Plato a Gnostic? (followers, atheist, pagan, God, religion)

Buttons* · #1 01-25-2006, 11:12 PM

...I'd give evidence for it, but i'm too lazy right now... any opinions while you wait for a text-book explination for this statement? Do you think Plato was Gnostic? Just look at the Republic, it covers the aspects of ignorance and achieving the light/silence and whatnot!

Halcyon · #2 01-26-2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttons*

...I'd give evidence for it, but i'm too lazy right now... any opinions while you wait for a text-book explination for this statement? Do you think Plato was Gnostic? Just look at the Republic, it covers the aspects of ignorance and achieving the light/silence and whatnot!

Wasn't Plato a possible influence on the Gnostic movement? I forget, when did he live?

ChrisP · #3 01-26-2006, 12:16 PM

He lived from 427BCto 347BC Halcyon.

I would say the Greek civilisation was a Gnostic one. Although their religion was Pagan, the concept of gnosis falls outside the scope of true theism.

Halcyon · #4 01-26-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisP

He lived from 427BCto 347BC Halcyon.

I would say the Greek civilisation was a Gnostic one. Although their religion was Pagan, the concept of gnosis falls outside the scope of true theism.

Lol, Baconian Nutritionist.

Wasn't it just Plato and his followers that believed in such things? Was Plato atheist in respect to the Greek pantheon? I know very little about him for some odd reason.

With that time frame for his life then, i'd suggest that there may have been a two way flow of knowledge between the Platonists (?) and the Gnostics. Or possibly that Plato may have planted the seeds of the Gnostic concept of God. I'm just speculating of course...

gnostic · #5 01-26-2006, 04:58 PM

It is in his dialogue, Timaeus, that make him really look like a Gnostic. Here, he plays with symbolism and religion, and it is here where you would write of the demiurge. I had not been able to fully understand Timaeus, because I have a slight problem in grasping the symbolism.

ChrisP · #6 01-26-2006, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Lol, Baconian Nutritionist.

Wasn't it just Plato and his followers that believed in such things? Was Plato atheist in respect to the Greek pantheon? I know very little about him for some odd reason.

With that time frame for his life then, i'd suggest that there may have been a two way flow of knowledge between the Platonists (?) and the Gnostics. Or possibly that Plato may have planted the seeds of the Gnostic concept of God. I'm just speculating of course...

Socrates, was the man who taught Plato and all Plato's contemporaries. Although Socrates wrote nothing down two of his students (including Plato) recorded his teachings during and after his death.

Socrates ideas are still the root of much of Western Culture. Perhaps the reason why Socrates was so unusually gifted is that he realised he knew nothing. Knowledge is nothing next to understanding.

The Gnostic concept of God can probably be traced to Zoroastrianism. Dualist Monotheism, currently practised by a small number in Iran, though it's followers once numbered an entire empire.

Buttons* · #7 01-27-2006, 06:00 AM

I love Socrates... when I read more on him, i'll start a thread on it....

(lovely how i stick to my own topic *rolls eyes*)

Halcyon · #8 01-27-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisP

The Gnostic concept of God can probably be traced to Zoroastrianism. Dualist Monotheism, currently practised by a small number in Iran, though it's followers once numbered an entire empire.

I disagree, the Gnostic concept of God is more like the Hindu God Brahman. An infinite source of all things.
The demiurge in Gnostic mythology was a way of explaining the suffering of the world and the evil acts of God described in Genesis. Some didn't even see the demiurge as evil, they saw him more like an idiot.