Question for Christians... Orthodox or Gnostic:: Of which do you conform?

Question

Here is a statement, of the second century Church Father Clement of Alexandria, that I'd like to quote...

“As a consequence of this intelligent sympathy with the Divine Will, the Gnostic becomes in perfect unity in himself, and as far as possible like God. Definite outward observances cease to have any value for one whose being is brought into abiding harmony with that which is eternal; he has no wants, no passions; he rests in the contemplation of God, which is and will be his unfailing blessedness.”

Christians:: Do you believe more in the orthodox teachings of Christianity, or rather in the Gnostic teachings?

And, What say you to this quote?

Answer 1

I started studying Gnosticism about 5 years ago, and I have to say it makes a lot more sense than Orthodoxy. In fact, I didn't realize how much Gnostic thought there was in the New Testament. Unfortunately it doesn't make a whole lot of sense without also knowing what Gnostic thought is. After studying the Gnostic scriptures I have come to the conclusion that the Bible is the Reader's Digest version. A complete story comes together when you view the Bible along with the Gnostic scriptures. Matthew 13.10-17 says:

Then the disciples came and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?"

He answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

"The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.' With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them.'

"But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."

Gnostics believe that the parables are the outer mysteries, and are the ones taught by orthodoxy. The teachings given to the Apostles are the inner mysteries and are part of the Gnostic teachings. The outer mysteries are seen as a stepping stone to the inner mysteries, a kind of initiation. Eventually, everyone who seeks them will move from the outer mysteries to the inner mysteries when they are able to accept them, although it may take several lifetimes to achieve gnosis.

The quote is true. Once you come to the realization that God is within you and that everyone is connected by that, everything changes and you have a whole new outlook.

BTW, Gnosticism is not about becoming God, it is about finding God within yourself and seeing the connection we all have through God.

Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the (Father's) kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the (Father's) kingdom is within you and it is outside you.

When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will understand that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in poverty, and you are the poverty." (The Gospel of Thomas)

Answer 2

An Gnostic Orhtodox may well be a contridicition of words asthe gnostics deney the incarantion when you consider that they experience that rely is evil. The Gnostics in many procedures are Budhist with a Zoroastian Christian/ Jewish jumbled in. The Budist as %. is bcuse alot beleive in reincarnation and the soul is trapped interior the textile international they have a theory of a God and a devil subsequently the Christian/Zoroastian and Judism. people who taought approximately Christ the two stated he replaced into merely a guru who obtained enlightenment or a non secular being yet no longer God incaranted that's a princinple doctrine of Orthodox Christinity.

Answer 3

Blasphemy! Man cannot become like God, and its a sin to try. Man is to serve and worship God. God will give you his unconditional Love in return, if he so chooses.

Read your Bible.

Answer 4

the whole thing is propaganda to destroy the roman empire it is hoax a fluke if you can make martin Luther king god?? something similar was Jesus