Book Report on
The Laughing Jesus – Religious Lies and Gnostic Wisdom
by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy
What first attracted me to this book was the title as I have always felt that the majority of the bible is written by man to suit his needs or beliefs of the individual writing the chapters and therefore based on bias and prejudices.
The book itself is a comparative look at the Gnostic beliefs and the Literalist belief systems. Although for me even the wording in the first half of the book felt as an outright attack of the Literalist beliefs. After reading it, it is almost as if the writers are doing this as shock value putting the paddles on your “dogma” and yelling “CLEAR”.
The Gnostic viewpoint is that what is important is the awakening to spirit or oneness that brings people together whereas the Literalist viewpoint is to divide and separate, keep you asleep in effect and that the Bible is to be followed blindly. Do not attempt to question or interpret for yourself.
The Literalist religions twisted the Gnostic teachings of parables to suggest actual factual people, places and miracles. This book challenges the reader to open their minds and beliefs to find for yourself what resonates for you and not just accept blindly the Literalist viewpoint. Granted it would be difficult in my opinion for a diehard Literalist to get past the “CLEAR” and be open minded concerning the material presented.
The second half of the book presents the Gnostic views. I must admit it was somewhat difficult for me to grasp some of the concepts presented and required me to reread and contemplate each view point but the material resonated very much to me. An “A HA” moment. One of the concepts discussed is Lucid Living. Lucid living is described as, “recognizing that you can see yourself in two entirely different ways in the present moment. You are both the “I” and an “it”. Focus on the reality of this moment and discriminate what you are from what you appear to be.”
The only way so far that I have been able to conceptualize this is to compare it to the movie The Matrix. Where Neo is given the option of taking the red pill or the blue pill. Do you accept your reality for what it is in your experience or do you look closer and within to see that it is all an illusion to control you.
There really wasn't anything I didn't like about the book other than it at times was confusing for me but overall I really liked all the material presented as it does challenge the reader to think for themselves and not to take the Gnostic viewpoint as Literal either. Find your own path and what resonates. Question and Grow and Awaken to your own Truths.
What surprised me the most was that I have been Gnostic all my life without even knowing what a Gnostic is. The arguments presented are the same arguments I have always used when discussing religion with anyone.
I highly recommend this book if anything to challenge your beliefs and “Shock” you into thinking for yourself to find your own Awakening your own Gnosis or “Knowing”.
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