---
product_id: 11830534
title: "Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism"
brand: "richard smoley"
price: "978812₫"
currency: VND
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
url: https://www.desertcart.vn/products/11830534-forbidden-faith-the-secret-history-of-gnosticism
store_origin: VN
region: Vietnam
---

# Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism

**Brand:** richard smoley
**Price:** 978812₫
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism by richard smoley
- **How much does it cost?** 978812₫ with free shipping
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## Description

Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    A History in the Eternal Conflict
  

*by J***R on Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2011*

This is a worthwhile book, a good introduction to Gnosticism, a good introduction on the history of hermetic traditions after the Gnostics. Smoley attempts to discuss how the inner traditions generated from the Gnostic tradition. In this I would give him four out of five stars. He endeavors to show how inner traditions originate from Gnostic philosophy and doctrine. While discussing the traditions after the Gnostics, however, it was not altogether clear how some of these traditions started with the Gnostics. What SMoley perhaps inadvertently succeeded in doing was to show the much clearer conflict between the esoteric and external traditions in religion. In this regard Smoley quotes from Guenon, a noted French metaphysician, that Western Christianity succeeded in the Middle Ages in gutting the mystical, inner, tradition, while in the Eastern Church the mystical nature of religion was much more accepted. This, then, is the real, eternal conflict, that of a tradition emphasizing a mystical union with God, the Godhead, and a relgious tradition mired in ritual devoid of meaning. It seemed to me that this tie-in with Gnosticism and Godhead could have been more fully discussed.Further, when explaining the modern traditions of Gnosticism, Smoley fails to mention a book which played a large role in reviving interest in Gnosticism. That book is The Gnostics and their Remains, by Charles William King, written in the late 1800's. This book is readily available, even on this website, and follows, curiously, the same format as Smoley's book. There are differences between the two books, but that difference is superficial. King was a gemologist, and many of the references in his book deal with those found on gems or stones. However, as I indicated,King covers the same subject areas and doctines as does Smoley. Manichism, Eqyptian religion, the Rosicrusions, the Masons and others are all discussed in Kng's book. It is amazing that Smoley does not mention this book.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Covers a Lot of Ground Extremely Well
  

*by E***N on Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2010*

If you have an interest in the development of Christianity, the Western Mystery Tradition or heresiology, this book by Richard Smoley proves to be an interesting read.The book itself is written at a level where only a basic knowledge of Christian history and theology is required to get a grasp of the thesis of the book.  Smoley takes the reader through nearly 2200 years of Gnostic thought and history, starting with Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism and running through modern times, including the popular perceived offshoots such as the Albigensian Cathars, the Rosicrucians, the Freemasons, the Knights Templar all the way to Jung, Blavatsky, the DaVinci Code and the Matrix.While he tries to cover a lot of ground in a relatively short book, you get the flavor of Gnostic themes as an ever evolving, ever present element interweaving itself through Christian history.  Smoley discusses not only the history, but the theology and the psychology of the various Gnostic themes, explores and discusses common information like the Nag Hammadi library and the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as reviews basic mainstream Christian theology in a compare and contrast exercise including a look at "mainstream" Christian (both Western and Orthodox) mysticism and prayer practices.If you have an interest in this topic, this is a good read.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Pretty good
  

*by M***G on Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2017*

The book is well written and does a good job tying Gnostic thoughts to other historical spiritual movements and individuals.  I held back from a five star rating only because I would have enjoyed more in-depth writing on the actual so-called gnostics themselves, perhaps more on the different gnostic writings like the Nag Hammadi library.  I think the author, after publishing and reading so many books wrote this to "add to the pile" of existing literature.  However, this may not line up with his audience (but maybe I'm a less familiar exception here).  All in all, the author covers the scope of his purpose very well in a way that is accessible, fluid, and directional in what seems like a challenging and nebulous topic.

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*Product available on Desertcart Vietnam*
*Store origin: VN*
*Last updated: 2026-03-18*