Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity: Volume 1 Being Studies in Religious History from 330 BC to 330 AD

Originally published in 1915, this book contains a survey of the origins of Christianity and the impact that other religions had on its formation. Volume One covers pre-Christian Gnosticism, Orphic cults and the religions of Egypt and Persia in the Hellenistic period. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in ancient religion and the development of Christianity.

Table of dates; Books and articles referred to; Introduction; 1. The conquests of Alexander; 2. The Alexandrian divinities; 3. The origin of Gnosticism; 4. Pre-Christian Gnostics: the Orphici; 5. Pre-Christian Gnostics: the Essenes; 6. Pre-Christian Gnostics: Simon Magus.