Gnosticism and Taoism (rituals, mystic, tradition, Buddhism, beliefs)

Buttons* · #1 03-09-2006, 06:07 AM

Is there already a thread like this? oh well, the mods can delete it...

Okay the question: So there has been some comparisons from Gnosticism to Buddhism, but what about Taoism? Gnostics is a lot like the western religions easternized. Basically the "mystic" side of most religions.

There are TONS of comparisons to balance, the One, and inner knowing.... and.... stuff that i cant remember.... but what do you think?

random question: does being a mystic make you a gnostic... and vice versa?

Buttons* · #2 03-09-2006, 06:09 AM

can you have gnostic beliefs with taoist philosophy? (other random questions as they come to me...)

ChrisP · #3 03-09-2006, 07:45 AM

Aaaahhh Ash... we suffer from the same problem. We post and it makes sense to US, but it looks like randomness to anyone else

Buttons* · #4 03-09-2006, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisP

Aaaahhh Ash... we suffer from the same problem. We post and it makes sense to US, but it looks like randomness to anyone else

well, thank you for your enlightening statements!

Are you saying i need to reword things? Or do you have an opinion? Or my questions are crap? what?

Halcyon · #5 03-09-2006, 10:25 AM

Is Gnosticism like Taoism?

Not at all! Everyone knows that Taoism is just another name for SATANISM!!!!

We've all heard the stories of how Taoists eat the brains of babies (cooked rare, with a side of green salad) as part of their evil pagan rituals. This is common knowledge!

And how could you forget the great Taoist crusade? When millions of Taoists descended on the innocent western world, killing billions of innocent men, women, children and oldies - then using their remains to invent the first Tikka Masala.
Plus i've heard a rumour that the founder of Taoism was the great nephew of Satan, and frequently went on badger hunts.

How could you compare Gnosticism, the one true most awesomeist and righteousist path to God, with Taoism, the religion of evilness.

Buttons* (if that is your real name

) you are officially discombobulated from all Gnostic organisations.
Please return your red hat with the bobbles, and your officially sanctioned "Guide to Gnosticity".

ChrisP · #6 03-09-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Is Gnosticism like Taoism?

Not at all! Everyone knows that Taoism is just another name for SATANISM!!!!

We've all heard the stories of how Taoists eat the brains of babies (cooked rare, with a side of green salad) as part of their evil pagan rituals. This is common knowledge!

And how could you forget the great Taoist crusade? When millions of Taoists descended on the innocent western world, killing billions of innocent men, women, children and oldies - then using their remains to invent the first Tikka Masala.
Plus i've heard a rumour that the founder of Taoism was the great nephew of Satan, and frequently went on badger hunts.

How could you compare Gnosticism, the one true most awesomeist and righteousist path to God, with Taoism, the religion of evilness.

Buttons* (if that is your real name

) you are officially discombobulated from all Gnostic organisations.
Please return your red hat with the bobbles, and your officially sanctioned "Guide to Gnosticity".

Though well meaning Halcyon your facts as always are a little off

We take our baby brains in a CAESAR salad, and it was Butter Chicken not Tikka Masala... small things I know, but after all, food IS the centre of the Taoist traditions and practises.

"Emptying the heart of desires,
Filling the belly with food,
Weakening the ambitions,
Toughening the bones. "

michel · #7 03-09-2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttons*

well, thank you for your enlightening statements!

Are you saying i need to reword things? Or do you have an opinion? Or my questions are crap? what?

Please Ashley, it is nothing to do with your questions; they are very valid.

I find myself finding connections between alsorts. My trouble is that I am not very knowledgeable on either 'religions' you have quoted.

I seem to be hopping about between Christianity and gnosticism, or between Christianity and Taoism (what I do know of them)..................

I think this is the same sort of 'confusion syndrome' that occurs after years and years of psychotherapy. There comes a time when every patient I have spoken to approaches a stage of total overload because there are so many labels. I am a bit that way (Theologically) myself, at the moment. I am a mystic something, but what ? I am not sure...........

mingmty · #8 03-09-2006, 11:03 AM

Other than the myth of the beginning of the universe I know close to nothing about gnosticism, but as far as my knowledge goes both are highly incompatible for Yaldaboath is supposed to be a greedy semi-god that created the world we live on, explaining evil this way. But for Taoists "evil" is not inferior to "goodness" but a complementary part of it, in the gnostic myth goodness was corrupted into evilness so its implied to be superior (or original). Which I personally find romantic but highly disagree.

MidnightBlue · #9 03-09-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisP

Aaaahhh Ash... we suffer from the same problem. We post and it makes sense to US, but it looks like randomness to anyone else

I think it's an interesting topic -- that's why I'm looking at the thread -- but while I know a little about historical Gnostic sects like the Marcionites, the Manichees, and the Cathars, I know next to nothing about modern Gnosticism, and I'm not entirely sure what people on RF mean when they say they're Gnostic. I imagine there are others in the same boat.

Maybe an introductory thread, where the Gnostics here tell a little about their faith, would help.