Alpha/Penguin, 2005, 310 pp., $18.99,
www.idiotsguide.com
Who were the Gnostics and what did they really believe? In this fast-paced world, it’s hard to find time to research answers, let alone the origins and meaning of these complex
documents. So, J. Michael Matkin did it for us! He writes in terms and tones that the layperson can understand and still offers a wealth of knowledge. You meet people like Ignatius of Antioch, Tertullian, and Simon the Magician, as well as Gnostic texts that focus on these individuals’ spiritual journeys. It’s thought provoking as Matkins explains how the Gnostics viewed women, orthodoxy, and the resurrection. It’s still a heavy read but provides interesting details about these ancient texts that can be controversial.
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Roxanne Derr Lemereis, minister of Christian Formation at Healdsburg Community Church, California
