Gnosticism (Greek: SS'sis, knowledge) refers to diverse, synergistic religious movements in antiquity consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect god, the demure; this being is frequently identified with the Abrahamic God, and is contrasted with a superior entity, referred to by several terms including Pleroma and Godhead[1]. Depictions of the demureGE the term originates with Plato's Timaeus[2] - vary from being as an embodiment of evil, to being merely imperfect and as benevolent as its inadequacy permits. Thus, broadly speaking, Gnosticism was a dualistic heresy, influenced by and influencing Judaism (see Notzrim), Orthodox Christianity and Hellenic philosophy; however, by contrast, later strands of the movement, such as the Valentinians, held a monistic world-view[3]. This, along with the varying treatments of the demiurge, may be seen as indicative of the variety of positions held within the category.
The gn?sis referred to in the term is a form of revealed, esoteric knowledge through which the spiritual elements of humanity are reminded of their true origins within the superior Godhead, being thus permitted to escape materiality[4]. Consequently, within the sects of gnosticism only the pneumatics or psychics obtain gn?sis; the hylic or Somatics, though human, being incapable of perceiving the higher reality, are unlikely to attain the gn?sis deemed by gnostic movements as necessary for salvation[5][6]. Jesus of Nazareth is identified by some Gnostic sects as an embodiment of the supreme being who became incarnate to bring gn?sis to the earth[7]. In others (e.g. the Notzrim and Mandaeans) he is considered a m?iha kdaba or "false messiah" who perverted the teachings entrusted to him by John the Baptist[8]. Still other traditions identify Mani and Seth, third son of Adam and Eve, as salvific figures[9].
Gnosticism (Greek: SS'sis, knowledge) refers to diverse, synergistic religious movements in antiquity consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect god, the demure; this being is frequently identified with the Abrahamic God, and is contrasted with a superior entity, referred to by several terms including Pleroma and Godhead[1]. Depictions of the demureGE the term originates with Plato's Timaeus[2] - vary from being as an embodiment of evil, to being merely imperfect and as benevolent as its inadequacy permits. Thus, broadly speaking, Gnosticism was a dualistic heresy, influenced by and influencing Judaism (see Notzrim), Orthodox Christianity and Hellenic philosophy; however, by contrast, later strands of the movement, such as the Valentinians, held a monistic world-view[3]. This, along with the varying treatments of the demiurge, may be seen as indicative of the variety of positions held within the category.
The gn?sis referred to in the term is a form of revealed, esoteric knowledge through which the spiritual elements of humanity are reminded of their true origins within the superior Godhead, being thus permitted to escape materiality[4]. Consequently, within the sects of gnosticism only the pneumatics or psychics obtain gn?sis; the hylic or Somatics, though human, being incapable of perceiving the higher reality, are unlikely to attain the gn?sis deemed by gnostic movements as necessary for salvation[5][6]. Jesus of Nazareth is identified by some Gnostic sects as an embodiment of the supreme being who became incarnate to bring gn?sis to the earth[7]. In others (e.g. the Notzrim and Mandaeans) he is considered a m?iha kdaba or "false messiah" who perverted the teachings entrusted to him by John the Baptist[8]. Still other traditions identify Mani and Seth, third son of Adam and Eve, as salvific figures[9].
Whereas formerly Gnosticism was considered mostly a heretical branch of Christianity, it now seems clear that traces of Gnostic systems can be discerned some centuries before the Christian Era. [10] Gnostic sects may have existed earlier than the First Century BCE, thus predating the birth of Jesus.[11] The movement spread in areas controlled by the Roman Empire and Arian Goths (see Huneric), and the Persian Empire; it continued to develop in the Mediterranean and Middle East before and during the Second Century and Third Centuries. Conversion to Islam and the Albigensian Crusade (1209?1229) greatly reduced the remaining number of Gnostics throughout the Middle Ages, though a few isolated communities continue to exist to the present. Gnostic ideas became influential in the philosophies of various esoteric mystical movements of the late 19th and 20th Centuries in Europe and North America, including some that explicitly identify themselves as revivals or even continuations of earlier gnostic groups.
Early religion: a Prue-Christian and early Christian religious movement teaching that salvation comes by learning esoteric spiritual truths that free humanity from the material world, believed in this movement to be evil.
