In the Gnostic gospels, Jesus taught of enlightenment, not of hell. Why isn't Gnostic
Why aren't there Gnostic churches around? The Gnostic gospels, I think, have a more spiritual appeal and teaches enlightenment, almost like how Buddhism does. So why aren't more people becoming Gnostics?
You can't have two gospels. Either you accept the one by Paul, or you believe some other nonsense that came after. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Gal 1:8-9)
I learned about the Gnostic gospels through a friend of mine who was a Catholic priest, he asks people to read these so they don't become ignorant of other scriptures. So although there aren't any gnostic churches around, there are some churches that like to educate people, threes some more ammo for the ignorant Catholic haters
The more studies are done on the Gnostic gospels the more discrepancies they are finding in them. Some of the authors can not be validated. The dates they were written don't really co inside with the material covered in them. Simiply put they can't find enough actual evidence to their truth. I agree that some of the teaching in them are interesting and enlightening but most scholar do not be live them to come directly from God.
Give the reference as to what Gnostic gospel you are talking about, there are several and they say different things. Maybe is it not growing as a religion because they have so many conflicting accounts of what Jesus said and did.
There is a lot of emotional pleasure in the concept of hell, for several reasons.
First, is the idea of justice. For many people, the concept of an "ultimate justice" is a desirable one. Many people actually make the claim that final justice *must* logically exist, which is quite silly.
Others take sick, vindictive pleasure in the idea that those who don't agree with them will be punished.
Finally, the concept of eternal suffering and eternal rewards are emotionally powerful one. If someone has a crappy life, you're more likely to convince them with "Hey, believe what I do and get eternal bliss, or suffer forever!" than with "Hey, seek enlightenment with me!" People want the easy path. Believe and get rewarded. Sad, but human nature.
Einstein said, "In their struggle for the ethical good, teachers of religion must have the stature to give up the doctrine of a personal God, that is, give up that source of fear and hope which in the past placed such vast power in the hands of priests. In their labors they will have to avail themselves of those forces which are capable of cultivating the Good, the True, and the Beautiful in humanity itself. This is, to be sure, a more difficult but an incomparably more worthy task."
The final sentence is invariably true. Religions that seek personal enlightenment, rather than simply belief, are far more difficult and challenging to pursue. Many people just turn to religion for comfort, rather than self-improvement.
Some people are more concerned with knowing the truth than they are with hearing a "spiritual" pep talk that makes them feel good about themselves and tells them that they don't need to make any changes in their lives that they don't want to make.
Of course, there are other people who are less concerned with eternal truths and that's why you see elements of gnosticism creeping into so called "Christian" churches and you see people like Oprah teaching a "new age" Christ where there is no sin or need for a Savior.
That's why Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gave his young protege Timothy this charge and warning.
2 Timothy 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
There are Agnostic churches for those who don't believe in God and the Bible as it is taught. It's more in reference to your Gnostic Gospel comparison.
Elaine Pagels first popularized the Gnostic Gospels in the 1970's. Today there is still a reluctance from mainstream Christianity to acknowledge there may have been valid alternative streams in early Christianity.
No wonder the poor Gnostics were killed, vilified and had their writings destroyed by a liberalizing/historicising camp of fanatics. The 'official' camp only got their way through centuries of fraud, forgery and force.
Today there are some Noe-Gnostics who may meet in church buildings or more commonly have public lecture meetings. Gnosticism, like the New Age, is not 'organized' but depends more on individuals going it alone through private reading and public lectures. Enforced doctrine was not their type of spirituality.
Are these Gnostic gospels available in bookstores or on the Internet?
It's not likely that they are being taught in churches, which have an interest in maintaining the theology they have had since the time of the Emperor Constantine. Organizations have an interest in preserving ideas which get people to support hierarchy, not ideas which tell them it's okay for them to think for themselves and believe that they have a direct connection with the divinity without going through clergy.
It's becoming quite popular and a lot of people are becoming Gnostics, but they aren't parading it around. Check out some of the Yahoo Groups devoted to Gnosticism which have hundreds of members.
As for Gnostic churches, see the following list for just some which are out there.
In the Gnostic gospels, Jesus taught of enlightenment, not of hell. Why isn't Gnostic
