoughts and writings of Helena Blavatsky and Carl Jung, together with identifying the influence of Gnostic sensibilities in the literary works of Philip K. Dick and Yevgeny Zamyatin, to name only a selection

 Knowledge and Understanding:

 Identify, discuss and critically evaluate, in group participation, assessed coursework and timed examination the following:

 - The distinctive cultural, theological, ritual and ascetic features of ancient Gnostic religions.

 -The social and cultural contexts of Gnostic religions, with an emphasis on identifying specific local issues, such as geographic, political and linguistic factors.

 - the correlative concern of recognising the advantages but also limitations of thinking about these diverse traditions according to a single categorical model.

-A variety of narrative, literary and visual sources composed by Gnostic religions; and, to problematise the use of these sources in developing an impression of the religions which produced them.

 - The pejorative classification of Gnostic religions by ancient and modern commentators.

 - To discuss the reception-history of Gnosticism in the early modern world, and in contemporary thought and culture

Teaching will be by lectures (20 hours) and student-led seminars (10 hours). There will also be opportunities for individual meetings with the tutor to receive feedback on draft essays.

 A variety of electronic resources will be used, including: interactive participation beyond contact-hours through the use of the Forum site on Blackboard.

 It is the intention of the co-ordinator to screen certain films in the genres of ‘Utopian’ and ‘Dystopian’ cinema (e.g. Metropolis; Blade Runner; Brazil), in order to illustrate the appropriation of the Gnostic ‘world-view’ in popular culture

 Intellectual Skills:

 -Think critically about issues of religion, culture, and society in a historical context.

-Analyse and evaluate the role of ancient sources in the reconstruction of ‘extinct’ religions and cultures.

-Evaluate the forms and role of historiography in the reconstruction of ‘extinct’ religions and cultures.

 Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

 -Contextualise ancient literary (in translation) and material sources within their specific religious, theological, cultural and political milieu.

 Transferable Skills:

 -The ability to critically evaluate written and visual materials.

-The ability to prepare and discuss issues arising from lectures and seminars in a group context.

-The ability to write in a coherent and organised manner about a complex series of problems and issues

 Summative Assessment will comprise the following:

 - An examination of 2 hours (60%)

 - Two 2,000 word essays (40%, 20% per essay towards overall)

 Areas to be focused on in lectures and seminars will include:

 - Varieties of ‘Gnosticism’: The history of defining and redefining Gnostic religions from ancient times to the modern day.

 - The historical models for understanding the emergence of Gnosticism in antiquity: an analysis of cultural assumptions as explanations for the ‘emergence’ of Gnostic religions, including locational and cultural syncretism; cultural models of Hellenistic and Iranian influence.

 - Thematic introduction to Gnostic beliefs and myths: dualism, determinism, and cosmological assumptions.

 - Introduction to Gnostic literature (apocryphal evangelica and acta), with particular focus on contextualising and critically investigating the Nag Hammadi, Medinet Madi, and Kellis collections (in translation).

 - Historical introduction to certain Gnostic models in ancient Judaism and early Christianity, with an emphasis on the following issues: personalities; organisational structures; gender issues; ascetic practices.

 - An introduction to Gnostic imagery through archaeological and visual evidence: e.g. the hypogeum of the Aurelii (Rome); the Gorgon motif etc.

 - Introduction and analysis of particular Gnostic groups (i.e. the Manichaeans; the Mandaeans), through an analysis of their history, thought, rituals and literature

Primary Texts in translation: