It seems most people think Orthodoxy is right and Gnosticism is wrong, why?
The selection of the Four Synoptic Gospels as apart of the New Testament came from individuals who ad heard to the gospel of the cross, they were all concerned about a Jesus who dies for sins. So they selected the four gospels because the are the gospels of the cross, the good news of the Crucifixion of the cross, because the human problem is the problem of sin and Jesus needs to die for peoples sins in order to forgive their sins. Orthodox
Gnostics believe the main human problem is not sin but it is ignorance, people need to come to knowledge and they dint need Jesus to die for their sins, they need to have Jesus enlighten them with knowledge and wisdom, so they can find that kind of knowledge of who they are and how they belong to God.
Gnosticism agrees with the teachings of just about every religion in the world. Orthodox Christianity is the only one with that dying for sins nonsense. I don't know, in my opinion the truth is within us, not within a book, if it is in us all, it would be universal. The actual words of Jesus are universal. All that other nonsense came from Paul and is not.
Because the gnostic gospels are heretical. Jesus did die for our sins and HE is the way, the truth and the life. The gnostic gospels do not contain the Truth of Jesus message and life.
Because Gnostics came years and years after Jesus. . The real Gospels were written within 70 years of the death of Jesus by his disciples or their close assistant.
A) There are only three Synoptic Gospels. John is in a class by itself.
B) Gnosticism had a lot more to do with superstition and polytheism than with Christ. It was based on the belief that ultimately matter was evil in and of itself and that salvation consisted of learning the right chants and spells to get yourself permanently OUT of the material and INTO the spiritual realm. Salvation got you into the pantheon of deities so you got to be a god and do all the neat things the god of this world got to do. Only better, because you wouldn't make HIS mistakes and create all that nasty matter. Sounds a lot like Mormonism. Wonder where Joseph Smith read the Gnostics?
Because it's silly, that's why. Let's suppose for a moment that you knew everything there is to know about the universe, mankind, and everything else. Do you not see that the question of your relationship with God would still be just as open as it was before? That relationship requires action, not just knowledge. It wouldn't matter how much you knew, if you never did anything about it. Knowledge is a praiseworthy and wonderful thing, but the early church recognized the simple fact that knowledge alone can't save you, or even make you a better person. I've known far too many intelligent and educated people who were wicked, and far too many simpleminded people who were kind and gentle, for that to be the truth. Furthermore, if you're not going to believe the writings of the men who knew Jesus personally and heard His words (as John in particular certainly did) then why would you choose to believe anything else about Him?
Well I'm very thankful that there is at least one person who understands the difference between Christianity and Gnosticism. I am assuming by using the term Orthodox you mean Christian because Gnosticism was and is considered a heresy to Christian doctrine. Specifically, as you put, Gnostic's see no value in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ beyond that which may be a teaching point. This is most certainly not Christian since Christianity has defined itself by the teachings of the current Gospels since its establishment over 2000 years ago.
The vast difference between Christianity and Gnosticism is that Christianity builds on the old testament fulfillment's. Gnosticism believes understanding attained by one is the reward, while Christianity see how sin could never be atoned for adequately throughout the old testament. Gnosticism is a religion of ambiguity. You seem to adhere perhaps, to the Christian Gnosticism, though there are many other Gnostic faiths. It is specifically because the Gnostic faith is not founded sole upon one religion, but upon principles that leech off of other religions. You see Jesus, perhaps, as the demigod who brings enlightenment, while other Gnostics may believe it is Muhammed or Vishnu. The inherent principles are exactly the same. Enlightenment belongs to a select few and it is by our power to understand by which we are saved.
If that is what you believe, then fine. I disagree. However, Gnosticism in no way can claim to be a Christian faith since it inherently denies what Christianity has claimed as Christian faith. That it is by grace alone, through Jesus alone, by faith and righteous works enabled by the Holy Spirit that we are able to be reconciled with God. This is Christianity at the heart and is not included in Gnostic, even Christian persuaded gnosticism, doctrine. Christianity sees the sin around us and knows deleting ignorance will not reconcile sin. We all can know what is bad. Know it full well as Jesus had taught and yet still commit the sin. Knowledge brought nothing since our sin still turns us from God in rebellion. To believe that Christ came only to teach flies in the face of the Old Testament and in the face of the prophecies. God has taught throughout the history of Judaism. He has given wisdom and enlightenment. But to make himself Human and walk among us was not just another lesson. He came for a purpose much greater than to help us understand who God is.
It is precisely because of Gnosticism's effort to control the use of knowledge that is separate from the will of God. God is relationship and communion because God is love. Wisdom and knowledge does not necessarily enable one to love. And for the most part Gnosticism promotes nothing of relationship or community. It is a self-administered and preserved faith based on ones own merit. If Gnostics understood wisely who God is they would understand that God cannot be contained in the mind. Trying to grasp God is a failed attempt from the outset. It leads to ill-content and restlessness. God is a mystery in many ways and cannot be grasped or known in a sense that brings salvation.
Heaven is not merely a place of ultimate knowledge, but is more accurately a place of complete communion with God. Our knowledge and wisdom, as I said before, does not prevent sin. Truly, sin is when we do something with the full wisdom and knowledge of it's rebellious nature. Knowledge is an element of sin when it is twisted to purposes against God.
Furthermore, there are just too many things that God brings together and not us. He is a God of mercy and love and desires these gifts to be returned to Him who deserves them most. Gnosticism, unfortunately is permitted to reject these gifts so long as understanding of them is attained.