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It comes from the word ?nosies? meaning to know. Gnosticism was a philosophical system built on Greek philosophy. It added a Christian flavor when Christ impacted the world. Promoters of this ancient view were Simon Magus, Marcion, Saturninus, Cerinthus and Basilides. The Gnostics are traced to Carpocrates, and were supported by Valentius, Theodotus, and Artemas.
Gnosticism was built on Greek philosophy that taught matter was evil and the Spirit was good. They taught deceits, a dualism which promoted a clear separation between the material and spiritual world. Christian Gnostics said since matter was evil, God could not really incarnate in a human body, He only appeared in human form and only appeared to suffer, it was an illusion. It was stated when Jesus walked on the sand you could know by seeing his footprints that were left. In this Jesus could be a pure spiritual being in an evil world and not be contaminated by it.
The Gnostics supposedly had knowledge of God that was exclusive. They considered themselves superior to the average Christian. The Gnostics prior to Christianity taught that man is composed of body, soul, and spirit. The body and the soul are man's earthly existence, and were considered evil. Enclosed in mans soul, is the spirit, a divine substance of man. This ?spirit? was asleep and ignorant and needed to be awakened. It could only be liberated by this special knowledge, that would be called by the modern term illumination. (This teaching is also found in Caballa.)
Writers of the New Testament (the apostles) condemned the Gnostic teachings. There are numerous epistles that address this ancient heresy that is now having a revival. Paul emphasized a wisdom and knowledge that comes from God and does not concern itself with idle speculations, angelic visitations, fables, and a amoral lifestyle (Colossians 2:8-23; 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:16-19; Titus 1:10-16). Paul addresses the Gnostic influences in portions of Colossians as a direct threat to Christ being our salvation and His being sufficient in all things. To overcome the indulgences of the flesh (the ?Colossian Heresy? ) the Gnostics taught a false philosophy, which denied the all-sufficiency and pre-eminence of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8). When he wrote that ?in him dwells All the fullness of the deity bodily? it was a rebuttal against the Gnostics.
Gnosticism (Greek: ?????? gn?sis, knowledge) refers to diverse, syncretistic religious movements in antiquity consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect god, the demiurge; this being is frequently identified with the Abrahamic God, and is contrasted with a superior entity, referred to by several terms including Pleroma and Godhead.
The Greek word "nosies" mean "knowledge." Gnosticism describes a wide range of religions (and religious-based beliefs) claiming to offer "the inside dope" or "the hidden truth" about something. Gnostics who call themselves "Christians" believe Jesus gave his disciples "deeper" teachings that are not in the Bible. More broadly, gnosticism can mean the search for any arcane, hidden knowledge, ranging from the "Bible Code" to Scientology to belief in UFOs.
That's the main thing. Secondly, Gnostic's in the early Christian era believed that "spirit" is good and "matter" is bad. They deny that Jesus' resurrection was physical, believing His resurrected body was more like a ghost or angel.
Gnosticism combined with Platonic idealism and crept into mainstream Christianity. The belief in "the Rapture" is gnostic to the extent that it holds that God is going to destroy the physical universe (rather than redeem it) and that our heavenly existence will somehow be "disembodied" in an exclusively "spiritual" realm ( as opposed to the truth about the new Jerusalem and the redemption of all creation that the Book of Revelation teaches.) Even the idea that sex is evil is gnostic, not Christian.
I think God likes "material" stuff; He made a heck of a lot of it. Anyway, anyone claiming to give you "inside knowledge" is promoting gnosticism. Christianity rejects that. We believe God has "fully revealed" Himself through His son, Jesus Christ, and through His Word, the Bible, and that sufficient knowledge of God is already freely available to all who seek Him.
Gnosis means knowledge. Gnostics believed that when Jesus was crucified, his spirit wasn't in the body, and he stood by laughing. They believed most things about Jesus to be on a spiritual plane, nor were they concerned with an earthly Jesus. They believed they had secret knowledge about the different levels of heaven (aeon's). Paul wrote about some of that knowledge, he saw Jesus on some level of heaven, or he had a vision from some level of heaven. Scholars believe the gospel of john has gnostic influence in its writing and doesn't lend itself to expressing a real live Jesus.
