THE ORIGIN OF GNOSTICISM
Religion and Magic—Knowledge chief necessity in magic—Origin of myths,
cosmogonies, and apocalypses—Spells and charms—Examples from Magic
Papyri, Sumerian invocation of Persephone, etc.—Letter of Nephotes to
Psammeticus with process of lecanomancy—Egyptian magicians deal with
devils—Polyglot spell of Alleius Craeonius invokes Jehovah with heathen
gods—Spread of magic in late Pagan and early Christian centuries—Magic
ceremonies not all imposture—Hypnotism employed in magic—Influence of
these ideas on evolution of Gnostic sects—Leads to development of ritual
in worship, especially in Egypt—Effect of Gnostic ideas if not
checked—Their early appearance in Greece—The rise of astrology—Its
origin in Babylonia—Introduces new ideas in religion—Astrological
tablets in Assurbanipal’s library—Construction of calendar—System of
correspondences—Planetary influence—Change in astrology when united to
Greek mathematics—Religion and Magic alike adopt astral
theories—Increased importance of Sun worship—Impulse given by astral
theories to Gnosticism—Entry into it of predestinarian ideas . . .
90-120