Is Anyone A Gnostic Christian?
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The Heretic
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From my blog
I have read stuff that paints Paul as a gnostic, and the gnostic tradition was a competing interpretation of Christianity during the early days that didn't survive the march to Orthodoxy. It's possible a majority of its texts were destroyed in the Great Library of Alexandria fire.
Anyway, I blogged this a couple of months ago here.
***********************************
The mythology of Gnosticism
Among the early christians in the 2nd century AD, a number of rival churches emerged and developed their theologies. One of the groups called themselves the gnostikoi - the Knowing Ones - people who turned from philosophy to mythology in order to placate their sense of anxiety, a feeling of alienation from the divine.
The teachings of Basilides of from Alexandria and Valentinus inspired many people and attracted an audience. Gnostics, especially the disciples of Valentinus taught that there was the One - unknowable God - bythos, the first Aeon. All other aeons emanated from this unnamable one, an together all aeons made up the Pleroma (fullness) of God. One of the lowest of these aeons was Sophia.
She sought the unknowable one, the source. Initially, Sophia becomes confused with a point of light, mistaking it to be the source, and goes after it. But the light was a false mirror image, located deep within an abyss, and the journey only takes Sophia further away from her home, pleroma (Fullness). Once she realizes that she had been deluded, Sophia tries to return to her home - but at a cost to herself.
Sophia is split into two, where the higher self ascended back to her realm of fullness, her lower half, achamoth (anagram of chokmah, the hebrew name for wisdom) is having a rough time, very furious and simpers for her old life. Badly distressed, she leaks energy that transforms into the fundamental elements of nature (antiquity categories: earth water air and fire). Sophia also produces, creates or give birth to a quasiconscious entity, a monstrous being that eventually becomes the Demiurge, aka Ialdaboth, Saclas or Samael, the artificer of the universe. The misbegotten entity creates his own kingdom of 7 spheres that are ruled by 7 archontes of time (ruling over destiny and jail spirits). Sophia remains stuck in the 8th sphere, far above the kingdom of the Demiurge.
It is mistaken to conceive of the Demiurge as an evil entity, because gnostic scriptures only characterize this entity as ignorant, that he is completely unaware of the higher levels of reality above him, and is ignorant of the existence of his mother, Sophia. Ergo, creation is a mix of the flawed work of the Demiurge and the celestial wisdom/beauty of sophia. For the ancient Greeks, demiurge meant 'craftsman' or 'artisan.' According to Plato in Timaeus, demiurge refers to the maker of the universe, who is unreservedly good and intended that the world ought to be as good as possible. The only reason for the inherent flaws is because the Demiurge was limited to preexisiting chaotic matter. Ergo, the Demiurge is no omnipotent creator. Early Christian thinkers were quick to claim that this Demiurge meant the pagan philosophers anticipated the God of revealed religion.
The writing of the heresiological church father, Irenaeus elaborates further, that the Demiurge is utterly full of conceit and presumption, believing to be "the only god and there is no other god before/above him." Then it follows that Sophia inserts her own intentions into the Demiurge's creation. Some gnostics claim Sophia sent messages through the serpent, and gives human beings gnosis, or knowledge. This pisses off the Demiurge, who believes himself to be the sole creator. Hence, gnostics see original sin as the original enlightenment.
Counter cardinal Stephan Hoeller says "there is a crack in the world." The architect of the world/universe isn't perfect. Clearly, there are flaws in the blueprint, fissures in the foundation thru which we can glimpse the supernal reality. However we must be very attentive becase as soon as a crack appears, the opponents of gnosis (enemies of a direct human perception of the true nature of God and man) show up and paper or plaster it over.
I have read stuff that paints Paul as a gnostic, and the gnostic tradition was a competing interpretation of Christianity during the early days that didn't survive the march to Orthodoxy. It's possible a majority of its texts were destroyed in the Great Library of Alexandria fire.
Anyway, I blogged this a couple of months ago here.
***********************************
The mythology of Gnosticism
Among the early christians in the 2nd century AD, a number of rival churches emerged and developed their theologies. One of the groups called themselves the gnostikoi - the Knowing Ones - people who turned from philosophy to mythology in order to placate their sense of anxiety, a feeling of alienation from the divine.
The teachings of Basilides of from Alexandria and Valentinus inspired many people and attracted an audience. Gnostics, especially the disciples of Valentinus taught that there was the One - unknowable God - bythos, the first Aeon. All other aeons emanated from this unnamable one, an together all aeons made up the Pleroma (fullness) of God. One of the lowest of these aeons was Sophia.
