by jimwalton » Wed Mar 21, 2018 2:51 pm
Well, a quick Google search reveals that Gnosticism is "a prominent heretical movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin. Gnostic doctrine taught that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity, the demiurge, and that Christ was an emissary of the remote supreme divine being, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) of whom enabled the redemption of the human spirit."
Wikipedia adds that "The Syrian–Egyptian traditions postulate a remote, supreme Godhead, the Monad. From this highest divinity emanate lower divine beings, known as Aeons. The Demiurge, one of those Aeons, creates the physical world. Divine elements 'fall' into the material realm, and are locked within human beings. This divine element returns to the divine realm when Gnosis, esoteric or intuitive knowledge of the divine element within, is obtained." Etc. I'm sure you can read it yourself.
> How is a Christian gnostic different from other Christians?
None of this stuff is in the Bible, and Gnostics ignore stuff that is in the Bible, so the differences would be great, both in theological foundations and extensions of that theology. From other sources I've gathered that...
- They claim that aeons or emanations rose from the eternal abyss, which is the source of all spiritual existence, and they are named Mind, Power, Wisdom, Truth, etc.
- The mysteries of these emanations are knowable only to a select learned few, not to all.
- It is through knowledge that one enters into the fullness of understanding of the Oneness of all things
- God wasn't (and couldn't) have anything to do with creation, and so the angels were the creators
- They therefore worshipped angels
- They perceived Eve as superior rather than equal to Adam
- They teach that Even gave Adam his life
- When Adam was deceived, Eve enlightened him
- They teach that all matter is evil and was created by a remote Aeon.
- Jesus is one of the aeons, a phantom and not a real person. Also, Jesus is not divine.
- They downplayed ethics. Salvation comes through knowledge, and you can do whatever you want with your physical bodies
- They worshipped the new moon
- they worshipped angels
So when it comes right down to it, Gnostics are not and cannot be Christians. That's why Gnosticism was found to be heretical, i.e., not in conformity with what the Bible teaches. Therefore the term "Christian Gnostic" is an oxymoron.
> Is there a list of beliefs that all Christian gnostics agree on?
I've given you a short list. Wikipedia could give you more. But it's more appropriate to speak of "Christians" or "Gnostics," but not "Christian Gnostics." To my surprise, I read there that some forms of Gnosticism still exist somewhere in the world. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I guess one can find anything somewhere on the planet, eh?
> What are some disagreements between Christian gnostics?
There are different branches or versions of Gnosticism. Some conform to various Greek philosophies, such as Stoicism or Epicureanism. But there are plenty of varieties of Gnosticism to go around (again, the Wikipedia article lists many). I guess in similarity to many things, people can make up what they wanted to believe and then find others who also believed the same things. Without evidence, people can make up whatever belief system they want. And obviously they do.
But in answer to your question, nothing, it seems, makes a Christian Gnostic. Someone has to desert Christianity to be a Gnostic.
Well, a quick Google search reveals that Gnosticism is "a prominent heretical movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin. Gnostic doctrine taught that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity, the demiurge, and that Christ was an emissary of the remote supreme divine being, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) of whom enabled the redemption of the human spirit."
Wikipedia adds that "The Syrian–Egyptian traditions postulate a remote, supreme Godhead, the Monad. From this highest divinity emanate lower divine beings, known as Aeons. The Demiurge, one of those Aeons, creates the physical world. Divine elements 'fall' into the material realm, and are locked within human beings. This divine element returns to the divine realm when Gnosis, esoteric or intuitive knowledge of the divine element within, is obtained." Etc. I'm sure you can read it yourself.
> How is a Christian gnostic different from other Christians?
None of this stuff is in the Bible, and Gnostics ignore stuff that is in the Bible, so the differences would be great, both in theological foundations and extensions of that theology. From other sources I've gathered that...
- They claim that aeons or emanations rose from the eternal abyss, which is the source of all spiritual existence, and they are named Mind, Power, Wisdom, Truth, etc.
- The mysteries of these emanations are knowable only to a select learned few, not to all.
- It is through knowledge that one enters into the fullness of understanding of the Oneness of all things
- God wasn't (and couldn't) have anything to do with creation, and so the angels were the creators
- They therefore worshipped angels
- They perceived Eve as superior rather than equal to Adam
- They teach that Even gave Adam his life
- When Adam was deceived, Eve enlightened him
- They teach that all matter is evil and was created by a remote Aeon.
- Jesus is one of the aeons, a phantom and not a real person. Also, Jesus is not divine.
- They downplayed ethics. Salvation comes through knowledge, and you can do whatever you want with your physical bodies
- They worshipped the new moon
- they worshipped angels
So when it comes right down to it, Gnostics are not and cannot be Christians. That's why Gnosticism was found to be heretical, i.e., not in conformity with what the Bible teaches. Therefore the term "Christian Gnostic" is an oxymoron.
> Is there a list of beliefs that all Christian gnostics agree on?
I've given you a short list. Wikipedia could give you more. But it's more appropriate to speak of "Christians" or "Gnostics," but not "Christian Gnostics." To my surprise, I read there that some forms of Gnosticism still exist somewhere in the world. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I guess one can find anything somewhere on the planet, eh?
> What are some disagreements between Christian gnostics?
There are different branches or versions of Gnosticism. Some conform to various Greek philosophies, such as Stoicism or Epicureanism. But there are plenty of varieties of Gnosticism to go around (again, the Wikipedia article lists many). I guess in similarity to many things, people can make up what they wanted to believe and then find others who also believed the same things. Without evidence, people can make up whatever belief system they want. And obviously they do.
But in answer to your question, nothing, it seems, makes a Christian Gnostic. Someone has to desert Christianity to be a Gnostic.