Is this Gnosticism? (ritual, mysticism, churches, Revelation, scriptures)

[spacemonkey]

Originally Posted by worshiper

2) i still cant figure out what Gnosticism is all about. can someone tell me in layman's term?

I think one of the best ways to describe the view of the world that Gnostics share is to look at one of the key contributor's to the rise of Gnosticism's popularity in recent years (at least in my opinion), The Matrix Trilogy.
Gnostics hold the opinion that the world we live in, this material world, is like what the Matrix was to humanity in the films, a prison. In the film it was a prison for the mind, but to us (gnostics) it is a prison for the soul. The being of the OT that created this world is portrated in the second film as the Architect, greek gnostics called him the demiurge "the craftsman" and is portrayed in the third film as the Deus Ex Machina (literally "God from the Machine") a being of matter but without spirit, characteristics that it shares with the Demiurge (the Demiurge laking the "divine spark" contained in each human).
I know most hardcore gnostics will want to blast me for using my Matrix analogy, but if you ask me it is one of the easiest ways to explain the basics of Gnosticism. It's central theme of mankind needing to "wake up" is in essance the basic philosophy of Gnosticism.

[gnostic]

Originally Posted by Thrud

what is e = m c squared?????? can anyone tell me??

Simply put it - ENERGY.

The energy required for a mass to travel at the speed of light in a vacuum. It forms the basis of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.

Do you think this has to do with Gnosticism, Thrud?

[Random]

Originally Posted by gnostic

Simply put it - ENERGY.

The energy required for a mass to travel at the speed of light in a vacuum. It forms the basis of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.

Do you think this has to do with Gnosticism, Thrud?

[Godfather89]

Gnostics were falsely accused of many things. Read the Book: Gnosticism A New Light On An Inner Tradition by Stephen Hoeller in it he does Justice for the Gnostics who had been accused of many things. Spiritual Elitism was a big one, the RCC thought of the Gnostics as higher than others but what people dont realize the thing that makes the Gnostics appear higher is available to anyone and everyone.

[Godfather89]

Originally Posted by Scarlett Wampus

I was told by a Catholic that the main reason Gnosticism was considered heretical (by that church at least) was its association with Docetism. Found out why here.

The RCC believes God of The Old Testament and The New Testament are the same God. the Gnostic's think differently, the OT God is The Demiurge while The NT God is All-Loving and Transcendental Father that Christ speaks of. I would say Docetism is hardly the main reason... It was the Cosmology and the view of the universe we live in that has caused the rift between the heretics and the orthodox.