Ummm, there really are no real Gnostics anymore. If you just read Gnostic stuff then it is pretty obvious why Christians don't like it. It includes characters like Barbello, and Ialdeboath, and Sophia screws up the spiritual realm... and its real crazy (but fun to read!)
Gnosticism is a philosophical and religious movement which started in Prue-Christian times. The name is derived from the Greek word "nosies" which literally means "knowledge." However, the English words "Insight" and "enlightenment" capture more of the meaning of "nosies."
Gnosticism involves the relational or experiential knowledge of God and of the divine or spiritual nature within us. A visitor to this web site wrote: "...we believe that nosies-knowledge requires ultimate transcendence of the merely intellectual to be actualized."
Gnostics believe that they have secret knowledge about God, humanity and the rest of the universe of which the general population was unaware. It became one of the three main belief systems within 1st century Christianity, and was noted for four factors by which differed from the two other branches of Christianity: Novel beliefs about Gods, the Bible and the world which differed from those of other Christian groups.
Tolerance of different religious beliefs within and outside of Gnosticism.
Lack of discrimination against women. Although Jesus treated women as equals, and Paul mostly did the same, the other Christian belief systems started to oppress women in later generations.
A belief that salvation is achieved through relational and experiential knowledge. In the words of The contemporary Gnostic Apostolic Church, humanity needs to be awakened and brought "to a realization of his true nature. Mankind is moving towards the Omega Point, the Great day when all must graduate or fall. This day is also the Day of Judgment in that only those who have entered the Path of Transfiguration and are being reborn can return to the Treasury of Light."
The movement and its literature were essentially wiped out before the end of the 5Th century CE by Catholic heresy hunters and the Roman Army. Its beliefs are currently experiencing a rebirth throughout the world, triggered in part by the discovery of an ancient Gnostic library at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in the 1940s, and the finding of the Gospel of Judas at El Minya, Egypt, in the 1970s.
The Gnostics did not believe in the guilt and fear supported by the Roman Catholic Church, that is why they feared the Gnostics so much.
There is at least one Gnostic here.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/gnostic2.html - sorry link does not work
The Gnostic Gospels are the only Gospels not corrupted by man.
Gnostic's believe that god is part of us all. Jesus was a man, the wisest of all men, that came to show us how to live a life of enlightenment. Gnostic's believe that we were once with god in the beginning, we made a choice to come to earth, we forget all we once knew, and spend this life searching for that knowledge - in the end, we die and go back to god. Gnostic's believe in the peace and love that is of god, and not the propaganda of organized religions.
Gnostic's are considered evil, because they take a more sympathetic approach to life and sin, instead of the "turn or burn" that has been drilled into the masses for the past 1500 yrs or so.
gnostic thinking is in reality, a threat to modern day Christianity.
EDIT: Not all Gnostic's believe in the idea of 2 gods, nor do all Gnostic's deny Jesus as the Cristos.
EDIT2: Wow, so many people mislead about the true nature of Gnostic's.
There is no need for the trinity. We are all part of God and of God - therefore the trinity is not needed. We don't need additional beings to be the go-between. We all have direct access to God.
Gnostics believe that all that is spiritual is holy, and that all that is physical is evil. The biggest problem with this is that the devil and his hoard is spiritual. The other biggest problem with this is that it removes Jesus from being our savior because they do not believe that he was a physical being.
Gnostic's are more ancient and closer to the original times that are often quoted as "biblical" than any Christian doctrine as we know it today. They believe in a direct connection with God, and they believe in practicing what they (do not) preach. Of course the Christian nut bars are going to disown them out of hand (and with no real knowledge of what they say or mean). The Bible NEVER talks about Gnostic's per SE, as they did not exist until after the NT was written.
Anything that is different is branded as evil by the unthinking (sheep like) Christians you are reading here.
There are many reasons that Christians have historically viewed Gnosticism as evil: it promotes an anti-historical approach (often mixing with a doctrine known as deceits, which denied that Jesus had a physical body), it denies or reinterprets important parts of the Old Testament (like the creation story; some Gnostics believed that the material world was actually a creation of an evil god), its view of sin, the purpose of man, Christology, etc are all different from the mainstream Christian view.
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Fdrc, that is simply false. Gnosticism reflects a pagan influence on Christian theology. It is not found in Judaism (Christianity's roots) or within the most primitive Christian traditions.
gnosticism is not evil. it was considered heretical by the founders of Christianity. if its so evil, then why were more than half of the books that Gnostic's read in the bible in the first place? these Christians dint even know the history of their own religion! basically, there's a lot to it. so ill just give u the basics like u ask........Gnostic's believe that there is a god but he/she or whatever it is is way to complicated for our feeble minds to understand. the "god" everyone worships here on earth is considered ignorant. AND NO CHRISTIANS, IM NOT TALKING ABOUT JESUS! Jesus is a totally different person. if u can wrap Ur mind around it, i recommend reading the nag Hammad scriptures. its really complicated and takes a lot to really understand it.
