Pagan Gnosticism (mystic, Kingdom, hell, bible, Christian)

gnostic · #1 03-01-2006, 03:17 PM

There is a lot more given about Christian Gnosticism, and to an extent, to Judaic Gnosticism. But what of the Hellenistic Gnosticism? Do they figure largely in today's Gnostic communities?

Have anyone read the Hermetic Writings? I've heard that it mixed Greek with Egyptian religion. I have not yet found a copy of it in any bookstore.

Buttons* · #2 03-01-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnostic

There is a lot more given about Christian Gnosticism, and to an extent, to Judaic Gnosticism. But what of the Hellenistic Gnosticism? Do they figure largely in today's Gnostic communities?

Have anyone read the Hermetic Writings? I've heard that it mixed Greek with Egyptian religion. I have not yet found a copy of it in any bookstore.

Well, as usual, i'll be wrong but comment anyway!

~I didn't realize there ARE Gnostic communities today.... if there are, then i may have to go join!

~In the Gnostic Bible that I have, there are: Hermetic, Mandean, Manichean, and Islamic Mystic texts. I'm not sure what you mean by Hellenistic... but i'll look it up and get back to you on it.

ChrisP · #3 03-01-2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttons*

Well, as usual, i'll be wrong but comment anyway!

~I didn't realize there ARE Gnostic communities today.... if there are, then i may have to go join!

~In the Gnostic Bible that I have, there are: Hermetic, Mandean, Manichean, and Islamic Mystic texts. I'm not sure what you mean by Hellenistic... but i'll look it up and get back to you on it.

Hellene.... wasn't that a greek city? or a greek period... or something greek. Maybe it's a salad with olives.

gnostic · #4 03-01-2006, 08:35 PM

Hellenistic is a period after Alexander the Great's death (322 BC). Instead of one big Macedonian empire, it was divided by Alexander's general into smaller kingdoms - Macedonia, Thrace, Syria, Egypt, etc (there are more, but I don't remember them). The Hellenistic period ended at the death of Cleopatra (30 BC).

In Egypt, the capital was Alexandria, where Macedonians/Greeks had adopted some of the Egyptian customs, as well as introducing their own culture into Egypt. They had the largest library built at the time. Lots of Jews moved into Egypt, and around that period, were responsible for translating Hebrew Bible into Greek, thus the "Septuagint".

So Hellenistic period is between 322-30 BC, and we would call their art and literature as being Hellenistic in those Hellenistic kingdoms.

Anyway Hellenic means Greek. I am not sure what Hellenistic means, but it has something to do with Greek.

spacemonkey · #5 03-02-2006, 01:14 PM

The term "Hellenistic" is derived from Homer's "The Illiad" and refers to Helen of Troy.

Buttons* · #6 03-02-2006, 02:16 PM

Could you maybe post the original question again in a different way? I dont think I understood what you were asking for....

gnostic · #7 03-03-2006, 07:28 AM

Ok.

The Nag Hammadi texts are written in a largely Christian aspect, right? But there are also non-Christian and non-Judaic gnosticism - such as mixture of Greek and Egyptian gnosticism.

Does anyone follow the pagan Gnosticism, today? Do they find the pagan aspect relevant?

Buttons* · #8 03-03-2006, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnostic

Ok.

The Nag Hammadi texts are written in a largely Christian aspect, right? But there are also non-Christian and non-Judaic gnosticism - such as mixture of Greek and Egyptian gnosticism.

Does anyone follow the pagan Gnosticism, today? Do they find the pagan aspect relevant?

Oh, in that case, I find all the texts relevant! *smiles* Why wouldnt someone accept all that gnostics of different cultures have to say?

Halcyon · #9 03-03-2006, 08:25 AM

http://www.gnostics.com/

^-- That's a modern Pagan Gnostic sect. Not really sure how large it is though.

In ancient times the Naassenes were Gnostics who explored the Christian and non-Christian religions of the time. They saw Christ as a deity of Christian mysteries, alongside him they looked into the Roman, Greek and Egyption pantheons as well as Mithraism.

There aren't that many surviving pagan Gnostic texts, but a popular and reasonably famous one is Poimandres.

Hope that's of some help.

I've said this before, but Gnosticism isn't really a religion - its a concept, a way of thinking. It has acquired certain myths which can be seem as aspects of a Gnostic religion e.g. Demiurge and Sophia, but Gnosticism is essentially a way of looking at things.
This way of thinking can be applied to pagan, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu or any other religious system - without any real internal contradiction on the part of the individual Gnostic. Heck, you could even be an atheist Gnostic.