any gnostics out there today?

Question

if you are gnostic, can you tell me a little about yourself, your philosophy, your spirituality? i'd love to hear something first hand. thank you.

Answer 1

Gnosticism was trend of spiritual philosophy within the ancient world. Although it has come to be only associated with early variants of Christianity, it has pagan (eg, ancient Arabic, Greek, and Egyptian), Judaic, and Islamic variants. Medieval groups such as the Templars and persons involved in troubadour cults held Gnostic sympathies.

The Essenes were thought to be a Gnostic sect, and I have read that the roots of Christianity began with the Essenes in the 3rd to 1st centuries before the Common Era (ie, before the Biblical Jesus was supposedly born). Although Neoplatonists were criticial of Gnosticism, the Web site of the Hermetic Library states that Neoplatonism and Hermeticism were forms of (pagan) Gnosticism.

Christian Gnostics generally believed that there is a transcendental God (as do the Neoplatonists and Hermeticists) but that a secondary God, who is a creator-god, emanated from the transcendant God along with a hierarchical line of energies [male and femaly dyads] that then resulted in the world and people (we find a similar idea in Tantric Hinduism and also in Jewish Kabbala). Christian Gnostics thought that form was impure and evil and so the creator of it was kind of evil, too. The goal was to transcend the world of name and form and to return to a pure spirit. Neoplatonists and Hermeticists did not like this life-denying view. Christians ascribing to the standardized view of Christianity, thought Gnostic ideas were pagan and heretical even though I have read that Jesus' teaching reflected that of the Essenes, that the Epistle writer Paul was a Gnostic, that the Gospel of John is more Gnostic in character than the synoptic Gospels, and that Christianity had Pauline and Magdalenian lineages, the latter of the 2 of which was maligned and stamped out.

As for magic, magical thinking had long been a part of ancient culture and religion and played into many brands of mysticism. Also, there was little distinction between science and magic and magic and religion (and often one person's religion was another person's idea of magic). It was entrenched in medieval Christianity until the "powers that be" started killing people as a form of punishment for doing and believing things that they felt were threatening.

Answer 2

I'm not a Gnostic, but I've spent plenty of time studying their history and traditions.

The word "Gnostic" is an umbrella term for many different pseudo-Christian heretical groups that originated about 400 A.D., mainly as a rebellion against traditional Christianity. There are no Gnostic scriptures older than 400 A.D., even though a few scholars have tried to push back the date to 200 A.D. (such as the spurious Judas Gospel manuscript which dates circa 400 A.D.)

Since Gnosticism comes later than orthodox Christianity, it therefore cannot be "more genuine." As one scholar noted, the Judas Gospel was an obvious fake, and compared it to reading the diary of Queen Victoria and seeing her mention her Rock CD collection.

The beliefs of Gnostic groups were extermely diverse. Some believed in total sexual abstinence (and of course they died out). Some groups, like the Cainites and Sethites believed every sexual desire should be fulfilled and held orgies. Most held women in an unfavorable light (despite what you might have read in the DaVinci Code). The spurious "Gospel of Thomas" states that Mary Magdalene would become a man in Heaven, because women were corrupted.

Many of the Gnostic groups had the habit of Theological "character inversion". The creator god was usually seen as evil, since he created an imperfect world. Satan (often identified with Ophite of Greek mythology by these sects) was seen as the good guy. Likewise, many of the villians of the Bible were seen as heroes. Simon Magus was a particular favorite.

Gnosticism also dealt with magic and sorcery and every kind of superstion. Consult "Ancient Christian Magic" by Marvin W. Meyer and Richard Smith for a look at the love spells, money spells and even revenge spells(!) of the various Gnostic sects. Once you read that book, you'll realize how silly and superstitious Gnostics were. Another good book is "The Other Bible" by Willis Barnstone which has many texts of Gnostic sects.

Answer 3

I'm not Gnostic, so I'm not going to try to explain this religion first hand. But since I have been trying to research it as well, Here are some good sites about Gnosis ideas from a Gnosis perspective, or from a non-judgemental one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism

http://www.gnosticchristianity.com/frameset_CH1.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/gnostic.htm

http://www.gnosis.org/

It's a LOT of reading but this is a VERY complex and in depth belief system. It has a lot of very interesting and thought provoking ideas. Enjoy!

Answer 4

sure, there are gnostics obtainable in recent times and that they shop on with the gnostic gospels. you would be some distance greater desirable served in looking up at your interior of sight e book place in the religion section... there are a number of books on gnosticism. that's some distance too a lot tips for me to form in right here. Sorry pal, yet i'm hoping you discover what you look for. good success on your article! _()_

Answer 5

Gnosticism is exclusion & elitism.