Nag Hammadi Library Poem Analysis

1689 Words4 Pages

Kayla Adams
Professor Zimmerle
PHIL 4431 22D
1 April 2014
The Nag Hammadi Library: The Feminine Deific and Spiritual Principle
In the Nag Hammadi Library, there are a multitude of texts that revolve around various themes that are present in religion. The texts that have been chosen for analysis are The Thunder: Perfect Mind, The Thought of Norea, The Sophia of Jesus Christ, and Exegesis of the Soul. A parallel that can be drawn between each of these texts are their references to the feminine presence as one that is deific in nature and the spiritual principles that this presence conveys. Each of these texts share similarities and are significant in different ways in regards to the message being delivered and understood, and how they are interpreted.
In the first selected text, The Thunder: Perfect Mind, there is only one character. This individual only refers to himself or herself as “she” and they are described as anything and everything. This person is everything; whether it contradicts itself or not, and is everywhere. This oxymoronic nature is shown when she states, “For I am knowledge and ignorance. I am shame and boldness.“ This is an indication that the presence is one that is spiritual since only an individual that is goddess-like has the potential to be able to something of that nature. The text is written in poem format and the text flows due to the repetitive nature. Many of the lines of the poem begin with the words “I am” and by constantly going back to this phrase, this is an indication of power and that this being is everywhere and sees everything, both the good and the bad. The text begins as the woman describing herself generally as coming from the power, and as it progresses she indicates all other places that ...

... middle of paper ...

...rney this indicates strength in female presence.
Inclusively, though some of the events that take place in the four texts were scarring, the overall message taken away was positive in nature. Each of the messages portrayed were done through some sort of female presence, whether it was physical or spiritual. The stories revolved around unification or distinguishing teachings and were very effective in their array of messages. The Thunder: Perfect Mind’s message was in women being described as everything and the importance of unification, The Thought of Norea with women being heavenly and being able to be made whole again through the help of divine intervening, The Sophia of Jesus Christ using the name of a woman for wisdom to indicate the importance of the infinity of the universe and finally Exegesis of the Soul using a woman to indicate the sanctity of marriage.

Show More
Related

  • Drifters Poem Analysis

    422 Words  | 1 Pages

    Without the use of stereotypical behaviours or even language is known universally, the naming of certain places in, but not really known to, Australia in ‘Drifters’ and ‘Reverie of a Swimmer’ convoluted with the overall message of the poems. The story of ‘Drifters’ looks at a family that moves around so much, that they feel as though they don’t belong. By utilising metaphors of planting in a ‘“vegetable-patch”, Dawe is referring to the family making roots, or settling down somewhere, which the audience assumes doesn’t occur, as the “green tomatoes are picked by off the vine”. The idea of feeling secure and settling down can be applied to any country and isn’t a stereotypical Australian behaviour - unless it is, in fact, referring to the continental

    Read More

  • Analysis Of First Poem For You

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    Kim Addonizio’s “First Poem for You” portrays a speaker who contemplates the state of their romantic relationship though reflections of their partner’s tattoos. Addressing their partner, the speaker ambivalence towards the merits of the relationship, the speaker unhappily remains with their partner. Through the usage of contrasting visual and kinesthetic imagery, the speaker revels the reasons of their inability to embrace the relationship and showcases the extent of their paralysis. Exploring this theme, the poem discusses how inner conflicts can be powerful paralyzers.

    Read More

  • The Walking Woman And The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis

    1052 Words  | 3 Pages

    It takes a certain amount of will or determination to make such changes. The cultural pressure held over women to do certain tasks such as becoming a mother or getting married became quite overwhelming. This held them back from expressing themselves in a well-suited fashion. Overall, these three texts showed how women progressed in their own literature which had been written in different time periods. It allowed them each to rise to their full potential. The creative component is a full face mask meant to express something people tend to hide themselves behind. All three women at some point in their literature went through some form of battle. At the end of the battle or the end of their texts, they were stronger. They were not known just as creatures, but instead they had the strength and confidence they so desperately longed

    Read More

  • Egyptian And Chinese Poem Analysis

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    Literature shows us the changes of our society from time to time. It also gives us an idea about people, culture, politics, gender traditions, as well as an overall view of previous civilizations. As a part of literature, poetry introduces us to different cultures with different perspectives. Ancient Egypt and ancient China may differ in terms of culture, politics, economic stability, tradition, or even in religious belief. However, in poetry, especially in love lyrics both Egyptian and Chinese poems portray common area of describing women, social attitudes toward love, sexuality and the existence of romance or selfishness in relationships. . If we look at the Egyptian poem “My god, my Lotus” and the Chinese poem “Fishhawk”, we will see both poems have similarities in describing relationships. Also, they have the similarity of imagining the lovers and their expression of love toward each other. However, both poems have some significant differences in terms of representing female sexuality, gender disparity and the display of love.

