Revival of the Gnostic Heresy

Book excerpt: In this rigorous and provocative study, Joe E. Morrisargues that the basic tenets and practices of Fundamentalism are those of ancient Christian Gnosticism. Drawing on extensive research andcareful analysis, Morris aligns the two religious phenomena, point by point, tenet by tenet.Along the way, he provides insights into the key hermeneutic of Fundamentalism: inerrancy of Scripture, highlighting the multiple problems with the positions of literal and inerrant interpretation, their impracticality and unfeasibility, and their contradiction with their own conservative doctrine - namely, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. This groundbreaking book dramatically recasts our understanding of the history of Christianity and gives important context to modern-day religious debates.