Hi Brandino,

This is a tricky issue because there's a lot to be understood. Yes, the Jesus in the Bible and Gnosis are the same but there's also a "but".

But over time, the teachings that Jesus initially gave, many of which held hidden, esoteric significance were misunderstood and misinterpreted so that nowadays very few actually realize the real meaning in his words.

Gnosticism (as taught in these courses) is really about the pursuit of spiritual knowledge through personal experience. Much of this knowledge was taught by Jesus but again, most of us these days don't really understand it.

I hope this alleviates some of your worries.

Best wishes,

Mike

Hi MikeL,

Thank you very much for your response.

So what would you say in regards to Christian Doctrine...as in Salvation is based on your belief in Christ and faith in God. Does Gnosticism take faith out of the equation?

Gnosticism = belief in your head (knowledge)

Christianity = belief in your heart

??? What are your thoughts???

Thanks in advance.

I was raised catholic, now I'm a gnostic, and what I can tell you is that Catholic Christianity as well as protestant would be the Kindergarten level of christianity, while gnostic christianity is the university level. But the Kindergarten unfortunately doesn't reach you to salvation.

At first it was hard for me to understand, but the words of the gnostics are correct , all the years that we don't know nothing about the life of Jesus, and all the doubts we had are answered in the gnostic gospels.

Also the canonic gospels used by the catholic church are misinterpreted, an example: there's a passage in one of the canonic gospels that say something like this, I don't remember it exactly how it is but it goes like "Whatever bad action you do be careful because you'll get paid with the same coin". Or "treat others the way you want to be treated".
There are alot of passages with stuff such as "you'll pay it in your next life". Catholics think next life refers to heaven.
This makes reference to Karma and rencarnation and the catholic church missinterpret it.

Now, catholics do not take these teachings seriously, because if you treat someone bad in this life, it doesn't mean that you'll get treated bad for sure in this life, because that would happen in your next life but catholics don't believe in that.

Although gnostic gospels contain much more references made by Jesus about Karma and rencarnation.

The only thing I can tell you, is that I had a bad time, now I'm deeply into gnosis and I'm experiencing the truth that was hidden to us. One of the toughest topics for me to understand was the sexual transmutation part, which is basically having sex with your life partner in a way that is non animalistic.

Suddenly I see my friends falling for the animalistic way, ending their love relationships etc. It makes sense that they are not doing it the way it should be. Look at Hulk and Linda Hogan, they got divorced after years of seemingly happy marriage.

Catholic and protestant christianity = basic and you don't reach salvation.
Gnostic christianity = advanced and true way to salvation

Thank you foxtse.

I have another question/concern.

Why am I so worried about abandoning common Christianity? What is holding me back? Why am I doubting this shift in belief?

Hi Brandino,

There are many different schools and personal interpretations of "common Christianity", so I won't comment on that to avoid any generalizations.

Talking about beleifs, some people become too attached to them, maybe we can even say, "addicted to their beleifs".
For some people, it's just very hard to be open minded in the true sense of this word, dare to learn, dare to explore a new material, especially if it can reveal their own nature and demand a certain efforts.

I think, you are the best person to investigate this issue and find the answer.
The tools taught in this site can be very helpful for self-discovery.

And that's what Gnosticism is all about -personal search for inner knowlege, "Gnosis".
"Know Thyself!", like it is said.

All the best!

Vadim

Hi Brandino,

I guess a lot of it boils down to believing in something (but not experiencing it, so not really know if it is the truth) and striving to experience the truth.

For example, some believe in out-of-body experiences and some don't. Those are beliefs and only beliefs. If on the other hand we practice hard and verify that they are real then we honestly know - we've gone beyond belief and we have genuine faith and knowledge (Gnosis).

It's understandable to be worried about abandoning a religion (or anything for that matter). If we've grown up with something, then we may feel more comfortable to hold onto it and it could be scary to face something new. Maybe this is akin to moving in some ways. If we grow up in some neighbourhood and then have to move, it can be very difficult because we are leaving where we grew up and also going somewhere unknown.

Difficult though it may be, I'm sure if you follow your heart, you'll be able to do what's right for you and get past the worries you have now.

Best wishes,

Mike

I was wondering in addition. Do the beliefs in Gnosticism involve the resurrection of Christ? What does Gnosticism say about his return?

Hi Brandino,

It's a rather deep topic and my understanding is only intellectual (i.e. I haven't personally experienced this). For a more complete answer I'd recommend the Gnostic Wisdom course.

Until then, here's the basic idea as I understand it.

The life of Jesus, including his resurrection represents a long process that occurs within ourselves through the spiritual work (as we destroy the evil within and bring ourselves closer to the divine). Without this internal resurrection we cannot reach salvation.

His return, from what I understand, isn't necessarily something literal, but again relates to the spiritual within.

I hope that helps.

Best wishes,

Mike

Brandino,

You'll find more answers to check it out for yourself, see what Gnosticism is about, read what the Masters have to say. Because, Gnosticism isn't about beliefs or disbeliefs, and it's not about knowledge in the intellectual sense. A different kind of knowledge, a knowledge of the spiritual within, and also the darkness within that is keeping the spiritual from manifesting in our daily lives and in our dreams at night. For instance, you can read about anger and its effects and whatever, and have an intellectual knowledge about it, but that doesn't eliminate anger within, but by being aware and observing ourselves from moment to moment then we might be in a situation that brings up anger, then we can see it and how it works and fight against it.

Since I've already said a lot of what I want to say here in another recent post, you can click here to read what I wrote there.

I find when I look at the teachings objectively that there's a thread which connects all religious teachings. The same characters you can find, the Father, the Mother, the Holy Spirit, the Christ/Son. And in all the religions we see this war between Light and Darkness, we see this struggle just as Jesus struggled in the garden of Gethsemane while His disciples were fast asleep.

For some teachings involving Jesus that weren't included in the Bible for some reason or another, you can check out the Nag Hammadi Library, I like particularly The Gospel of Thomas and The Book of Thomas the Contender.

I personally think it's a huge mistake of most Christians to sleep lazily upon John 3:16. It's clearly a misinterpretation on their part since Jesus tells us specifically in Matthew 7:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

And in fact, right before this, Jesus is advising how to recognize a good tree from a bad tree, saying:

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Brandino,

The main problem I have with the Christian Doctrine is the belief that salvation is given only to those who know and accept Christ. I believe Christ came for everyone on earth to show the truth about God and his love. Honestly, would God deny someone who never learned about Christ enterence to Heaven? I don't think so. Christ is not just for Christians, he is for everyone in the world!

I believe that with gnosticism you believe with your heart and mind but with myself, I feel I know, not believe. I know God is real, not because I have physically seen him which is the "proof" many nonbelievers want but because my soul remembers him and this is where I get my thought on God along with God himself infusing knowledge within me. No human being will ever know the absolute truth in this life but we will all know it when we make it back to God!

Christy J.