Where does Gnostics differ?Subscribe |
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Mon, 05/28/2007 - 14:01
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DarkIntellect
Join Date: 2006-12-20 Forum Posts: 7 |
May I ask where Gnosticism differs from mainstream Chirstianity? I've been told it was a cult(no offense, not trying to <edit> anybody off here).***Moderator Message: Please note that, while we welcome participation in the forums, this posting has been edited as per our forum rules. Thanks for your cooperation! |
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Join Date: 2004-02-17
Forum Posts: 348
I can say about this Gnostic group, Gnosticweb - this is not a cult. No one is forced or compelled to do anything that they don't want to do. This is a kind of school, guided by live master Belzebuub - here interested people can put in efforts to learn and understand mysteries of life, and given here are practical ways to transform the psyche and to gain direct experiences.
How it differs from main stream Christianity? In simple words, Gnosticism is gaining gnosis(knowledge) through direct experience, and the orthodox Christianity is based upon beliefs. A comprehensive answer is given here:
http://www.gnosticjudas.com/gnostics.php.
hope this clarifies a bit,
Manpreet
Join Date: 2006-12-20
Forum Posts: 7
EDIT:
http://www.christianforums.com/t5117367-is-gnosticism-christianity.html
Join Date: 2007-04-15
Forum Posts: 65
With Gnosticism/Gnosis, you don't accept anything without evidence and there isn't a list of things you have to believe in order to be a Gnostic. It's about exploring your spirituality and gaining real knowledge through direct experience, as opposed to just believing something because your parents or your pastor told you that's what you should believe.
Hope that helps,
Steven
Join Date: 2004-02-17
Forum Posts: 348
Orthodox Chrsitianity always seemed to have problems with Gnosticism, as they don't believe in gnosis. And they don't accept the gnostic scriptures containing the esoteric teachings by Jesus, like Nag Hammadi texts differing a lot from canonincal texts. This is a very close-minded approach to me.
Gnosis teaches to be awake and to activate consciousness and to see and understand the truth for oneself, instead of being brainwashed or controlled by anyone.
regards,
Manpreet
Join Date: 2004-11-30
Forum Posts: 2745
..I think that here, it is very important to keep a healthy doubt and a critical thinking attitude, simultaneously trying to verify what you have been taught by personal experiences.
As well as I know it, in Gnosticweb, students are always encouraged to do so, especially by Belzebuub, founder of this organization.
We can beleive whatever we want, but what we do and how, that really matters, I think.
I know, that there are all kind of views of what we are doing here, around, by other groups and organizations, maybe it can be relevant for some people to care about it, but it's not my business for now, that's for sure.
I just work with the things which work for me.
Join Date: 2005-01-26
Forum Posts: 841
I don't think I've ever heard it said any better.
The best thing about gnosis is that you learn through your own experience. You are not arguing with fanatics or "book" occultists. You are the only one that can corrupt your own experience.
Although no one is forced to do anything, I can tell by the tone of postings that people are unhappy with the wild claims previous well known masters have stated.
Making people think the world is about to end and that they are doomed if they don't follow what the church says is how most Western Religions operate.
Sadly, I've seen this idea infiltrate into modern gnosis through the Hercolubus story or with the threat of Hell.
Keep in mind that alot of modern Gnostic ideas are based around the spiritual teachings of the Essenes, a ancient group of people who would lend themsevles to aesthetics.
Their self-inflicted suffering held alot of power over their teachings and passed to us, reflected in our modern age of gnosis through various misinterpretations people are left to interpret literally.
Join Date: 2004-05-28
Forum Posts: 936
just because something which is true might instigate an egotistical reaction in someone who reads it, that doesn't necessarily make the subject untrue, right?
aren't the stories funny how Jesus would take a disciple away and tell them something in private (i think the specific one i'm thinking of is in the Gospel of Thomas), anyways He takes him aside to tell him something privately and when Thomas returns to the rest of the disciples, they ask him what Jesus told him, and he responds saying if i were to tell you then you would stone me and the stones would turn to fire and would swallow and destroy you... basically this is what he said. also there is a similar instance with Mary Magdalene somewhere in the Nag Hammadi Library.
basically this is saying, "You can't handle the Truth!" :)
but what happens when there is no choice anymore, when the situation turns dire then someone has to warn someone.
i personally think that anything that is true that gets someone to seriously work on himself is noteworthy. it might not always be pretty, or easy to swallow, but if we step back for a minute and investigate for ourselves, then we might discover how dire these times are in which we live. but you have to take that first step to stop playing, to figure out that play-time is over.
best wishes,
Jim
Join Date: 2006-03-27
Forum Posts: 276
I made the worst mistakes of my life in that time and now it is a huge motivation for me to get to the root of those dark things in me that came out in a very testing, emotional time.
Sometimes I think we have to learn the hard way and make those mistakes to see how truly evil we are and how pivotal is the need for change... Always stressed in my astral experiences.
Willow
Join Date: 2007-03-05
Forum Posts: 9
And i don't know if anyone else has noticed but every religion has the fanactics that claim what they speak is truth but the one thing i like about being agnostic is that nobody said this is law this is truth , you are encouraged to do the practises and find out for yourself even the practises are only there as a guideline so i mean what can it hurt give it a go and then you will know for yourself if what the so called fanactic christians you have given the link to are correct or incorrect.
But i also was christianed Roman Catholic and my whole family think i am crazy and that gnosis is evil but hey i know from direct experinces its not so i don't really mind what they think.
Much strenght and love to all.
Join Date: 2006-12-10
Forum Posts: 40
Is it possible to know without belief first? I hear people say it's all about "direct experience", which I'm all for, but you still have to believe what you've witnessed to a certain degree.
Maybe I differ from other viewpoints here, but I think belief is merely a transitional step from ignorance to knowledge. Nothing wrong with it, as long as it leads to knowledge, which comes in time.