. . . [His] arguments are often lively and entertaining.--Los Angeles TimesIn Not in His Image John Lamb Lash explains how a little-known messianic sect propelled itself into a dominant world power, systematically wiping out the great Gnostic spiritual teachers, the Druid priests, and the shamanistic healers of Europe and North Africa. Early Christians burned libraries and destroyed temples in an attempt to silence the ancient truth-tellers and keep their own secrets. But as Lash reveals the truth cannot be hidden or destroyed.Not in His Image delves deeply into the shadows of ancient Gnostic writings to reconstruct the story early Christians tried to scrub from the pages of history, exploring the richness of the ancient European Pagan spirituality-the Pagan Mysteries, the Great Goddess, Gnosis, the myths of Sophia and Gaia.Long before the birth of Christianity, monotheism was an anomaly; Europe and the Near East flourished under the divine guidance of Sophia, the ancient goddess of wisdom. The Earth was the embodiment of Sophia and thus sacred to the people who sought fulfillment in her presence. This ancient philosophy was threatening to the emerging salvation-based creed of Christianity that was based on patriarchal dominion over the Earth and lauded personal suffering as a path to the afterlife. As Derrick Jensen points out in the afterword, in Lash's hands Jesus Christ emerges as the agent provocateur of the ruling classes.Sometimes a book changes the world. Not in His Image is such a book. It is clear, stimulating, well-researched, and sure to outrage the experts. . . . Get it. Improve not just your own life, but civilization's chances for survival.--Roger Payne, author of Among Whales

    But how would the study of religion change if we looked at the Fall from the snake’s point of view? Would he appear as a bringer of wisdom, more generous than the God who wishes to keep his creation ignorant? Inspired by the early Gnostics who took that startling view, Jeffrey J. Kripal uses the serpent as a starting point for a groundbreaking reconsideration of religious studies and its methods. In a series of related essays, he moves beyond both rational and faith-based approaches to religion, exploring the erotics of the gospels and the sexualities of Jesus, John, and Mary Magdalene. He considers Feuerbach’s Gnosticism, the untapped mystical potential of comparative religion, and even the modern mythology of the X-Men. Ultimately, The Serpent’s Gift is a provocative call for a complete reorientation of religious studies, aimed at a larger understanding of the world, the self, and the divine.

    A lost Gnostic creation text, rediscovered by chance in a secondhand bookshop in Berlin, contains shocking revelations that turn the biblical story of Genesis on its head. It was not the God of the Old Testament who created Adam from the things of the earth, but Lilith, the Queen of Hell and Mistress of Demons, and it was Lilith who visited Eve in the form of a wise serpent to free her from her prison of ignorance by feeding her the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.Incorporated with the creation text is a complete Gnostic grimoire describing a potent system of sex magic by which Lilith may be summoned for erotic union. Sex with Lilith is said to grant the magician certain occult gifts, leading ultimately to complete spiritual liberation.The diary of the unfortunate German magician who rediscovered this lost Gnostic text and made experiments with the grimoire portion is appended as a caution to those who might regard the caresses of Lilith as no more than an amusing diversion. Be warned! Her love is never given lightly, and once received, cannot be casually cast aside.First published by Starfire Publishing in 2006, this novel was one of our best-selling titles. We are pleased to have reached agreement with the author for a reprint. With a new cover image, and a fresh, clearer typesetting, this fascinating novel is of octavo format, 308 pages long, and is limited to 900 copies.The standard edition, ISBN 978-1-906073-26-8, is a sturdy and resilient paperback. Printed on good quality paper and bound as sewn sections, it has laminated covers and is priced at £17.99. Postage and packing is an additional £4.00 within the UK, £7.00 within European countries outside the UK, and £12.00 elsewhere. For customers in Canada and the USA, the standard edition should be ordered from Holmes Publishing, our distributors there. For all customers not in Canada or the USA, payments can be made directly by Paypal to starfire.books@btinternet.com (in Sterling only) or by accessing the Paypal shopping cart here. Payment can also be made (again, in Sterling only) by a cheque drawn on a UK bank, or by International Money Order or Banker’s Draft. Cheques, money orders or drafts should be made payable to ’Starfire Publishing Ltd.’ and posted to Starfire Publishing Ltd., BCM Starfire, London WC1N 3XX, United Kingdom.

    R. S. Mead published eleven small books under the series title "Echoes from the Gnosis." These books contain translations and interpretations of the Gnostic writings of the ancients. Long before the discovery of the Nag Hammadi Library, Mead translated these esoteric texts of various origins (Christian, Roman, Greek). He wanted to make this material accessible to the growing number of people at the time eager to encounter this ancient mystical religion based on an intuitive process of knowing oneself and the hidden aspects of life and existence. Upon the publication of the 100-year anniversary edition of the series, the appeal for this same material remains stronger than ever.

    In order to attain knowledge, Wisdom in the figure of Sophia lies sunken in the abyss of Not-knowing. From there, she begs the Light (Absolute Knowledge) to liberate her from the rulers, who maintain the world of not-knowing. Her supplications and songs of repentance form the content of Book 1 of The Gospel of the Pistis Sophia, attributed to the second-century gnostic Valentinus. The text is followed by extensive explanations by Jan van Rijckenborgh.

    With the discovery of the Gospel of Thomas in 1945, scholars now believe we have a document closer to Jesus' actual words than we have ever possessed before. Open yourself to the wisdom of Jesus in Thomas and allow these sayings to seep into your soul. -John Beverly Butcher, author of The Tao of Jesus Read The Way of Thomas. Compelling and well-written, this book will broaden the Jesus debate of our century. -John Shelby Spong, author of The Sins of Scripture