Does anyone define themselves as Christian Gnostic?

Question

No, not "agnostic," Gnostic. Gnostic literally means "knoweldge." I was wondering if I wasn't the only one who follows the Gnostic path.

Answer 1

I don't think alot of christians even know what the word gnostic means...knowledge that's it...i enjoy reading the gnostic texts and gleam profound truths from them...as well as the bible too. Jesus is Lord

Blessings and peace to you....

p.s.

Regarding the word gnostic. People do seem to be critical of what the do not understand and leap to conclusions and such...

Answer 2

The sequence of Gnostic teachers for Valentinian Gnosticism was Paul the Apostle, Theudas, then Valentinus. Marcion had a similar lineage.

The adoption of Christianity as the state religion by Constantine, is probably the biggest reason why Gnostic Christianity is not the dominant form of Christianity today.

There are umpteen groups and organizations of Gnostics today. For the most part, they get along very well with each other.

BTW, just because a group has the word "Gnostic" in its name, does not mean that it practices Gnosticism. _Ecclesiastica Gnostica Catholica_ is a Thelemic organization. _Ecclesiastica Gnostica_ is a Valentinian Gnostic organization centered on the west Coast of the US. The only thing they have in common is the first two words of their name.

_The Gospel of John_ is the Gnostic Gospel that was included in the Canon. [Though the continuation of it, _The Gospel of Mary_, was excluded, for semi-obvious reasons ]

_Romans_ is the most Gnostic of Paul's Gnostic writings. [Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon.]

Marcion, for some reason, include _Luke_ rather than _John_ in his list of canonical books.

Answer 3

Gnosticism has long been considered heresy by the majority of the Christian church. Gnosticism is condemned numerous times in the New Testament (which is why Gnostics use so many other writings outside of the Bible). Gnosticism is a false doctrine and has no place in Christianity.

Answer 4

My adult son and I have talked about gnosticism. It seems that in Catholicism those who had a more spiritual understanding rather than literal or doctrinal were called heretics or lumped in with a group called gnostic. The word has so many meanings today that I can't identify with it because it has so many different beliefs associated with it. I do however tend to give more spiritual than literal meaning to the Bible. I'd like to see the word re-defined.

Answer 5

I tend to lean in that direction on my search for truth even though I am agnostic now because of my schizophrenia. I often wonder if Jesus was not a Gnostic himself. Unfortunately in looking at the beliefs of modern Christians I am not willing to call myself a Christian but I have an strong affinity with the teachings of Jesus.

Answer 6

Gnosticism is a heresey. That is a serious sin. Orthodox Christianity refuted the errors of Gnosticism in the seond century and went on to proclaim the true gospel.

Answer 7

Rev Kev's answer is somewhat biased and distorted. Most Medievel Gnositics were certainly Christian- they were/are a mystical branch/sect of Christianity deemed "heretical" by the Catholic Church in during the 1st century AD. They melded pre-Christian mystical "gnostic" traditions, both eastern and western, to Early Christianity. Their main point was that Salvation/enlightenment attained throught direct mystical/spiritual experience of the holy, not merely through faith in an intermediary avatar/demi-god..

This mystical/spiritual point of view is similar to Buddhism, Zen Bhuddism, the mystic Christianity of St.John of the Cross and Meister Eckhart, and eastern religions in general.

And to the hardline naysayers above, no offense, but 1) get your religious history straight before you answers, please. 2) refrain from emotional appeals- its bad logic 3) heresy is in the eye of the beholder.

Answer 8

Yes. Ophite / Naassene gnostic.

Answer 9

I am a christian gnostic.

Answer 10

Nope its an Oxymoron...Gnosticism was the biggest enemy of the church in 1st John