2007-10-15 03:15:10 · 10 answers · asked by frenzy-CIB- Jim's with Jesus 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Philosopher, I don't know a whole lot about Gnostism, but I do know some. I know that the "catch phrase", if you will, is "know thyself". To sit and contemplate self constantly is narcissist.
BTW, if you are a Gnostic, your superior attitude answers the question without the ned for words.
2007-10-15 07:38:52 · update #1
Going to voting; can't decide, folks. Thanks for the answers everyone.
2007-10-16 13:35:16 · update #2
"Gnostic Christianity" is an oxymoron. Gnosticism is described as a heresy in 1 John
2007-10-15 03:19:34 · answer #1 · answered by Chris 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It seems that neither you nor anyone who responded so far has a clue about what gnosticism is. Do a little real research first if you really want to understand a topic and then ask a question. Also, look up the word "narcissistic."
Gnosticsm predates Chrisitianity and has Jewish, Islamic, and pagan, as well as Christian variants. It is a mystical orientation about religion. Christian gnosticism puts less emphasis on historical claims about Christ and more emphasis on the Christ idea. It considers ordinary, worldly life as a "fall from grace" so that the goal of life is to transcend the ordinary world and return to a spiritually idealized state of being.
Early Christianity was very much influenced by Gnosticism. It has been conjectured that Christ belonged to a Gnostic sect (the Essenes), that the Gospel of John is strongly influenced by Gnosticism, and that Paul who wrote the epistles of the NT was a Gnostic. The Church later (centuries later) when it became standardized, disavowed any connection to gnostic ideologies. Some aspects of gnosticism border on perceived polytheism and oriental ideas about the "emanation" of God. (I won't go into it here. It's over everyone's head, I'm sure). Also, gnosticism was considered to not be very life-affirming (in contrast to neo-platonism, which influenced Christianity, and hermeticism) and also had certain mystical ideas about Christ that mainstream Christianity wasn't into (including ideas about a feminine aspect of God).
I'll leave it at that.
2007-10-15 04:38:26 · answer #2 · answered by philosophyangel 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
To begin with, the Gnostic religion is not about Christianity, even though they followed the teaching of Jesus and his earliest followers including the influence of
gnosticism. Research on the Nag Hammad, has knowledge of early Christian history. This is the group where Jesus studied while on earth before the Crucifixion,after his death is when the full teachings became Christianity. The followers searched for knowledge instead of having the teaching of faith, the used logic and were seekers of truth.The Nag Hammadi library was found in the 1940's, if I remember correctly .The books of The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel Of Mary, and The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus were found and are in a museum in Berlin. These have had a great impact on Christianity today. narcissistic side, absolutely not.
2007-10-15 05:00:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gnosticism was a heretical belief system which the Apostles spoke against, and one which God had them write against in His book, the Bible.
People that fall into believing there's something to those so called "lost books" are opening themselves up to an ancient heresy, and nothing other than that.
The actual practices of the Gnostics were reported by Epiphanius in the year 370, and are too sick and disgusting to write of here. And you sure don't speak of it in church either. Most people are not aware of what they were really about. I'll write the title out of a small but handy reference, that if you want to know more you can get.
2007-10-15 03:33:11 · answer #4 · answered by Jed 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The main thrust of gnosticism is that you are a tiny spark of divinity here on earth, so if that is believed it would lead to that kind of attitude.
Jesus said to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Anything that causes you to think too highly of yourself is leaven, which when hid within a measure of wheat leavens the whole lump.
edit:
to daemon,
Error mixed in with pure doctrine doesn't produce truth it produces error.
The doctrine of Christ is pure; we have the pure knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. Trying to make the doctrine of Christ elevate the self, which is what gnosticism does, corrupts the doctrine.
2007-10-15 03:22:58 · answer #5 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Quite to the contrary it is not about personal gratification it is about the general growth of spiritual knowledge within the body of Christ. I am not a gnostic but appreciate the value they place on the teaching and preservation of the knowledge of God, whether that be canonical, scriptural, or historical!
2007-10-15 03:20:47 · answer #6 · answered by daemon747 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
All religions teach that in a way that seems more natural.
2007-10-15 06:25:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not anymore so than some forms of Christianity.
2007-10-15 03:23:47 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
as opposed to the self-appointed spokespeople for a god we see in the fundy camp?
There is a big difference between individual spirituality and narcissism.
2007-10-15 03:25:56 · answer #9 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think they are just deluded by false teaching.
2007-10-15 03:19:50 · answer #10 · answered by Makemeaspark 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