Gnosticism is a spiritual path of christianity - however it is now believed to have predated christianity. It believes that all matter is evil and only the spirit is worth anything. That in order to progess spiritually you have gain special knowledge.
Basically it's kind of like salvation by knowledge if you will.
2007-07-14 10:49:17
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answer #1
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answered by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5
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The Bible says nothing about it actually! The "New Testament" which we've inherited was written (or rewritten) by THE CHURCH (that is The Holy Roman Catholic Church).
The term comes from the Greek word 'gnosis' which "knowledge."
Gnosticism was a very early sect of Christianity which had many metaphysical/mystical concepts to it. It was deemed heretical by "THE CHURCH" and disappeared to history. There are many "New-Ager-Types" who might wish to say that they are Gnostics but at best they might be Neo-Pseudo-Gnostics.
Some basics beliefs I'm familiar with are the dualism: there's God and the Demiurge. The Demiurge actually is responsible for creating the world, not God, because it is the illusory, material "reality." God is only responsible for Spirit (in this it is rather similar to Jainism). They also believed in an extended Godhead which included, not only the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but also the Motehr and Daughter.
During the years of early Christianity, the followers of Jesus expected the "second coming" at any moment, not in some distant future. Gnostics believed that this was a metaphysical idea in that time/space, etc, were all illusions and the only moment is NOW; the Eternal, which we can get in touch with if we practice the right spiritual path. To put it in the terms of Jesus as taken from the Gospel of Thomas, "The Kingdom of the Father IS spread upon the Earth but men DO NOT SEE IT."
Gnosticism was very similar to Upanishadic, Jainist, and Buddhist metaphysical doctrines.
You might want to do more research on it you can start with this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnostics.
A book that I have is called, "Gnostic Christianity an Introduction" by Abbot George Burke.
You can also buy wonderful translations of the Gnostic Gospels today such as the Gospels of: Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Judas, etc....
and of course "The Gnostic Gospels," by Elaine Pagels (and most of her work for that matter).
2007-07-11 23:24:46
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answer #2
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answered by Cognitive Dissident ÜberGadfly 3
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I'll make this as short as possible!!
The answers given are good but some are misleading. Gnosticism, in one form or another, pre-dates modern Christianity by thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians are probably the most well known 'followers' of gnostic-like teachings but other very famous 'personalities throughout history strived for 'Gnosis' or Knowledge - Socrates, Pythagoras, Plato, Sophocles, even Da Vinci.
The best place to start if you're interested is a book called 'The Jesus Mysteries'. Very easy reading, nothing too heavy. You could then move on to Gnostic publications (loads out there) and the Nag Hammadi Library (most well known are the gospels of Thomas and Mary, as in Magdalene/Magdala) - I'm still trawling through this (on and off for 5 years). The latter is a task not to be taken lightly but worth every word you read.
The most important thing is that Gnosticism is all about self knowledge, self teaching, self improvement. Striving for answers, striving for questions. Growth, enlightenment. The ulitmate goal is to become initiated into the Inner Mysteries (guided by a Master) to reach the ultimate god-like state.
Hope this helps. Get searching and researching - you won't be disappointed.
2007-07-17 21:12:17
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Gnostic literature is available on the Internet. Gnostic's believed in preserving all holy literature while organized religions believed in censorship by selecting only a few text and letters to be included in the canon. The gnostic movement was silenced when organized religions labeled the Gnostic's as being evil which of course is not true. I hope this helps. Best Regards, M.G.S.
2007-07-11 23:29:36
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answer #4
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answered by Mettle Gnosis Seraph 3
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A variety of movements in the early centuries of the common era ("A.D."), mostly Christian-oriented (though very different from what became orthodox Christianity). But there were also Jewish Gnostics and non-aligned/ Hellenistic Gnostics.
There tended to be a focus on experiential insight (gnosis). Sometimes a dualistic quality (spirit over matter -- an influence from Platonistic spirituality). Some Gnostic groups had a fair amount of gender equality in their imagery and their practitioners (but not all did).
My personal favorite Gnostic text is the Gospel of Thomas. My favorite quotation from it goes,
"Jesus said, 'I am the all. All has gone forth from me, all returns to me. Split the wood, and I am there. Turn the stone, and there you will find me." (Th 77)
.