    Read More

  • The Stories and Narratives Between The Virgen Mary, Rachel and Fatima

    1900 Words  | 4 Pages

    Religion is a key aspect to the culture of today’s society, as well as, for thousands of years prior. One major key distinction remains, most religions are male dominated traditions. Catholic, Islamic, and Jewish philosophy truly exemplify this. However, the importance and major role women play within the realm of different theologies is evident. Mary, the Catholic Virgin Mary, the Jewish Rachel, and Islamic Fatima are three important saints whose influence and importance is recognized. The term saint sometimes may blur between mortal beings and heavenly realms. Nonetheless, the three saints named have significance within their particular religious content. Rachel, Mary and Fatima contrast significantly in legends, descriptions and religious philosophies, but are comparable in devotions and reasons revered.

    Read More

  • Feminism in the Islamic Community

    1319 Words  | 3 Pages

    Schimmel, Annemarie. My Soul Is a Woman: The Feminine in Islam. New York: Continuum, 1997. Print.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast American Culture And Indian Culture

    1238 Words  | 3 Pages

    3. Dan A. Chekki also told that, “Divinity resides in families in which the women are respected; where they are not, there is ruin.” (Dan A. Chekki, page 75)

    Read More

  • How far can you be a Feminist Biblical Scholar and Remain a Faithful Christian?

    2039 Words  | 5 Pages

    Scholz, S. (2014). Feminist Scholarship on the Old Testament: Introduction. Available: http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195393361/obo-9780195393361-0020.xml. Last accessed 19th March 2014.

    Read More

  • Similarities and Differencces between Christianity and Islam

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Jaoudi, Maria. Christian and Islamic spirituality: sharing a journey. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1993. Print.

    Read More

  • The Tattoor Poem Analysis

    1642 Words  | 4 Pages

    This research paper speaks of the poem “The Tattooer” that talks about Japanese culture where men are superior and women are seen beneath the men of society. The poem "The Tattooer" shines the light on many of Tanizaki's standard society themes. And in this the tattooer desires the pleasure of his art; the tattooer takes much pride in the tattoos that he creates on the flesh of humans and also endures pleasure from putting pain on the empty canvases with his needle. In “The Tattooer” by Tanizaki Jun’ichiro the tattooer desires the pain inflicted on his canvas but then the perfect body is seen and he realizes that he must now tattoo for the beauty of the tattoo and is soon controlled by women.

    Read More

  • The Power of Myth

    4006 Words  | 9 Pages

    ...ction of Classic Texts." Special Issue: Feminist Philosophy of Religion. Hypatia. 9/22/94. Retrieved from Electronic Library April 16 2001. http://www.elibrary.com

    Read More

  • Women's Inferior Status in The Bible

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... a merely a reflection of Hebrew society of the time (Stanton). Jesus Christ, being a reformer, should have improved the status of women with his message of love and acceptance. However, there is no denying that the stigma is carried with women into the present day. Women’s position in society can be greatly attributed to their depiction in religious text. Holy word is still a factor in making women more susceptible, more culpable, and more sinful an impure than men. Even as women move up in the social order, religion is timeless and ever bearing on the struggle women fight for sexual equality.

    Read More

  • Exploring Women’s Role in the Bible

    2412 Words  | 5 Pages

    The stories about women in the bible illustrate the importance of their role and contribution to society. Women were slaves, concubines, and child bearers; they were also wives, matriarchs, and prophets. Although, some women had less important titles than others each served a purpose. Even if the Bible does not explain God’s relationship with women as with Moses and other prophets, it illustrates the love and dedication women had for Him. The scriptures describe brave, nurturing, and God fearing women whose decisions impacted the existence of the Israelites.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Christianity And Islam

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    However much Islam and Christianity would seem to share common ground, the discussion is not complete without noting the parallels between this two that have taken center stage. Some of the remarkable differences as they try to answer deep life complexities arise in the areas of religious practices by both their adherents and the clergy (Dorothy 13-28). “There is also a stark contrast to the belief system subscribed to, means of salvation, scriptures”. The most prominent difference present concerns the belief of life after death and practices of depicting the metaphysical

    Read More

  • The Role of Woman in Judaism

    1896 Words  | 4 Pages

    Umansky, Ellen. "Feminism in Judaism." Feminism and World Religions. Ed. Arvind Sharma and Katherine Young. Albany: SUNY Press, 1999. 179-213. Print.

    Read More

More about Nag Hammadi Library Poem Analysis

Open Document