"Gnosticism expresses a specific religious experience, an experience that does not lend itself to the language of theology or philosophy, but which is instead closely affinities to, and expresses itself through, the medium of myth. Indeed, one finds that most Gnostic scriptures take the forms of myths." http://www.gnosis.org/gnintro.htm
Gnosticism was a fusion of Semitic and Hellenic religious themes, the product of Greek interaction with near eastern cultures in the centuries following the conquests of Alexander.
On the Greek side, they adopted a form of religious Platonism. They believed that reality consisted of a hierarchy of abstract principles that combined to form the categories of which individual things were members. They gave these abstract principles names and personified them as "gods" (I use the term loosely). They believed that all of these principles emanated (or radiated) out from the one, true incomprehensible and transcendent Deity. From Plato they also borrowed the idea of the Demiurge, or "half-creator." Because God was entirely transcendent, it was impossible for him to create directly. The Demiurge was a created being who in turn created the universe. While the Platonic Demiurge was considered a benevolent being, the Gnostics considered him to be an evil and malevolent tyrant. They also adopted the Platonic view that matter was illusory and inherently evil, and that the soul of man was trapped in matter as the consequence of a primordial fall from grace.
On the Babylonian/Jewish side, they adopted the idea of "heaven" as a series of levels governed by demonic, monstrous beings. Passage through the afterlife could only be guaranteed by a complex network of rituals, magic words, and spells, some of which had to be performed in this life, and some of which had to be performed in the presence of these powerful spiritual guardians in the afterlife.
Gnosticism existed before Christianity. With the advent of Christianity, they adopted the Christian myths and applied it to Gnosticism. Jesus was identified with the Platonic Logos. The God of the Jews was identified with the Demiurge, Heaven was identified with the word of divine principles (the "Pleroma").
The core Gnostic myths went something like this:
God cannot be conceived in any way. God, however, comprehended himself in some way, and that comprehension became a personified being. That personified being comprehended God in return, and that comprehension became another personified being. In this manner, the abstract principles that form the fabric of reality gradually unfolded into the Pleroma, or the world of divine ideas. The last of these divine beings was Sophia, or the personification of wisdom.
Sophia, in an attempt to comprehend the incomprehensible God, ended up outside the Pleroma, in darkness and void. They usually used an analogy, saying that Sophia say the image of God reflected in the walls of the Pleroma, and thus moved forward and broke through into the void.
In her anguish, Sophia accidentally created a malevolent being called the Demiurge. This being was stupid and unaware of the existence of anything other than himself. He in turn declared himself to be the one true God, and created the universe. This being is the Yahweh (Jehovah) of the Old Testament.
When Yahweh created Adam and Eve, somehow the divine spark from the Pleroma was transferred into the material creation. Gnostic mythology varies considerably on how that occurred.
Jesus was the divine Logos who condescended to become encased in matter so that he could rescue mankind from the Demiurge. He disguised himself as the serpent in the Garden of Eden and managed to free Adam and Eve from that prison. Later, he appeared as the man Jesus, but he was not actually a physical being in any way.
Gnostic Writings Conflict With the Bible
The mystical Gnostics flourished during the first two centuries?C.E. and claimed secret divine knowledge, or nosies. They challenged genuine Christians about who had the true teachings and writings of Jesus and his disciples. Do the Gnostic books reveal pertinent information to strengthen a Christian?s faith? No.
Encyclopedias and most Bible scholars label these Gnostic writings as not only apocryphal (non canonical) but also as petrographichICCkalsely attributed to Bible writers). As reported in Psychology Today, Andrew M.?Greeley, a Roman Catholic priest and professor of sociology at the University of Arizona, said of these books: ?They could have no appeal to the ordinary person who looked to religion for help with life problems and not negation of the importance of life.? And when Greeley compared the Gnostic gospels with those of the Bible, he concluded: ?The Jesus of the Gnostics is sometimes incoherent, sometimes unintelligible, and sometimes more than a little creepy.?