She sought the unknowable one, the source. Initially, Sophia becomes confused with a point of light, mistaking it to be the source, and goes after it. But the light was a false mirror image, located deep within an abyss, and the journey only takes Sophia further away from her home, pleroma (Fullness). Once she realizes that she had been deluded, Sophia tries to return to her home - but at a cost to herself.
Sophia is split into two, where the higher self ascended back to her realm of fullness, her lower half, achamoth (anagram of chokmah, the hebrew name for wisdom) is having a rough time, very furious and simpers for her old life. Badly distressed, she leaks energy that transforms into the fundamental elements of nature (antiquity categories: earth water air and fire). Sophia also produces, creates or give birth to a quasiconscious entity, a monstrous being that eventually becomes the Demiurge, aka Ialdaboth, Saclas or Samael, the artificer of the universe. The misbegotten entity creates his own kingdom of 7 spheres that are ruled by 7 archontes of time (ruling over destiny and jail spirits). Sophia remains stuck in the 8th sphere, far above the kingdom of the Demiurge.
It is mistaken to conceive of the Demiurge as an evil entity, because gnostic scriptures only characterize this entity as ignorant, that he is completely unaware of the higher levels of reality above him, and is ignorant of the existence of his mother, Sophia. Ergo, creation is a mix of the flawed work of the Demiurge and the celestial wisdom/beauty of sophia. For the ancient Greeks, demiurge meant 'craftsman' or 'artisan.' According to Plato in Timaeus, demiurge refers to the maker of the universe, who is unreservedly good and intended that the world ought to be as good as possible. The only reason for the inherent flaws is because the Demiurge was limited to preexisiting chaotic matter. Ergo, the Demiurge is no omnipotent creator. Early Christian thinkers were quick to claim that this Demiurge meant the pagan philosophers anticipated the God of revealed religion.
The writing of the heresiological church father, Irenaeus elaborates further, that the Demiurge is utterly full of conceit and presumption, believing to be "the only god and there is no other god before/above him." Then it follows that Sophia inserts her own intentions into the Demiurge's creation. Some gnostics claim Sophia sent messages through the serpent, and gives human beings gnosis, or knowledge. This pisses off the Demiurge, who believes himself to be the sole creator. Hence, gnostics see original sin as the original enlightenment.
Counter cardinal Stephan Hoeller says "there is a crack in the world." The architect of the world/universe isn't perfect. Clearly, there are flaws in the blueprint, fissures in the foundation thru which we can glimpse the supernal reality. However we must be very attentive becase as soon as a crack appears, the opponents of gnosis (enemies of a direct human perception of the true nature of God and man) show up and paper or plaster it over.
VamPyroX
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Ooh... that sounds like something that would make a great movie!The Heretic said:I have read stuff that paints Paul as a gnostic, and the gnostic tradition was a competing interpretation of Christianity during the early days that didn't survive the march to Orthodoxy. It's possible a majority of its texts were destroyed in the Great Library of Alexandria fire.
Anyway, I blogged this a couple of months ago here.
***********************************
The mythology of Gnosticism
Among the early christians in the 2nd century AD, a number of rival churches emerged and developed their theologies. One of the groups called themselves the gnostikoi - the Knowing Ones - people who turned from philosophy to mythology in order to placate their sense of anxiety, a feeling of alienation from the divine.
The teachings of Basilides of from Alexandria and Valentinus inspired many people and attracted an audience. Gnostics, especially the disciples of Valentinus taught that there was the One - unknowable God - bythos, the first Aeon. All other aeons emanated from this unnamable one, an together all aeons made up the Pleroma (fullness) of God. One of the lowest of these aeons was Sophia.
She sought the unknowable one, the source. Initially, Sophia becomes confused with a point of light, mistaking it to be the source, and goes after it. But the light was a false mirror image, located deep within an abyss, and the journey only takes Sophia further away from her home, pleroma (Fullness). Once she realizes that she had been deluded, Sophia tries to return to her home - but at a cost to herself.
Sophia is split into two, where the higher self ascended back to her realm of fullness, her lower half, achamoth (anagram of chokmah, the hebrew name for wisdom) is having a rough time, very furious and simpers for her old life. Badly distressed, she leaks energy that transforms into the fundamental elements of nature (antiquity categories: earth water air and fire). Sophia also produces, creates or give birth to a quasiconscious entity, a monstrous being that eventually becomes the Demiurge, aka Ialdaboth, Saclas or Samael, the artificer of the universe. The misbegotten entity creates his own kingdom of 7 spheres that are ruled by 7 archontes of time (ruling over destiny and jail spirits). Sophia remains stuck in the 8th sphere, far above the kingdom of the Demiurge.
