Has anyone ever heard of Gnosticism?

Question

I am Gnostic (not to be confused with AGnostic) and was wondering if anyone could suggest some reading or websites which might help me discover more about my religion.

Okay, I obviously know a few things, but it's like Christians reading the bible, you know? I need something to further my knowledge and get more in touch with my spiritual side.

Answer 1

If you don't know about being Gnostic, how can you claim that religion as your own?

Answer 2

Gnosticism is not of itself a faith, but a cognomen for a set of religious heresies which have some tenets in common.

The most basic of which are:

A) The man Jesus was NOT God.

B) His death on the cross was NOT followed by resurrection.

C) All matter is a construct of an evil being. Only spirit is good.

D) Man's fall from Grace was precipitated by his curiosity about matter. He willfully disobeyed the Creator and entered matter. Salvation consists of accepting this fact and undergoing studies intended to make you more aware of your true spiritual nature so you can leave this too, too horrid flesh and enter into oneness with the Creator. In other words, you save yourself.

At least some of the various forms were quite popular regionally in their time. Marcionism, Valentianism especially. But the biggie was Arianism. Some facets of the former are with us today, especially the matter-is-nasty part. (See John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards)

F) Scientology, founded by science-fiction writer L.Ron Hubbard, makes much use of the idea of spirit beings falling into matter and getting trapped there.

G) If you're dead set on being a Gnostic, then I suggest you do a lot more homework and research and choose your poison. A skimming of the Nag Hammadi scrolls will NOT suffice. Google the word "gnosticism" and start reading. There's a ton of the stuff. And don't forget to read what the early Church Fathers had to say about it either. See especially Sts. Irenaeus and Augustine, St. John Chrysystom and Tertullian.

Good luck. You'll need it, especially if you dig deep enough to realize that it's a mishmash of imaginative mythology that rarely hangs together but can most assuredly hang YOU.

Answer 3

Try the Complete Idiot's Guide to The Gnostic Gospels by J. Michael Matkin.

Answer 4

The Gnostic Bible is very good--it includes not only the Christian Gnostic books, like the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary, but it also includes Muslim and Jewish Gnostic texts. Also, the editors give a very good analysis of each of the books.

Answer 5

see probe ministries analysis of The Gospel of Judas
http://www.probe.org/content/view/1370/64/
http://www.carm.org/heresy/gnosticism.htm
http://tektonics.org/gk/gnostpaul.html

The most commonly cited sourses for Gnostic documents is the Nag Hammaradi Library, but.. personally I recommend sticking with the Bible and dumpin Gnostisicm

Gnostisism is a many headed thing, it actually isnt one specific view but a category of many views America has fairly strong Gnostic influence and some writers like Yales Bloom call themselves gnostic It shows up in many religouns not just Judaism or Christianity

personally for a good defence of Christianity against some really shallow gnostic views I like Phil Fernandez on the Da Vinci Code
on http://www.sermonaudio.com and I also like
http://www.beyondbelief.org

Answer 6

Gnosticism
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism

Answer 7

I'd like to suggest that First.....you find out exactly what Gnosticism is before you boldly assume it as your religion.

Answer 8

I have heard of it it was a branch of the jewish faith but how can you claim to follow it when you do not even understand it

Answer 9

There are more then these, but they should help you for a start.

See links:

Answer 10

not really, could you hum a few bars of it? maybe i'll remember : )