The Tree of Gnosis: Gnostic Mythology from Early Christianity to Modern Nihilism

This study analyzes, compares and contrasts various religious thoughts of gnosticism, its derivations and multiple companions sharing some of the same or similar premises. This is an illuminating and engaging academic text that glorifies intellectual freedom and infinite cognitive possibilities of human interpretive faculty, to some degree considering gnostic deconstructive philosophy a predecessor to Derrida. To Couliano, religious ideas of all kinds, as well as science and secular philosophies are all engaging in the same chess-like mind games, the games demanding of a courageous participant to demonstrate intellectual capabilities and imaginative creativity, challenging canons, authorities, and social structures. As a dissident from behind the Iron Curtain, Couliano more than anything values cognitive liberty and despises any form of intellectual oppression, which as the author believes, "may seriously jeopardize two of the noblest conquests of Western mind and society: that freedom of thinking out everything to its ultimate consequences should never be interfered with by any authority; and that the dangers of freedom are not lessened by its suppression." No wonder that "they" cowardly killed him, scared of him, his ideas and his unyielding devotion to Liberty as humanity's collective gnostic (and cosmic) heritage -- the gift of Sophia.