Not in His Image: Gnostic Vision, Sacred Ecology, and the Future of Belief

392 Pages·2016·2.13 MB·English

by  John Lamb Lash

Praise for Not In His Image
“Sometimes a book changes the world. Not In His Image is such a book. It is
clear, stimulating, well-researched, and sure to outrage the experts. Take it from
a scientist: the ‘experts’ are often wrong. In fact, a hallmark of breakthroughs is
that they are usually well-researched and outrage the ‘experts.’ Science shows
the importance of trusting clear thinking about direct evidence. This book is full
of both. Get it. Improve not just your own life, but civilization’s chances for
survival.”
—ROGER PAYNE, Ph.D., MacArthur Fellow, president of Ocean Alliance,
author Among Whales
“John Lamb Lash’s Not in His Image is a rare achievement, combining
impeccable scholarship with remarkable visionary insight. In a breathtaking tour
de force, the author provides a profound analysis of the history of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam and their connections to the patriarchal system. He
identifies the deep roots of the intrinsic problems of these three religions—
perpetrator-victim emphasis and salvationist ideology—and points out their
relationship to the alienation and agony of modern humanity. This book is a
must for everybody who is trying to understand the psychospiritual currents
underlying the present global crisis.”
—STANISLAV GROF, M.D., author of When the Impossible Happens and The
Holotropic Mind
“An extraordinary and profound book. Not In His Image is a blessing, and a
warning that we must cease taking the terrible advice of Christianity… and that
we must instead re-inhabit our own joyful, painful, mortal, beautiful bodies and
fight for our lives and for the lives of those we love. This book points the way
home.”
—DERRICK JENSEN
“What we know about the divine comes by way of three paths—through the
spectacle of nature, through the testimony of spiritual seekers, and through our
own inner experience, as in meditation and mystical communion. John Lamb
Lash seeks to renew our understanding of all three paths, and thus to renew our
sense of the divine. In particular, he challenges the otherworldly creeds that have
come down to us in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and to recover the earth-
based religions that preceded them. Those ecologically wise religions flourished,
he reminds us, not only among the native peoples of the Western Hemisphere
but also in ancient Europe. By reclaiming this pagan heritage, he argues, we can
begin to cure the pathologies of genocide, war, and environmental degradation
that afflict the modern world.”
—SCOTT RUSSELL SANDERS, author of A Private History of Awe and Staying
Put
“John Lash’s heretical book is a precious act of spiritual disobedience that seeks
to save the world from Salvationism. Lash opens new ground between myth and
ecology, and helps one feel what the planet feels. He proposes direct knowing
and moving beyond belief, and advocates animism as a proposition to test. He
leaves the future open and in need of human imagination. Humanity is
implicated in the future of the living planet, but Lash exercises caution when
making suppositions about our role as a species. This book is learned,
courageous, and full of insights. Some may find it challenging and even
shocking, but it is an important read for those interested in life on earth. It is
made for readers to chew on, rather than believe.”
—JEREMY NARBY, anthropologist, author of The Cosmic Serpent and
Intelligence in Nature
NOT IN
HIS
IMAGE

NOT IN
HIS
IMAGE
GNOSTIC VISION,
SACRED ECOLOGY,
AND THE FUTURE
OF BELIEF
JOHN LAMB LASH
CHELSEA GREEN PUBLISHING
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VERMONT
Copyright © 2006 by John Lamb Lash. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form by any means
without permission in writing from the publisher.
Managing Editor: Marcy Brant
Copy Editor: Cannon Labrie
Indexer: Peggy Holloway
Designer: Peter Holm, Sterling Hill Productions
Illustrations: Abrah Griggs, Sterling Hill Productions
Printed in the United States First printing, October 2006 10 9 8 7 6 5
Our Commitment to Green Publishing
Chelsea Green sees publishing as a tool for cultural change and ecological
stewardship. We strive to align our book manufacturing practices with our
editorial mission and to reduce the impact of our business enterprise in the
environment. We print our books and catalogs on chlorine-free recycled paper,
using vegetable-based inks whenever possible. This book may cost slightly more
because we use recycled paper, and we hope you’ll agree that it’s worth it.
Chelsea Green is a member of the Green Press Initiative
(www.greenpressinitiative.org), a nonprofit coalition of publishers,
manufacturers, and authors working to protect the world’s endangered forests
and conserve natural resources. Not in His Image was printed on Natures Book
Natural, a 30-percent post - consumer recycled paper supplied by Thomson-
Shore.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lash, John.
Not in his image : gnostic vision, sacred ecology, and the future of belief / John
Lamb Lash.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-933392-40-0
ISBN-10: 1-933392-40-1
ISBN-13: 978-1-931498-92-0 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 1-931498-92-X (pbk.)
1. Religion. 2. Gnosticism. 3. Paganism. 4. Monotheism. I. Title.
BL51.L37 2006
299'.932--dc22
2006018250
Chelsea Green Publishing
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, Vermont 05001
[phone]
www.chelseagreen.com
For the mystics of the future
“A kid, thou hast fallen into milk.”