The Good Serpent of Eden

Some early gnostic groups portrayed the serpent in the Tree of Knowledge as a hero who brought enlightenment to Adam and Eve. This online talk examines these ancient texts, enabling us to draw our own conclusions.

Gnosticism is a term for a diverse number of groups in the second to fourth centuries of the Roman Empire. They had a common view: we have a divine spark within us which has been obscured. Enlightenment comes from knowing or rediscovering the light from which we came. We look within ourselves for salvation, not to some external saviour or organisation. 

Not surprisingly, these ideas of self-agency and autonomy came into conflict with the emerging Christian church, which called them 'heretical' and prohibited them.

Some gnostic groups re-told the Eden story. They portrayed the serpent as a hero, someone who brought enlightenment to Adam and Eve by encouraging them to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Such groups were labeled as 'Ophites' (snake-worshippers) by Church writers. 

With the discovery and publication of the Nag Hammadi texts in 1945, we can examine these teachings and come to our own conclusions. 

Book now to examine the Christian origin myth through a revelatory lens that has long been suppressed.

This talk will be recorded. You will find the recording link in your College Account within two working days from the event - an email will alert you when it is ready. This recording will be available for replay for three months following the event. Please see our terms for more information.

Previous participants say:

"Excellent. Looking forward to Professor Muir doing another talk in the future."

"Prof. Muir has the admirable gift of conveying fascinating insights and scholarly information in a very accessible manner. His talks are expertly presented and delivered with great expertise and obvious joy."

"I love Dr Muir's work, as he speaks on overlooked topics but always from a place of great respect. He is a lightworker in many ways and I appreciate how his work acknowledges the feminine always even if in subtle ways."