I have indeed. Strangely, the book on Gnosticism I read turned me off to it, but the actual gospels considered Gnostic seemed more practical. The book portrayed it as very male theistic, but the gnostic scriptures themselves portray a beautiful universe.
Not yet, but I probably will soon. I've been in a lot of churches that seem to have the spirituality sucked out of them, and that doesn't seem to be the way Jesus told us it is to me.
I think it's a fascinating religion full of very peaceful philosophies. Reading about it lead me to suspect that artist/poet William Blake may have been one, anyone else agree?
If you're interested in Gnosticism read Memoirs of a Gnostic Dwarf, a brilliantly funny, witty and filthy historical novel which explores gnostic teaching and it's reception at the time of Pope Leo X and Martin Luther.
What's the difference between nosies and Gnosticism? Gnosticism is just another "ism." Gnosis on the other hand is authentic experience of an amazing wonderful 2ND Intelligence within each of us. Since those Gnostics of the middle ages did not survive to tell us what they believed or knew, we can only know what the Church wanted us to believe. Don't waste your precious time in conjecture about dead people. Learn about the Divine within YOURSELF during this lifetime. You are loved beyond your wildest imaginings.
Yes. I have been studying Gnosis for a number of years now and I'm very impressed.
Unfortunately there is just so much misinformation regarding Gnosis that most people just really don't understand it. This is very obvious from the range of different answers so far.
For example, as a Gnostic, I pray the Our Father and the Hail Mary. I follow the Teachings of Jesus, and I read the bible.
Those who "disagree with it" and call it a "false teaching" probably just don't have the correct information.
Gnosis is about knowledge, but the type of knowledge that will help to transform us into Divine Beings. Jesus said the we should be perfect like our Father in heaven is perfect.
'Throughout the ages, the Gnostics have been hunted and persecuted for claiming to be able to directly experience the Divine. This has set Gnosis apart not only from many religions, which place an emphasis on belief and worship, but also from other studies and sciences. The word 'Gnosis' originates from ancient Greek and means 'knowledge'. However, the knowledge it refers to is not that which comes from years of studying books, from degrees, from being an expert in a given field, or from reading widely ? but rather, from a direct experience of the truth. The Gnostics have always professed an ability to go to the very sources of wisdom through spiritual practice. "
The goal of Gnosis is the awakening of the consciousness and the complete development of human potentiality. So that is what we strive for. To learn about ourselves and to understand our psyche so that we can root out all of the causes of what make us imperfect. Namely the psychological aspects that we all carry within like anger, greed, lust, fear, pride, etc.
By going to the source of the Divine for guidance and understanding ourselves and why we behave like we do we can correct our errors and walk the path the Jesus showed us.
So I guess without it goes without saying that I have a very positive opinion of Gnosis.
If people think that they can add to the Gospel of Grace in Christ Jesus; then they have a long way to go to convince me with empty human philosophy.
There is no other hidden knowledge or theme in The Bible apart from its only theme: to declare The Creator, The Saviour and The Sustainer; Jesus.
any "sis", "ism", "pH" or "logy" are just what they are; high sounding nonsense.
Has anyone studied Gnosticism and formed their own opinion about it?
