The gnosis or ancient wisdom in the Christian Scriptures

This work is written mainly for a class of readers and students
who find themselves altogether out of touch with "Christianity"
in any of its current doctrinal or sacerdotal forms,
but who, notwithstanding this, have some more or less
clear apprehension that behind those forms, and in the
Christian Scriptures themselves, there lies a deep spiritual
truth, a real Gnosis (Gr. knowledge) of Man’s origin, nature,
and destiny which has simply been materialized by the
Church in the traditional interpretation of those Scriptures
based upon their literal acceptation.

--from the Introduction