Not a gnostic, but am a Christian. Gnosticism is considered bad because it considers all matter to be bad. It denies that Jesus came in the flesh, and considers the spiritual good, and matter bad. While this is an accusation that many lob at Christianity as well, orthodox Christianity recognizes that God made the world, and that it is good. In fact, what we think of as "Heaven" will be, after the judgment, the new heaven and the new earth, where God will dwell with us. Again --- earth. God made the earth, and it was good. Now earth is under the curses that we've brought on it by sin. But that doesn't change that God made matter and it is good.
Paul goes so far as to say that if we deny that Jesus had a physical body and a physical resurrection, then our faith is a sham and we are the most pitied of men.
In terms of what gnosticism does to human behavior that makes it so troubling is that it tends to make people veer to either asceticism --- again, treating the body like it is bad, or hedonism. Both of these are extremes that aren't called for in scripture. That's the practical outworking of the problem with gnosticism. Gnosticism does still very much exist, even amongst churches. Truth be told, there are only about a dozen or so heresies. They just get wrapped up with a new bow every 100 years or so so that people won't as easily recognize them.
Gnosticism isn't a particular group, its just an adjective term prefixing the particular group to signify their knowledge.
Gnostic theist - KNOWS somehow there is a God.
Agnostic theist - Believes but DOES NOT KNOW there is a God.
Gnostic atheist - KNOWS somehow there is NO God.
Agnostic atheist - Believes but DOES NOT KNOW there is NO God.
A lot of Christians are guilty of gnosticism so they are just a pot calling the kettle black and will therefore be joining these "evil" people in hell Lil.
EDIT: Sorry, I shouldn't have singled out Christians there for whoever gave me the thumbs down, I should have said all theistic religions in general instead, I was just relating to the context of the question. The point is still true though.
Although its my opinion i think i can give you evidence meaning FACTS, scientifically and spiritually for the existence of God, and a religion that will provide you with all answers
That religion i believe is Islam, it confirms the prophet hood prophets such as Moses, Jesus and Abraham and states itself that it has revealed the TRUTH, IN ITS PUREST FORM
Meaning every prophet of God has brought a message of Monotheism, and Islam is the purest of One Unique God, and Islam gives a comprehensive life given by God, To Guide mankind away from ignorance to create the best of people.
The Quran Has many scientific, mathematical miracles unchanged for 1400 years unlike the bible
And many prophecies, as well as statistical facts such as being the fastest growing religion on the earth, not because of reproduction but because of conversion
ITs also the most misunderstood, since political leaders tarnish its image in fear of its ability to grip hearts, so the world is targeting Muslims today
You can email me any question at da_frozenking@yahoo.com
Quran 10:37
This Qur'an is not such as can be produced by other than God; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book - wherein there is no doubt - from the Lord of the worlds.
2:2 Quran
This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God;
Pauline Christianity is a form of gnosticism, as it teaches salvation through knowledge of Christ, not in keeping god's commands; and that the "old covenant", being not enough and needing fixing by Jesus is evidence that the creator god is imperfect
Christians have hated Gnostic's since the beginning... early Christians murdered most of them off while destroying all of the original writings that were directly related to the teachings of Yeshua. Jesus Christ was a fictional construct created by Paul that Christianity is based on. Some of the reasons have to do with Gnostic's believing in equality for women, was opposed to slavery, and taught you how to connect directly with the God source without having to go through religious and political systems. I'd recommend checking out WNW.truegnosticchurch.org to get a better understanding of why Christians hate Gnostic's and why gnosticism will be the eventual downfall of Christianity... a sexist, oppressive, judgmental system that has plagued humanity for 2,000 years.
As a gnostic, I can state that Gnostic's believe that we all have a Devine spark within us. That we are of a Devine origin and have been trapped in the matter of this world. Christ came to teach us of or Devine origin in order to bring back our memory of who we are and where we truly came from. This would enable us to spiritually "break free" from our physical existence, and return to our true spiritual existence in a spiritual realm that was and is our destiny. Gnostics don't view humans as being evil. We are more victims and are lost as to our origins. Salvation is gained by learning of our origin and not by blood sacra fices. Salvation comes from following the teachings of Christ. Not by his death. The leading tenet is "to know thyself is to learn of God, for his spark is within us". Not all Gnostic's believe as the enemies of the Gnostic's have misled many to believe.. Gnostics have historically been painted in an untrue color by the more mainstream religions. Don't believe all that you read about gnostics, reseach is the best approach.
Gnostics: Can you tell me some basics on gnosticism? Why do other christians consider
