Legge, Francis 1853-1922 creator text utu 2023 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity: Being Studies in Religious History" by F. Legge is a historical account written in the early 20th century. This work examines the various religious movements and sects that existed in the centuries leading up to the rise of Christianity, focusing especially on Gnosticism and its interaction with early Christian thought. The text delves into the merging ideas and beliefs that influenced early Christianity, providing context for the emergence of what would become orthodox Christian doctrine. The opening of the book sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of post-Christian Gnostic sects, establishing that many early Christians were preoccupied with their faith during the Apostolic age, believing in an imminent divine intervention. Legge discusses how a shift in beliefs occurred by the end of the first century, as the sense of urgency diminished, prompting some converts to seek a blend between Christian tenets and existing Hellenistic religions. He details the evolution of various Gnostic sects, such as the Ophites and others, and emphasizes their complex relationships with both Judaism and early Christianity, illustrating how these heretical sects were influenced by and contributed to the broader religious landscape of the time. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Post-Christian Gnostics -- Post-Christian Gnostics: the Ophites -- Post-Christian Gnostics: Valentinus -- The system of the Pistis Sophia and its related texts -- Marcion -- The worship of Mithras -- Manes and the Manichaeism -- Conclusion. Release date is 2023-09-14 Wouter Franssen, David King, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.) Originally published: Cambridge: University Press, 1915 Christianity and other religions Religions BR Cambridge: University Press, 1915 https://archive.org/details/forerunnersrival02legguoft https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/71647 https://archive.org/details/forerunnersrival02legguoft https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/71647 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134645.0 71647