It is mistaken to conceive of the Demiurge as an evil entity, because gnostic scriptures only characterize this entity as ignorant, that he is completely unaware of the higher levels of reality above him, and is ignorant of the existence of his mother, Sophia. Ergo, creation is a mix of the flawed work of the Demiurge and the celestial wisdom/beauty of sophia. For the ancient Greeks, demiurge meant 'craftsman' or 'artisan.' According to Plato in Timaeus, demiurge refers to the maker of the universe, who is unreservedly good and intended that the world ought to be as good as possible. The only reason for the inherent flaws is because the Demiurge was limited to preexisiting chaotic matter. Ergo, the Demiurge is no omnipotent creator. Early Christian thinkers were quick to claim that this Demiurge meant the pagan philosophers anticipated the God of revealed religion.
The writing of the heresiological church father, Irenaeus elaborates further, that the Demiurge is utterly full of conceit and presumption, believing to be "the only god and there is no other god before/above him." Then it follows that Sophia inserts her own intentions into the Demiurge's creation. Some gnostics claim Sophia sent messages through the serpent, and gives human beings gnosis, or knowledge. This pisses off the Demiurge, who believes himself to be the sole creator. Hence, gnostics see original sin as the original enlightenment.
Counter cardinal Stephan Hoeller says "there is a crack in the world." The architect of the world/universe isn't perfect. Clearly, there are flaws in the blueprint, fissures in the foundation thru which we can glimpse the supernal reality. However we must be very attentive becase as soon as a crack appears, the opponents of gnosis (enemies of a direct human perception of the true nature of God and man) show up and paper or plaster it over.
The Heretic
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gnosticism already invaded hollywood
It has already been done. Check a movie that was directed by the Wachowski brothers and released in 1999.
VamPyroX said:Ooh... that sounds like something that would make a great movie!
It has already been done. Check a movie that was directed by the Wachowski brothers and released in 1999.
The Heretic
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VamPyroX said:
Many people detected a streak of gnosticism in the Matrix, and a google search turns up 67,000 hits. Here are a couple of links that explains the relationship between the religion and the blockbuster.
The Gnostic Matrix
Gnosticism and Buddhism in the Matrix
The Matrix: Gnosticism Reborn
A site that argues against "inherent" gnosticism in the Matrix
Of course, it's not spelled out, but the elements in the movie are very much similar to that of the matrix, especially the elements i've described in my final paragraph from above.
The Heretic
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AJ said:
Look past the surface, and look at the obvious symbolism. Neo doesn't have to come out and say "I am a gnostic!" for the movie to contain elements of gnosticism.
AJ
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being a gnostic, u believe in god and u believe in jesus. but u dont believe in hell, or satan, or demons. ive never seen the matrix...but i dont see how not believing in satan applies to the matrix.
u know what i really dont know if it applies to the matrix or not, but i do know i dont want my religion associated with hollywood. especially since its been looked down upon since jesus was born and died. ive personally been told im going to hell for not believing in hell. my friend, who introduced me to gnosticism, was told by her step mother she's the devil herself. and u know what i cant believe im announcing to everyone that im a Gnostic Christian. but u know what i am, and im proud i am. im glad i dont believe the things that Christians believe because if u ask me they believe in some pretty dumb things.
u know what i really dont know if it applies to the matrix or not, but i do know i dont want my religion associated with hollywood. especially since its been looked down upon since jesus was born and died. ive personally been told im going to hell for not believing in hell. my friend, who introduced me to gnosticism, was told by her step mother she's the devil herself. and u know what i cant believe im announcing to everyone that im a Gnostic Christian. but u know what i am, and im proud i am. im glad i dont believe the things that Christians believe because if u ask me they believe in some pretty dumb things.
The Heretic
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Ignorance is no excuse!
Yeah, i'm glad your friend did a much better job than i did.
But I find it funny that you don't think the movie is related to gnosticism, while you haven't seen it.
Yeah, i'm glad your friend did a much better job than i did.
But I find it funny that you don't think the movie is related to gnosticism, while you haven't seen it.
AJ
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The Heretic said:Yeah, i'm glad your friend did a much better job than i did.
But I find it funny that you don't think the movie is related to gnosticism, while you haven't seen it.
no i haven't seen it, it doesnt interest me. but i guess i shouldn't have said anything since i havent seen it.
im just very protective over my belief, just like everyone is i guess.
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naisho
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I know..when I see those usernames, I remember my first year here when many of them were active users. Wow, how much things have changed.
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naisho
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Don't worry. I will be here forever....
Damn son.. you are like the ace card or have one with the ladies around here. You only get to pick one you know!! or are you mormon? j/k
