LinksLinksThis is more a personal list of Bookmarks than
anything else, but I felt that since it is on my personal homepage
section rather than in direct relation to the other projects, I could make a
few remarks about why
the Links are listed and what possible relation either of them have to myself.
Jan Valentin Saether`s homepage.
I have known Jan since the fall of 1995, having found out from common
acquiantances we had interests and perspectives which coincided.
I respect Jan`s integrity as an artist,a critic and literary dilettante..
but known him more directly in terms of his being Priest for
the Ecclesia Gnostica Norvegia
which is an Order for the celebration of the
Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrament,a Communion Heterodox and Universal.
The parish and "missionary extension" of Ecclesia
Gnostica which has its
headquarters and episcopal seat in Hollywood,Los Angeles - operates upon
the
prinsciples of Open Communion (the gift of the sacrament given
to all who would ask for it) and Individual discernment. It is by necessity
Bi-lingual, also serving the non-norwegian speaking community with monthly
services in English.
White Willow`s official homepage is
a comprehensive representation of
White Willow, a progressive rock band which got started by Jacob
Holm Lupo, whom I have known for many years now.
My Brother, Jarle Dahl Bergersen`s
weblog is mainly about the Flash internet/multimedia
technology and related issues to the Internet. I would like to be better
informed about whats going on in this field, and places like that weblog
is just the place for me to get a "clue".
Esoterism
Esoteric comes across to us as being something "hidden" and not entirely
visible or plain. In the positive and affirmative use of the word, it is
implied gradual acquisition of understanding and knowledge which are
otherwise inaccessible, whereas the negative and rhetoric usually
point out that the occult and esoteric is obscure, and obscure with
malice.
Arthur Versluis is a scholar and researcher of several currents of
the hermetic,gnostic,theosophic and christian mystic traditions -
His Theosophia: Hidden Dimensions of Christianity is an excellent
read and have given me a much better grasp on the complexity
and dynamic of the Christian Gnosis throughout history.
Additionally a very insightful study of "Gnostic" themes in
the history of Literature, Gnosis and Literature are another
good read from the same author.
Arthur Versluis is editor of the Esoterica
Journal which is
available free on the internet in a very accessible and easily
read format. In my estimation it is an excellent resource for
those who are interested in the above subjects.
Another great resource is the Amsterdam based
History of Hermetic Philosophy
and Related Currents,
which actually has a Flash frontend. It still has its quirks,though.
Gnosticism
General resources
The Gnosis Archive
has a unparalelled collection of resources on Gnosticism and related topics
on the Internet, it also has a history that runs down to 1994 when it functioned
as an archive for the now defunct discussion forum Gnosis-List. Gnosis-List
were a forum where readers of the likewise regretted
Gnosis Magazine gathered
and bandied around ideas,projects,questions and answers.
(A remnant of the Gnosis List period can be found in Dean Edwards (past
moderator for the Gnosis List) Gnosis
overview.)
The Virtual Library of the Gnostic
Society were in many ways begun by
yours truly - by my transcribing english translations of the Gnostic texts
from the Nag Hammadi Library
and other sources to the Societas Gnostica
Norvegia Library homepage I moderated from 1994 onwards.
Eventually that was an endeavour taken over by others and the end result
of the Virtual Library of the Gnostic Society as you find it today is as
much a fruit of their efforts as it was mine. In fact, the only thing im willing
to take credit from is getting the thing on the road.
The Gnosis Archive is edited by Lance Owens, a Priest for the Ecclesia
Gnostica.
Alan M.Kazlev`s KHEPER website has
a very nice and orderly
Gnosticism section.
The Gnostic Friends Network
is a concept site on Gnosticism from a modern/post-modern perspective,
which the Californian Artist Alex Guldbeck (aka Imperator Maximus,drZeuss
etc.) created many years ago and which has truelly undergone several metempsychoses
until
its present seemingly stable form. The quotations and excerpts put an interesting
twist on the whole phenomenon of "Gnosticism", and almost makes its
demiurge-
mythos appealing to atheists and noncomformist agnostics.
"Gnostic Christianity dot
Com"
I am unsure what to make of this website, it is the publication of an author
who diligently disassociates himself from the older and ancient gnostic
currents and attach great emphasis on a rather modern and notably
American protestant theology and ethic.
Articles on Gnosticism and related
Note: The articles by Professor Turner appears to be offline at the moment,
which is a shame, judging by the quality these articles had as compared to
most presented currently on the Internet.
Ritual in Gnosticism
by John D. Turner
"To See the Light"
by John D. Turner
The Gnostic Threefold path to Enlightenment
by John D. Turner at SNTS
Gnosticism and Platonism
by John D. Turner
The Sons of Zadok and the Christian Gnosis
by John Cole
Gnosis and Christos
by Fr. William J. Morris,
Societas Rosicruciana in Canada
Light in the Bridal Chamber
by Fr.William J. Morris
Societas Rosicruciana in Canada
Scholars and academic institutions
Gnostic/Coptic Scholar John D. Turner`s
Homepage
The International Association
for Coptic Studies
Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas
Magazines, Journels etc.
