SKYCTC Computer Information Technology Instructor Authors Latest Book, “Not as Above, Not as Below”

Bowling Green, Ky. – Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) Computer Information Technology Instructor John Gilbert brings a unique combination of expertise in cybersecurity and military intelligence to his role at the college. With 21 years of military service, Gilbert has extensive experience as an M1 Tank Crewman and later as an Arabic Cryptologic Linguist. His diverse background has fueled his lifelong interest in languages and linguistic challenges, making him well-equipped to teach CIT courses at SKYCTC.

"I have always wanted to be a writer since I was a child and have worked on it in the background my whole life,” Gilbert says. “I credit this interest to my mother always keeping books at child-accessible levels in the house even before I knew what a book really was." Gilbert emphasizes that, in today’s information-driven world, books are where in-depth, thorough, and complete ideas are still found.

Gilbert’s work as a Cryptologic Linguist and his love for research are central to his writing process. He specializes in delving into ancient manuscripts to uncover hidden meanings. His most recent book, Not as Above, Not as Below: How We Got the Emerald Tablet Wrong, offers a translation and analysis of key philosophical fragments from 9th-century Arabic manuscripts, the oldest known sources of the text. This work has earned Gilbert the prestigious Order of the Gold Stone award. It has also helped secure speaking engagements in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Georgia for the coming year.

Gilbert has authored several other books, including:

• The Song of God: An American Interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita – A modern retelling of the Bhagavad Gita set against the backdrop of the First Gulf War, offering a fresh perspective on the ancient text.
• Pseudo-Hermetica for the 21st Century: A Modern Mystical Philosophy Using Ancient Literary Forms – A philosophical work experimenting with the writing styles of Late Antiquity, co-created with illustrations by his daughter, Valkyrie Rayne Gilbert-Turner, a WKU Fine Arts graduate.
• Temple of the Masonic Order: Wilmshurst's "The Meaning of Masonry" in Modern American English – A reorganization and rewrite of a 1922 work, updated for clarity and accessibility for modern readers.

Currently, Gilbert is seeking a summer stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities to translate the ancient manuscript The Secret of Creation and the Art of Nature from Arabic to English.

Gilbert encourages anyone with a passion for writing to pursue it, regardless of their career or background. "If writing calls to you, don't hesitate to follow that passion," he advises.