In this interview, I am once again joined by Professor Arthur Versluis, a professor and Department Chair of Religious Studies in the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University, author of over 25 books on subjects ranging from Western esotericism, magic, Christian Theosophy, ancient mystery schools, and more.

In this episode Arthur discusses his latest book ‘American Gnosis’ in which he explores the surprising connections between the Gnostic tradition and contemporary American spirituality, politics, and popular media.

Arthur shows the ways in which gnostic religious themes explicitly and implicitly express in political groups such as the dissident right, probes Eric Voegelin’s theories which propose links between gnosticism and left wing political movements, and explores the blend of cosmological and metaphysical gnosis in the writings of David Icke.

Arthur also details the key features of neognosticism, discusses the meme battles over the Matrix film’s ‘red pill’, and considers the overlaps between light work, conspiracy theories, and Tibetan Buddhism.

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Video episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep222-american-gnosis-arthur-versluis-phd-3

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:19 - American Gnosis

02:17 - Origins of and surprises in the research

06:03 - An anecdote of American Gnosticism

08:02 - The gnosis of Twin Peaks

08:38 - Defining Gnosticism

12:18 - Emerging 20th century Neo-Gnosticism

14:30 - Cosmological vs metaphysical gnosis

17:19 - A surprising claim of awakening

21:26 - Crossover between Buddhist and Neo-Gnostic awakenings

23:40 - Political gnosis on the left and right

25:50 - Psychedelic gnosis

26:33 - Neo-gnosticism and the dissident right

29:31 - Is there neognosticism on the left?

34:01 - Are analyses in terms of whiteness and patriarchy neognostic in structure?

36:14 - Double-view of gnosticism on the right

40:44 - A problem in the American Buddhist world

42:23 - Struggle between the left and right over the symbolism of the Matrix’s red pill

49:22 - The pseudo-religion of the state and the 2nd reality

53:03 - Overreach of the label of ‘gnostic’

55:18 - The gnosis of David Icke

01:02:14 - Suicidal nihilism of neognosticism vs Icke’s metaphysical gnosis

01:06:02 - Lightwork and conspiracy theory overlap with Buddhism

01:13:33 - Entities and dark forces in Tibetan Buddhism

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Previous episodes with Prof. Arthur Versluis:

- https://www.guruviking.com/ep106-arthur-versluis-phd-conversations-in-apocalyptic-times/

- https://www.guruviking.com/ep113-arthur-versluis-phd-2-american-gurus/

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To buy ‘American Gnosis’, visit:

- https://global.oup.com/academic/product/american-gnosis-9780197653210?cc=gb&lang=en&

To find out more about Prof. Arthur Versluis, visit:

- https://arthurversluis.com/

For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James