You may not believe this, but this is where Gnostic doctrine leads, and I recommend you either read up or retire from such an ambiguous tradition of men.
ORTHODOXY, AS YOU HAVE CALLED IT, IS DERIVED FROM DOCUMENTS WRITTEN AFTER THE EVENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, HISTORY. WE BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAYS, WE DO NOT WRITE HISTORY TO OUR LIKING AND CALL IT THE GOSPEL. GNOSTICS CHOSE WHAT THEY WANTED (OR LIKED) TO BELIEVE, THEN WROTE ABOUT IT AS IF IT WERE HISTORY. ORTHODOXY SAYS THAT JESUS IS GOD COME IN THE FLESH (AS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE). THE GNOSTICS BELIEVE THAT ALL EARTHLY THINGS ARE EVIL, AND ALL HEAVENLY (SPIRITUAL) THINGS ARE GOOD. THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS GOD, BECAUSE HE WAS FLESH. HE WAS ALL MAN AND ALL GOD. WE ARE BACK TO ONE OF THE MAIN FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, AS JESUS STATED "BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM". HERE ARE SOME REFERENCES FROM THE BIBLE
1 JOHN 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confessed that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confessed not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1 JOHN 1:7-11 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an Antichrist. 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whosoever transgressed, and abideThot in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
MANY ARE DECIEVED IN THE WORLD TODAY BY THE SAME LIES THAT SATAN HAS USED FOR CENTURIES. GNOSTICISM STILL LIVES CLOAKED IN NEW CLOTHES, AND SO MANY ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THE DEATH SENTENCE THAT IT OFFERS. IT DOES MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE. WE WILL ALL LIVE FOREVER, IN BLISS, OR IN HELL. WE ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE CHRIST OR SATAN, AND WE ALL HAVE TO SPEND ETERNITY BASED ON THAT CHOICE. I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING IN PAIN FOR ETERNITY BECAUSE I REFUSED TO BELIEVE CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD AND THROUGH BELIEF ON HIM I COULD BE FORGIVEN. THE SIMPLE QUESTION IS DO I SEND MYSELF TO HELL, OR ACCEPT THE OFFER OF GOD TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM. ORTHODOXY VS GNOSTICISM = TRUTH VS LIE = LIFE VS DEATH.
Suppose we start out by correctly understanding the terms, "Orthodoxy" and "Gnosticism".
Orthodox, refers to a belief held by a majority, in which adherents judge that any other opinion constitutes heresy.
Gnosticism, refers to the general belief that man can know as a general attribute, and that such knowledge may be mystical in comprehension, particularly in reference to religion.
Hence, the Gnostic may be the Orthodox, if the group, or community or even the whole nation all hold to the same opinion.
Much as Communism can be considered Orthodox, if every one in the community holds to that political viewpoint,,,and the minority group are Christians, or Jews, or any other religion living in that community, which makes them by definition, the heretical.
IT would appear, that in the world, where 1.9 billion persons claim adherence to the CHristian religion, and every other group has fewer members, that would make Christianity Orthodox. However, the 1.6 billion Muslim/Moslem/Islam would dispute that, and in the several nations of the world where Islam holds political and religious dominance,,they are the Orthodox, and everyone else, infidel, or heretic (subject to threat of death). In Israel, the Orthodox Jews are in the nearly a minority and in the USA, the reformed Jews are more numerous whereas the Orthodox Jews in the USA are definitely a minority, yet still are refer ed to as Orthodox. Thats curious, dint you think so?
Now with regard to your blatant effort to preach the Christian gospel message...you fail sadly. The facts are far more sinister than such simplistic effort and while you are probably sincere in your effort to persuade us, the readers, that your plagiarism of pagan idolatry is valid, a good reader is becoming more and more aware that the Christian religion is in fact, a bogus scam, legitimized by Roman Authority, well utilized by religious charlatans to fleece the sheepLef their hard earned coin by dubious rites which constitute the platitudes of selfserving extraction (tithing), through the use of Fear tactics ( hellfire and brimstone exist in the New Testament, along with the Devil as an entity of enemy to God [ ha, as though any created thing could do anything without GOD approval or allowance].
When the Orthodox Christians hold power, they are just as ruthless as the Muslim where they hold the power. When the Roman Catholics hold the power, they are just as mean and ruthless as proven by Crusades, Inquistions and wars between the Protestants and the Papists. Protestant Orthodoxy proves its vindictive nature in wars in England and Europe...all begging their false god approval to invade their neighboor State for success in battle.
Who needs these two religions for Knowledge? No one. By reason of fact, the world needs to come to terms with its sinful nature, thats a fact. But the bogus procedure as outlined in the NT, is a skillful misinterpretation of The Original Source Documents,,the Torah, which outlines a simple remedy: Admit to one's evil, or sin, and change the mind. Then Confession, to GOD, in sincere repentance is accepted. Turning from evil doing, to doing good, is the Standard by which GOD declares His willingness to forgive, heal and restore a person to prosperous life. Turning to an intermediary, such as Pope, Priest, or Jesus, is actually contraproductive to God, as GOD declares through the Prophets (Tanakh)....First COmmand.
A true Gnostic, knows that GOD is love and wants all creation to live in that harmony which is generated by adherance to the Torah commands. (the Ten Commandments). To alter, or reject those Commands,,,is to form a different religion. Whether its Orthodox within the definition or fact isn't the important thing. What matters is, Truth is Truth and truth put to the test brings light and understanding on how we can life together peacefully. Sincerely
It seems most people think Orthodoxy is right and Gnosticism is wrong, why?
