How Old is the Concept of Demiurge?

How old is the concept of demiurge and can we connect to it? Bennett’s use of the term demiurge preceded Sherborne, where I assumed he had made the term up. I had not read his Dramatic Universe. As his student, I understood he meant demiurge to be a force in the realm of angels. Mr. Bennett also spoke of the higher powers. I didn’t think he meant the two were the same.

Recently, I’ve been reading Elaine Pagels’ The Gnostic Gospels. To my surprise, I came across this on pages 36-37 of the paperback edition: “Valentinus, [an early Christian priest] following Plato, uses the Greek term for “creator” (demiurgos), suggesting that he is a lesser divine being who serves as the instrument of the higher powers.” Wow! The term demiurgos is Greek and was used by Plato. As did Mr. Bennett, these ancient writings relegate the demiurge to a lower standing than that of the “higher powers.”

I believe Pagels’ book was the first scholarly interpretation of early Christian scrolls, found in 1945, at Nag Hammandi, in Egypt. However, the book was published five years after Bennett’s death in 1974. So, his use of the term demiurge and higher powers in the Dramatic Universe seems to have preceded her findings.

Bennett Didn’t Make the Term Demiurge Up

Within Anthony Blake’s commentary on Bennett’s The Dramatic Universe, Blake says:

 “The point is that the demiurgic action or action of higher intelligence cannot be understood in terms of one and many, separate from man or as part of man. All usual distinctions have to be abandoned.”

Wondering about Demiurgos

I admit, I’m wiseacreing here. That is to say, I’m spinning thoughts together as if I know something. I don’t. I’m just wondering about this demiurgos, or demiurge, and what did Mr. Bennett really know? Meaning, what was his handle on the truth about demiurgic action?

Gurdjieff introduced us to solioonensius, catastrophic earthly events orchestrated by higher beings. Are these beings the demiurges Bennett speaks of? It sounds like these beings have created events to force us to re-evaluate our lives, to re-set our priorities. Rather along the lines of tough love. And is the roll of demiurge to put in motion directions from a deeper source, from higher powers? I’m not talking about the humanistic God of religion, but of intelligences, forces, something beyond what we can comprehend.

Connecting with the Demiurge

Now I wonder, how far back in human history does the notion of demiurge go? Was there a closer connection at some point, long ago, with universal forces outside of ourselves? Does Bennett speak of the demiurge because he had a connection with a reality we do not? And can we re-attune ourselves to connect to it?