%0 Journal Article
%T “I Consider Myself a Heretic and a Gnostic, and I Pride Myself on Being One.” Jerzy Prokopiuk’s Esoteric Reception of Gnosis and Gnosticism
%A Dobkowski, Mariusz
%J Studia Religiologica
%V 2021
%R 10.4467/20844077SR.21.017.16554
%N Volume 54 Issue 3
%P 269-284
%K Jerzy Prokopiuk, Polish esotericism, gnosis, Gnosticism, esoteric tradition
%@ 0137-2432
%D 2021
%U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/studia-religiologica/article/uwazam-sie-za-heretyka-i-za-gnostyka-i-szczyce-sie-ze-nim-jestem-jerzego-prokopiuka-ezoteryczna-recepcja-gnozy-i-gnostycyzmu
%X 
	In the paper, the author presents Jerzy Prokopiuk’s (1931–2021) outlook on gnosis and Gnosticism. Prokopiuk was a Polish esotericist, translator, and non-academic specialist in religious studies. His views on this subject can be divided into four areas: (1) definition of gnosis; (2) the essence and de- scription of Gnosticism as a historical religious formation; (3) description and understanding of the post-Gnostic tradition; (4) gnosis and Gnosticism as a hermeneutic tool. As to (1) definition of gno- sis, the Prokopiuk presents three forms of this special kind of knowledge: escapist gnosis (know- ledge liberates the human spirit from material body and the physical world); transformational gnosis (knowledge transforms the human soul, body and earthly nature); lateral gnosis (idea of alternative worlds). Regarding (2) Gnosticism, Prokopiuk says that its source was ancient mysteries and a par- ticular type of religious experience. He sees (3) the post-Gnostic tradition as an unbroken chain of esoteric groups and figures from late antiquity to the present day. Finally, gnosis and Gnosticism are (4) a hermeneutic tool for Prokopiuk because they allow him to interpret phenomena and texts of culture (in the field of literature, cinema, psychology, and others). The paper also reflects on the usefulness of some of Prokopiuk’s ideas for contemporary humanities.