Alexandria on the Web
(Alexandria Journal)
Gnosis Magazine
Specific Traditions
Jacob Boehme
Jacob
Boehme Resources
Bogomilism
The Bogomils of Bulgaria and Bosnia
byL.P.Brockett
Describes the movement from the Paulicians in the Byzantine Empire to the
Albigensians in Medieval Languedoc as an precursor of the anabaptist/baptist
reformation of Christianity. Whereas the dualism of the Bogomils are not
entirely taken into account, and attempted revised, this article does give
pointers towards the actual role the Bogomils did have in the history of
Christian doctrine.
Catharism
The Legend of the Cathars
by Judith Mann
Mandeism
Individual articles of interest:
The Mandaeans: An Unknown Religious Minority in the Near East
by Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley at INEAS
Sethian Gnosticism
Individual articles of interest:
Sethian Gnosticism - a literary history
by John D. Turner
Typologies of the Sethian Gnostic
Treatises from Nag Hammadi
by John D. Turner
Thomasine Gnosis
The Gnostic Apostle Thomas
by Herbert Christian Merillat
Valentinian Gnosticism
Presently David Brons` homepage
Valentinus and Valentinianism
is the best resource on this particular subject.
Included on the site is the relevant texts from
the tradition, a chronological list with biographical
details (where possible) and very insightfull essays
on specific areas of Valentinian theology and cosmology.
Gnostic Themes in Modern culture
I: The Matrix - Gnosticism Reborn.
This site takes a glance at the phenomenal science fiction movie
The Matrix. The movie, with all its cliches and weaknesses, is a
visual tour de force of the Disillusionment found within certain
currents of modern thought from Existencialism through Post-Modernism
; following suit with many modern dystopies - such as Blade Runner,
Dark City, The Thirteenth Floor and The Truman Show (!) it has been
labeled a product of /quote Gnostic /unquote Cinematics. In the
early 1990`s with quite a few of the "candidates" still unproduced
or even unthought of, Theodore Roszak wrote a fable called Flicker
Where the protagonist discovered a Cathar (!) plot to manipulate
modern civilization towards self-extinction by way of instilling
subliminally an association of Sex with Death; as if this has not
been the case since Antiquity! through clever cinematic technology
and the cynicism found in the Cult department of our New religions..
Although not completely relevant in terms of this site, one should
be reminded that a projection of complex,involved and subtle
thematics into the flatland of contemporary pop culture - where
even the broadcast news are meant as entertainment.. serves
the ends which the conservatives and worried theoreticians of one
or another totalitarian theocracy has - to appoint Gnosticism and
its like the source and fountain of all the poisons they observe in
the lifeblood of their culture. Radicals who have opined that religion
(and with it all symbols and myths which cannot serve a purpouse
in furthering revolution) is opium.. share this concern with the
Conservatives, and above all, are among the very few who
approve of the methods which has historical presedence
among the Conservatives. Be not surprised if the audience
is waving red flags when the Inquisition is televised..
Is our culture and everything in it "tainted" with Gnosticism?
No. It is tainted with all the symptoms which ancient heresies
and heretics have diagnosed and identified, in all cultural paradigms
and ages.. since the beginning of human intelligence.. the diagnosis
is not there to identify our predicament as all there is, but point
towards it as our starting point.
The Gnostic Revival
Gnostic Church Tradition
The contemporary current of Gnostic Churches have their chronological
beginning in the 1890 formation of the Eglise
Gnostique (it has been suggested
that the Church had many names in the beginning, but in general sense the
Church was founded as "Gnostic Church" or "Church of the Gnosis"
in french)
in Paris, by
Jules
Stanys Doinel.
The link to the Eglise Gnostique above takes you to
a compiled historical survey of the Gnostic Church tradition by Milko Bogaard,
it is the most comprehensive, yet confusing, accounts of the Gnostic churches
online, developed in connection with Mr.Bogaard`s scholarly study of the
French current of esoteric orders during the 19th and 20th century.
The three part survey is available on Philip Garver`s Gnostique
Net Website
which is an effort to make an anthology of resources related to the Eglise
Gnostique family of Gnostic Churches. Peter R. Koenig , a scholar
on the Ordo Templi Orientis Phenomenon and assorted other peccadilloes
also maintains a "Gnostic Catholic Church" section at his OTO Phenomenon
webpages, which makes available diverse documents related to the
French Gnostic Church and its "darker brethren" in the worldwide "occult
underground" - such as Doinel`s Ceremony
of the Breaking of the Bread
(le Fraction de Pain) in english adaptation by Malgwyn
Evans (who I
know from the Eglise Gnostique discussion forum at Yahoogroups.)
