Contemporary reception of gnosis in Poland: Jerzy Prokopiuk and the quest for spirituality

Artur Jocz, Contemporary reception of gnosis in Poland: Jerzy Prokopiuk and the quest for spirituality, edited by Z. Drozdowicz and S. Sztajer, “Człowiek i Społeczeństwo” vol. XLI, Poznań 2016, pp. 247-254, Adam Mickiewicz University Press. ISSN 0239-3271. While discussing gnosis in contemporary Polish culture, it is impossible to overlook the figure of Jerzy Prokopiuk (born 1931). But Prokopiuk’s body of work should not be judged solely on the merit of his prolific publishing and popularising activity, as one should also take into consideration his spiritual, intellectual and gnostic explorations, as well as how they contributed to the historical reception of gnostic ideas in Poland. This is why this paper will seek to present Prokopiuk’s views on the essence of God, the nature of the world, and the human phenomenon. Artur Jocz, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Department of Religious and Comparative Studies, ul. Szamarzewskiego 89ab, 60-568 Poznań, Poland, e-mail: jocz@neostrada.pl While discussing gnosis1 in contemporary Polish culture it is impossible to overlook the figure of Jerzy Prokopiuk (born 1931) and his legacy – constituting an enormous translation output – with some 124 published 1 For more on Gnosis and Gnosticism see, for example, H. Jonas, The Gnostic Religion, Beacon Press, Boston 2001; W. Myszor, Gnostycyzm – przegląd publikacji, “Studia Theologica Varsaviensia” 1/1971, pp. 367-424; J. Prokopiuk, Gnoza i gnostycyzm, Typograficzna Oficyna Wydawnicza Firet & Antykwariat Daimonion, Warszawa 1998; J. Prokopiuk, Labirynty herezji, Muza, Warszawa 1999; G. Quispel, Gnosis als Weltreligion, Origo Verlag, Zürich 1951; H. Rousseau, Le Dieu du mal, Presses Universitaires de France, Paris 1963.