A great chasm exists between the teachings of the Gnostic gospels and the Bible Gospels. This gap is especially noted when you compare Gnostic and Bible teachings regarding God, the resurrection, and salvation. Yet, a similarity can be seen between Gnosticism and ancient Greek philosophy, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
Gnostic writers depict a Jesus shockingly different from the one portrayed by Bible writers. The Gnostic Gospel of Philip characterizes Mary Magdalene as the most intimate of Jesus? companions and states that he ?used to kiss her [often] on her [mouth].? No wonder the Encyclop?dia Britannica states: ?Gnostic ethics ran the gamut from compulsive promiscuity to extreme asceticism.?
No Gaps in Stating God?s Purpose
From the Bible?s opening chapter to its concluding one, God?s purpose for the earth and its inhabitants is clearly unfolded. The account begins with God?s blessing two people living in a regional paradise and ends with his blessing untold millions living in a global paradise. And the 1,187 chapters in between progressively reveal how God will bless mankind and how we can fit into the divine purpose. The Bible does this without leaving a single gap of vital information that needs to be plugged by other documents.
?All of this is well and good,? you may say, ?but is the Bible?s advice complete and practical for my life right now??
No Gaps in Providing Needed Counsel
Jehovah?s Witnesses view the Bible as a complete guide for day-to-day living. The basic needs of people are the same today as during Bible times. How does the Bible satisfy these needs? Let us have a look:
FAMILY??You wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as it is becoming in the Lord. You husbands, keep on loving your wives and do not be bitterly angry with them. You children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. You fathers, do not be exasperating your children, so that they do not become downhearted.??Colossians 3:18-21.
DECISIONS??Have you beheld a man hasty with his words? There is more hope for someone stupid than for him.? ?In all your ways take notice of [God], and he himself will make your paths straight. Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.??Proverbs 29:20; 3:6,?7.
DEPRESSION??Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that excels all thought will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.??Philippians 4:6,?7.
CONTENTMENT??To be sure, it is a means of great gain, this godly devotion along with self-sufficiency. For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.??1?Timothy 6:6-8.
FRIENDSHIP??There exist companions disposed to break one another to pieces, but there exists a friend sticking closer than a brother.? ?But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you.??Proverbs 18:24; Ephesians 4:32.
From this brief survey, can you see why Jehovah?s Witnesses believe that the Bible is perfect in providing guiding principles for life? Many do. For instance, here is the conclusion reached by one man after an investigation of the Bible:
?I feel that the Bible, and its counsel, is more practical and far superior to anything that I had ever studied in college. Although being a high-school counselor with Bachelor?s and Master?s degrees and having read a large number of books on mental health and psychology, I discovered that the Bible?s counsel on such things as having a successful marriage, preventing juvenile delinquency, and how to gain and keep friends is far superior to anything I had read or studied in college.?
Why do many question the Bible?s completeness? For some, it may be a matter of not making a healthy investigation of the facts. For others, it may be a secret desire to flee from accountability. Hence, it is important to heed the apostle Paul?s counsel to Timothy: ?Guard what is laid up in trust with you, turning away from .?.?. the falsely called ?knowledge.? For making a show of such knowledge some have deviated from the faith.??1?Timothy 6:20,?21.
Archaeological discoveries will continue, and some may add to our understanding of Bible history. But no one discovery can verify or deny the Bible?s truthfulness. The Bible stands on its own merits. Of course, each one of us must decide whether to believe what Paul wrote: ?Even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed.? (Galatians 1:8) As for Jehovah?s Witnesses, their mind is made up. For them the Bible is complete.
Well, one of the problems with it is that there were so many different KINDS of Gnosticism; another problem is that Gnostics pretty much LOST, and history is "written by the winners" -- so Gnostics are often (perhaps deliberately) misunderstood and misrepresented.
Gnostics were generally folks who believed that true spirituality was about more than just reading scriptures, performing rituals and obeying religious laws or rules. They believed that it was possible -- indeed, necessary -- to have a *personal, immediate and immanent experience* with Divinity, and the Realms of the Sacred....and that indeed, this is the true, legitimate and essential basis of spirituality and religion.
Here's how the general values and approach of Gnostics are explained, and contrasted with Literalists, by authors Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy ("The Jesus Mysteries", "Jesus and The Lost Goddess", and others):
"The goal of Gnostic Spirituality is Gnosis, or Knowledge of Truth. ...Gnostics interpret the stories and teachings of their spiritual tradition as *signposts* pointing beyond words altogether, to the mystical experience of the ineffable Mystery.
