FOR a probing and erudite look at ancient Gnosticism, see the recent three-part series by Thomas F. Bertonneau in The Brussels Journal. It can be read here , here, and here . Bertonneau looks beyond the work of Eric Voegelin for evidence that the religious fervor and irrrationality of modern liberals have their precedent in Antiquity.

 Bertonneau writes in Part II of Gnosticism from a Non-Voegelinian Perspective:

A good word for capturing the essence of Gnosis is the Latin noun superbia, with its moral connotation of haughtiness, pride, and spiritual self-inflation. A fine example of Gnosis as superbia comes in the text called Zostrianos. This tract purports to record in the first person the elaborate initiation or “baptism” by which one of the pneumatics recognizes his superior status and acquires the secret knowledge appropriate to his “race.” Zostrianos becomes “a messenger of the perfect male race.”

The discussion following Part III is especially good.

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