2007-07-11 23:12:54
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answer #5
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answered by bodhidave 5
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Gnosticism: a form of "mysticism"
there are many ancient forms and modern forms. The label mostly centers around the naghammadi collection and users/writers of said texts.
What is Gnosticism?
Well here is my perspective, please bear in mind there are others:
Gnosis means knowledge, it is greek.
Coupled with the word Episteme which is also means knowledge.
What is the difference? Ultimatly Episteme is mundane every day knowledge. If you read a a car manual, you have gained episteme. Thus ordinary knowledge such as 3 multiplied by 4=12 is episteme. When we think of knowledge we think of episteme.
So what IS Gnosis?
Gnosis is direct EXPERIENTAL knowledge of the divine, or "God"... There are however different levels of Gnosis. The "highest" level of Gnosis or "knowing" (insight) is to actually become that which we are seeking to know...
to JOIN WITH "God."
This is Gnosticism.
There is of course much more, but at its heart this is what Gnosticism is.
2007-07-16 19:33:50
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answer #6
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answered by Br. Benjamin 4
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Gnosis is a Greek word which means knowledge, Gnosticism is more of a way of life because Gnostic's live by seeking "Knowledge" in every arena of life, Whether it be Religion, Science, Philosophy or, Anthropology. Gnostic's do not live by theories, the "Knowledge" that Gnostic's find in every arena of life they put into practice. Gnosticism is also a worldwide movement promoting Authentic Self-Realization.
2007-07-15 21:07:17
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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What I know is:
The apostolic church defamed gnosticism massively. S. Irenaeus of Lyon ridiculized it in this books "Adversus haereses" (Against the heresies).
There have been gnostic christian churches in the first centuries AD that were built by gnostic teachers. These gnostic teachers did not submit to any authority on earth - also not to the apostles or their successors - but each one taught his own way of seeking God, truth, redemption.
Originally gnosticism is not a church. It is a way of building up one's energy, of developing a strongly grounded character and personality. It uses the spiritual knowledge available and encourages and teaches the student how to cultivate his energy, how to connect it to cosmic or universal energy. Finally, independent and mature individuals would emerge of such a practice.
Churches and political systems seem to be more interested to keep their people dependent. That makes their hostility against gnosticism understandable.
When Christianity became a state religion (at emperor Constantine's time) the gnostics refused to cooperate and went undergound. They said that their time had not yet come, but that it will come.
One important characteristic in gnosticism is equality between men and women. Experiential knowledge can only be acquired by acknowledging interaction between polar energies such as masculine and feminine, inside and outside, good and evil - and referring them to their common origin: God. God himself is polar and non-polar at the same time.
I did not really do a research about gnosticism - only inasmuch as it helped me to understand the Mary Magdalene tradition. My favorite gnostic verse is:
<> [the kingdom]." (Gospel of Thomas 22)
2007-07-15 13:13:38
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answer #8
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answered by Martin D 2
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One of the best ways to learn about Gnosticism is to go to the Palm Tree Garden, at: http://www.palmtreegarden.org .
This is a forum for modern Gnostics and includes participants from several modern Gnostic Churches.
2007-07-15 20:38:06
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answer #9
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answered by thomasdlangley 2
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BRB I know a bit.
Gnosticism is a philosophical and religious movement which started in pre-Christian times. The name is derived from the Greek word "gnosis" which literally means "knowledge." However, the English words "Insight" and "enlightenment" capture more of the meaning of "gnosis." Gnosticism is not factual, intellectual, rational knowledge, such as is involved in mathematics and physics; that would have been more accurately represented by the Greek world "episteme." Rather, Gnosticism involves the relational or experiential knowledge of God and of the divine or spiritual nature within us.
Gnostics believe that they have secret knowledge about God, humanity and the rest of the universe of which the general population was unaware. It became one of the three main belief systems within 1st century Christianity and was noted for four factors by which differed from the two other branches of Christianity.
1. Tolerance of different religious beliefs within and outside of Gnosticism.
2.Lack of discrimination against women. Although Jesus treated women as equals, and Paul mostly did the same, the other Christian belief systems started to oppress women in later generations.
3. A belief that salvation is achieved through relational and experiential knowledge.
4.The Supreme Father God or Supreme God of Truth is remote from human affairs; he is unknowable and undetectable by human senses.
2007-07-11 23:08:15
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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