Literalists, otoh, believe their scriptures are actually the words of God. They take their teachings, stories and initiation myths to be factual history. They focus on the words as a literal expression of the Truth. Hence we have chosen to call them 'Literalists'. Literalists associate their faith with its outward manifestations: sacred symbols, scriptures, ritual, ecclesiastical leaders and so on.
Gnostics see themselves as being on a spiritual journey of personal transformation. Literalists see themselves as fulfilling a divinely ordained obligation to practice particular religious customs as a part of their national or cultural identity......
"Gnostics wish to free themselves from the limitations of their personal and cultural identities, and experience the Oneness of all things. They therefore have no reluctance in adopting the wisdom of other traditions if it adds something to their own. Literalists use religion to sustain their personal and cultural identity by defining themselves in opposition to others. It is Literalists who fight wars of religion with Literalists from other traditions, each claiming that God is on their side. Literalists' enmity also extends to Gnostics within their own tradition who question their bigotry. Most spiritual traditions have a tragic history of the brutal oppression of Gnostics by intolerant Literalists. Interestingly, it is never the other way around.
For Gnostics, God is the Great Mystery which is the source and essence of all that is. Any idea of God is just that ? an *idea*. Confusing the idea of God with the true ineffable nature of the Mystery is idolatry. The image is mistaken for the essence."
From ?Jesus and the Lost Goddess? by Freke and Gandy, 7-11.
I hope that's helpful; I strongly recommend their books, "the Jesus Mysteries" and "Jesus and the Lost Goddess" --
I am a Gnostic so I'm not copying and pasting anything from Wikipedia.
To clear up the trinity question, Valentino's taught the trinity before any of the other Christian sects.
A gnostic accepts most of the Bible as legitimate but values personal understanding of God more highly than scripture. There were different sects of Gnostics such as the Borborites and the Sethians but essentially Gnostics were categorized together by Iraneus of Lyon - the man who compiled the modern Bible to make it say what he and Rome wanted it to.
As others have pointed out Gnosis means Knowledge or Acquaintance and refers to acquaintance with God.
The essence of Gnosticism and the concept of multiple emanations of God is in the Secret Book of St John. An alternative Genesis beginning with "The Parent of the Entirety" which is basically the Holy Spirit which emanates the Barbelo - "God the Father" then the Logos (Christ) and the Aeons are produced.
The Aeons are closely comparable to the 10 Sepiroth in the Kabalah. Which then Places Kether as God the Father - that doesn't match up with what is taught in the Kabalah.
But all this is unimportant. The truth in Gnosticism is to find out what you believe. It's a long journey which you have to tread alone.
To be a Gnostic, you have to be celibate. A simple fact is that every piece of evil in this world stems from the physical instincts of mankind. Hermetic teachings give the metaphor of 2 suns. A light sun and a dark sun. The light sun guides the spirit and the dark sun guides the soul. For this reason Black sybolises the flesh and White symbolises the Spirit.
The Gnostic Path is the individual's battle for his or her spirit to overcome the flesh.
Somebody quite rightly pointed out that some believe in a multi-layered heaven which must be progressed through. 365 of them refered to as the Abraskas or Abraxas. A gnostic making personal progress will seek the truth in everything he or she experiences.
Gnostics have often been linked to the occult as many have sought answers via magic prior to their Gnosis. Magic then remains a tool to be used.
One common element of belief is that it was evil that created the world and that the serpent which tempted eve was actually showing mankind a way out of evil.
It could take a long time to explain all of these concepts so what are the things you really want to know?
EDIT: Many believe that Gnosticism was the original faith without denominations and that all faiths descended from much the same as all language apart from Australian Aboriginal being descended from Sumerian Aramaic.
Get a copy of "Heaven's Mirror" - just google it.
To retrace that path you should also look at EVERY other scripture but pay particular attention to the Tao ti Ching and The Dhama Pada. We're not talking about historical lineage. We're talking about truth.
No, If I could I would be giving a lecture on it, Gnosticism is comprised of so many different facets its almost impossible to define it as one definite belief system. It incorporates aspects that have similarities with Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, although very little Orthodox Christianity.
can you explain gnosticism?
