Did Plato and the Gnostics he influenced win and if so how can we fix it?

Question

Today, for the average Christian, the ultimate reward of having faith is going to Heaven at death. According to N.T. Wright, this view has been popularized, and thus ingrained in the average imagination, by authors such as Dante and artists such as Michelangelo. The problem is, for first century Jews (of the Pharisaic opinion) and mainstream Christians, the true hope was bodily resurrection to immortality on a renewed (or new) Earth. The problem is, the popular view of going to Heaven at death has overlapped the first century hope and threatens, and for many succeeds, to blot out the original hope.

What do you think Christians can do to heighten the awareness of resurrection? Should the intermediate state be at least marginalized as it once was, and perhaps even better, blotted out in favor of resurrection? Perhaps even non-academic Christians can have a role!

Plato and the Gnostics must not win. What do you think we can do to make the original hope the majority hope again?

In addition to my above comments, N.T. Wright in an article titled "Neither is The Final Destination" writes:

"The way the phrase 'heaven and hell' are used today implies you go straight to one or the other, ignoring the solid biblical testimony to an ultimate new creation in which heaven and earth are brought together in a great act of renewal (for those who want it, check out Ephesians 1.10, Revelation 21 and 22, Romans 8.18-27 and 1 Corinthians 15.20-28 -- though once you see this theme it's there everywhere)."

Why do you think this have been forgotten and how can it be remembered?

Answer 1

I'm sorry....How does Plato, who lived several HUNDRED years before the birth of Christ, influence the Gnostics in your conspiracy theory?

Answer 2

Have you ever read Plato's writings?

There would be no Christianity without his philosophies. Read the Republic and get over it. Don't believe me, simply ask your philosophy professor.

As too the answer who said "how does Plato have influence on the Gnostics?" Um... Plato's influence lasts until today my friend. The Western world is built on the philosophies of Plato.

Answer 3

there is no proof of a resurrection. the NT for the most part was written by Paul, a self-proclaimed apostle, who interpreted Jesus' teachings in light of the Pharisee training Paul supposedly received--though we have no proof of this or that he finished training. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection. Others did not. Some even believed in reincarnation. Paul's view was what the church mistakenly accepted as Jesus' gospel. They are two different gospels. There is no way to know what the exact belief of the early church was as the Catholics exterminated the church of Jerusalem shortly after 325 CE for the crime of heresy, they would not accept the Creed of Nicea. As a result, the church had them fed to the lions at the circus in Rome, with help of Rome of course.

Answer 4

By telling the truth to as many as you can.

Yes, Christians have been deceived by this very silly non-biblical doctrine.

Answer 5

My question to you in response:
Does it matter?

If I believe in God, in the Savior, and the Holy Spirit; if I confess my sins to God, through Christ, and am forgiven; if I lead a life filled with Salvific Grace....

Then I will end up with God for eternity. Does it matter WHERE this is, so long as it is with God? No! No matter where God is, there is Heaven.

Answer 6

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS:
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE SAINTS SHALL DWELL ON THE EARTH. IF JESUS WILL ALSO COME DOWN AND DWELL WITH US, WHY SPEND ETERNITY APART FROM HIM IN HEAVEN? SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Answer 7

you may try here...

http://usminc.org/gnostics.html