Gnosticism and modernity: an archaeology of the influence of Valentinian Gnosticism on modern systems of thought through the theological theme of Sophiology

This thesis investigates the influence of second century Gnosticism (Valentinian Gnosticism) on
modern systems of thought. It contends that such an influence does exists and that Gnosticism,
although often neglected, is one significant hermeneutical approach to understanding influential
modern philosophical and theological cultures such as German Idealism and Sophiology. It
attempts to demonstrate these claims by broadly adhering to a Foucauldian archaeological
methodology that focuses on the historical development of a particular theological theme:
Sophiology.