The Hidden History of Early Christianity & Gnosticism, with Maxine Hanks

What if early Christianity was far more mystical, diverse, and spiritually empowering than we’ve been taught?

In this profound conversation, Megan Farner sits down with historian, theologian, and mystic Maxine Hanks to explore the hidden streams of early Christianity, Gnosticism, Sophia wisdom traditions, Mary Magdalene, the divine feminine, and the teachings of the resurrected Christ. Together they discuss the Nag Hammadi texts, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, Valentinian Christianity, and the idea of gnosis as direct experiential knowledge of God.

00:00 – Community updates & retreat
 02:20 – Introducing Maxine Hanks
 05:52 – Maxine’s spiritual journey
 10:09 – Mysticism vs. institutional religion
 12:04 – What is Gnosticism?
 14:09 – Early Christianity after Jesus
 16:10 – The teachings of the resurrected Christ
 19:27 – The Gospel of Thomas
 23:02 – Jesus, women & the disciples
 26:13 – Different early Christian movements
 27:40 – The Council of Nicaea
 29:44 – The Nag Hammadi discovery
 33:00 – Mary Magdalene’s role
 36:25 – Core Gnostic beliefs
 40:29 – Megan’s rediscovery of Gnosticism
 44:00 – Reading scripture mystically
 48:51 – The Pleroma & divine fullness
 50:15 – The inner church vs. outer church
 53:00 – Recommended books & texts
 55:21 – The Hymn of the Pearl
 58:43 – Reconciling Christian traditions
 01:00:18 – Why Gnostic teachings were suppressed
 01:02:43 – Direct connection to God
 01:05:37 – Ritual, sacraments & transformation
 01:09:11 – Archons, archetypes & discernment
 01:13:26 – Sophia & divine wisdom
 01:18:24 – The Gnostic resurrection
 01:20:39 – Symbols, rituals & spiritual maturity

Maxine Hanks is a historian and theologian specializing in gender in religion, Mormon studies, Christian liturgy, mysticism, and feminist theology. She is the editor of Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism and has spent decades studying early Christianity, Gnostic traditions, sacramental theology, and the divine feminine.

Books, texts, and Scholars Referenced:

• Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism — Maxine Hanks 
• The Wisdom Jesus — Cynthia Bourgeault 
• The Meaning of Mary Magdalene — Cynthia Bourgeault 
• The Jesus Dynasty — James Tabor 
•  Gospels of Thomas, Philip, Mary, Judas, the Savior
•  Pistis Sophia 
•  Apocryphons of James and John
•  Acts of Thomas 
•  The Hymn of the Pearl 
•  Thunder Perfect Mind 
•  Karen King 
•  Elaine Pagels 
•  Carl Jung 
•  Philo of Alexandria 
•  Valentinus 

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