In the same section you may also find Mr.Koenig`s article Stranded
Bishops which takes into account the Gnostic Church legacy from
the perspective of being a researcher on Occult culture, thus putting
greater emphasis upon the so-called OTO-connection.
Tau Apiryon has written an interesting essay on The
Structure and Liturgy of the French Gnostic Church of Jules Doinel from
such an OTO perspective.
Mysticism
Mysticism as concept has turned out to be a modern chimera, which is to say
something which is almost impossible to pinpoint as specific and concrete.
Dealing with abstractions, untranslateable experiences such as visions
and dreams, questions of identity nested in a cosmological or metaphysical
framework which in itself serves as a hermeneutic - mysticism has fallen
from grace in the philosophical community in the recent years, moreover
it is highly suspect to the theologians and technicians of social and moral
indoctrination who are the servants of the authoritative religious traditions.
Suspect as it might be, its platform is that of a plural choir reminding
the contemporary man of the origins of his conscious and unconscious
inheritance from the past; that what his eyes behold may not be the whole
of the truth, or the truth at all. Cinematic creations and fables have by far
promoted this remembrance in the 90`s and the beginning of the 21st
century, movies such as The Matrix, Stigmata and so forth posing questions
which only the Mystic (or an apropriately inebriated existencialist (which
often amounts to the same)) would answer.
Christian Mystics and Mystical traditions
Eckhart, Meister
The Meister Eckhart Society
The Meister
Eckhart homepage
The Ephrata community
RoseCross Work
The
Pennsylvania Mystics and their Mentors
The Ephrata community were a social experiment in the early
"utopian" era of american communalism, along with the Shakers
, this small group of pietist mystics were among the pioneers
of unconventional christian experiments in America. They
incorporated elements from German christian mysticism
Protestant and Catholic, christian kabbalism, the Hermetic
currents of the 16th and 17th century and Alchemy; and
has therefore interested Rosicrucians in terms of the history
and developement of modern Rosicrucianism.
Neoplatonism
Neo-Platonism, or "the new Platonism" isn`t a self-chosen label by
the classical schools of thought and their luminaries, but an ever
convenient blurb for a phenomenon in time and space which indulges
the historians of ideas and doctrines, chosen by scholars who dissect
whatever is left of such thought and coherence as experienced by
the people, who would "follow in the footsteps of Plato", yet in
entirely new ways. I am not sure whether or not it is entirely
correct to subclass the following into one category - since at
first we have to do with the late 2nd Century CE onwards developement
in Antiquity, especially Greece and Asia Minor,a developement very
much challenged by the new Cosmopolis of Constantinople/Byzants
and its institutional cult of Christendom, although the latter would
adapt and assimilate much from Neo-Platonism, and historians would
perhaps also identify quite a few Christian Neo-Platonists (sic!) as
well - secondly, a peculiar rebirth, or Renaissance in the late 15th
century were ancient and forgotten material from the Western
Psyche would reappear, on merchant ships and caravans from
the Islamic Orient. The latter has a continuity which is more or
less broken, since literates has transcribed,studied,commented
and discussed the ideals and perspective of this "modern
Neo-Platonism" ever since the formation of the "Platonic Academy"
in Florence under the Aegis of Cosimo De Medici.
International Society for Neoplatonic Studies
Journal of Neoplatonic Studies
Marsilio Ficino
Marsilio Ficino Society
Computers
Apple Macintosh
I have the privilege of using two Macintosh computers; The first
and primary computer being the veteran of the litter - an
PowerMac 8200 with a 120Mhz processor and a
Powerbook G3 original series with a 266Mhz processor.
I have used Mac as my platform since my "conversion" from
Amiga in the fall of 1996 when I began studies in so-called
"Mac Design". I much prefer the Mac OS because of all the
quirks and peccadilloes associated with the Microsoft family
of Operative Systems.
So, Cheers to Apple for carrying on !
Mac Central
Macintosh related news.
Versiontracker MacOS
A resource which keeps you up to date about
updates and new versions of shareware,freeware
and commercial applications and games.
Graphic Design
General
I have been reading Computer Arts
since it began publishing, there are
some specializations there which I haven`t entered much into, such as
3D design, application production on the Flash and Director software and
Digital Video, but I feel less ignorant of the developements and possibilities
of these technologies from reading the magazine.
DTP - Desktop Publishing is another word for Prepress
design from an "ordinary" desktop computer, either for
large-scale printing, or personal copies on dye and laser
printers..
There is even a resource portal by that name, Desktop
Publishing Com which have
more goodies and links than I have been able to check out.
Image and Illustration
Photoshop Resources
I have used Adobe Photoshop since its 3.0 version and must
say that it is still is "king of the hill" as the most comprehensive
and powerful image manipulation,creation and procession applications.
Planet Photoshop
Typography
Typofile – Typeface "fandom" ezine?
This page was created 31.05.2002
This page was updated 25.07.2002