Within the French Neo-Gnostic Movement, a re-imagination of late antique Gnosticism was accomplished by drawing on the latest progress within Patristic and Coptic Studies alike. This paper explores the movement's fundamental connection with academic research.
Paper long abstract:
The aftermath of the French Revolution gave rise to several schismatic churches, such as the Gallican churches, which attempted to create new Catholic identities disentangled from the Roman See of Saint Peter. This breach with Rome resulted in a crisis of identity. Henceforth, an unfolding clerical subculture, which was increasingly mingling with esotericism, sought new sources of legitimacy. Claiming to represent a 'pure, primitive form of Christianity' (Pearson 2007), the protagonists of this subculture sought identification with late ancient heterodox Christian teachings as alternative providers of authority. Within the French Neo-Gnostic Movement, this re-imagination of late antique Gnosticism was accomplished by drawing on the output of scholars such as the orientalist Ernest Renan (1823-1892) or the Coptologist Émile Amélineau (1850-1915). Indeed, the progress of academic research concerning Patristics and Coptic Studies alike enabled the emergence of the Neo-Gnostic Movement in the first place. This connection has received just little attention in scholarship. Hence, this paper aims at providing an initial consideration of the link between academia and the first wave of Neo-Gnosticism in the 19th century.