Gnosticism, a religion or a collection of beliefs?

When I hear someone say they are Gnostic I do get confused because I had thought Gnosticism was a religion, but heard that it was really an umbrella term for certain religions, like Paganism as "Paganism" is not a religion but a an umbrella term and that there are pagan religions, much like there are gnostic religions like the Druze or Mandaeism. Those are considered "gnostic" religions

I know there are other groups, such as abrahamic, dharmic, Oriental, pagan and so forth, but I was wondering if Gnosticism itself is a religion, or there is no one Gnostic religion, but it consists a collections of different religions.

I was just wondering what Gnostics or someone well versed in these beliefs thought of it.

Theweirdtophat said:

I was just wondering what Gnostics or someone well versed in these beliefs thought of it.

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I suspect different 'Gnostics' will have different opinions on this. I, for one, do not believe there is one religion called 'Gnosticism' (in much the same way as I do not believe there is one religion called 'Hinduism'). I am certainly of the opinion that instead there are a number of Gnostic religions, and for that matter, you will find people who call themselves followers of other religions, but either with the additional appellation 'Gnostic', or without it but holding decidedly 'Gnostic' beliefs (I fall into the latter category).

Theweirdtophat said:

I was just wondering what Gnostics or someone well versed in these beliefs thought of it.

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Gnosticism is not a religion. Gnosticism does not even exist (except in the minds of modern scholars--how's that for an answer!)

A religion has certain beliefs and practices one must adopt and follow to be a good fill-in-the-blank. Gnosis transcends those.

So say I'm a Naut cosmically bound with the not Sun God. Whilst I'm manifested in the flesh and blood bourne for glory, I get testi. The chaos of the Sun is a reflection of my willpower alone.

I desire nothing nor requested no tithe or believed in the indignity of worship, I am told not to apologize. Man may have first been an abomination but has accomplished itself ten times over, no matter how ignoramus and depraved these sophisticated pretty beasts are. There are bound to be tombs somewhere with anecdotes of the truth unless they were deliberately or accidentally destroyed.

What I want from you as one kind Sun deity is simply conscription and less ridiculous tuition, recycle everything, even humans. Science is magic, kids, get educated, tobacco is the devil. There is not a matter of repentance or sacrament the holy sickos will have you bereaved in. You pay for your sins in death and rebirth, should further punishment be required, that is a different element all together, and a private matter of rehabilitating one's ill's... All can be fixed with Dr.Loki.


Slainte, the only lick of Gael I can speak, one of the most sophisticated languages on Earth or Midgard or Terra or Yggdrasil. It brings me some commotion, the Tuatha, "Learn Hieroglyphics." would have been easier.



So how ridiculose, I can't even spell ridiculous, can the concept of God get. Gods a punk American that's barely able to grasp pre-algebra and articulated communication all together. I'm a savant on an autistic level... I communicate by interpretation of emotions, very primitive pre-speech. It makes life difficult in a cold cruel emotionless world people want.

Yolo, I'm apparently why the worlds becoming a desert. It's because of bureaucracy and the inadequacy of my ability to berate others. It is quite an obstacle put lightly, heh.

Maliciousness is what brought us into our dumbfounded state of spirituality... Atheism is a fine path for the cunning but unenlightened. There is a higher dynamic that is yet to be explained and I can not explain it either.

However, it is a pleasure to entertain whence I came.


So my ego is pretty infused with delusions of grandeur.

Schizophrenia is the bs. Gnosticism is a nice middle ground for spirituality at this time.

2011 or 12 freak heat wave was all me. I was about to cash this gem pretty style and appearently Tor can move da Erf, saved us all, even me... Bad kamikaze... bad.

That mean don't take 4 days to get her... Light Speed is like Instant... Like I get mad, bam the world is in flames in 5 minutes. Such lie... Such lie. Muzien Mashugana.


If I were truly a God I would have teh second coming of George Carlin. I love that Man.

The only bok I'm writing would be "Sun Zeus: The Art of War" where I would talk about heroing, comradery and adventuring, rules of of engagement and battle. I've not spilt the blood of many Men this rick roll but I will delight if my prima donna nonsense. I literally adventure the streets without a weapon, I am an ignoramous according to the holy one.

But I thought Sun Zeus was a lol... I'm not Zeus, they imply I'm Zeus, but I'm not Zeus, I'm talking to Zeus/Jupiter... Perhplox Helios but I'm a barbar would be vigilante not some cheesy arse Greek.

And I'm a Mongrel according to a Colonel in the US.ARMY. So I've made peace with that. WW2 was enough to dodge that entire conversation. Genocides begat genocides... Entire races have been killed off, obviously. The Nazi were also reviving a nearly extinct race as well. Adolf Hitler was "eccentric" or some type of moron he thought he couldn't lose. Anyway....


Like each race is sacred, whether your a curly haired negroid or a wavy haired negroid.

Atheist are misinterepreting Sacred as something mystical or magical space fairy stuff.. Consider the term "treasured." I don't treasure any of you but what have you, be civil at least, consider your childrens lives as outcasts... etc.... WW2, think big.

Space Wiking Space Wiking Space Wiking Space Wiking

For Space Wikings we need conscription dag nabit. This is good enough, put it across the desk.

Genetics GOD I'm mad.. Just let it go. I'm screwed up, I'm mad, at least I'm not on some obscenely morbid obesity. Just watch America do it... Let's see what nature and animal growth hormones can provide. That's why they so fat yo. I know it's the troot.


.... assissted evilution. Evilution is the greatest breakthrough of Mankind since the wheel, but did a God help? Who knows... I give credit where credits due to my delusions.

As far as proving I exist, I had hid crap all over the Earth for me to find. Statues, busts,m destroyed, defaced with acid or otherwise covered up. To coincidental... Dead sea scrolls. Name carved on a rock, particularly demented parlour tricks.

Perhaps I could find my skeleton somewhere, if I weren't burnt at the stake. I really ponder if that were the truth or I am just a struggling delusional schizophrenic. This is sick they say that surround me. First World Health Care, not for a 90% white guy, with a white soul.

Berest I am out of cosmic lols for the gaggle and shall return lather. I must milk my glands and be the decent god forsaken animal I am.

Theweirdtophat said:

I was just wondering what Gnostics or someone well versed in these beliefs thought of it.

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Gnostics are terms made up by the church fathers. Same with heretics. It's a blanket term meaning "knowledge of something". Christian gnosis means "knowledge of Christ". Confusion (ignorance and error) is always at work to deceive. Knowledge defeats ignorance. Spiritual gnosis reveals truth (of Christ),

Gospel of Philip:
As for ourselves, let each one of us dig down after the root of evil which is within one, and let one pluck it out of one's heart from the root. It will be plucked out if we recognize it. But if we are ignorant of it, it takes root in us and produces its fruit in our heart. It masters us. We are its slaves. It takes us captive, to make us do what we do not want; and what we do want, we do not do. It is powerful because we have not recognized it. While it exists it is active. Ignorance is the mother of all evil. Ignorance will result in death, because those who come from ignorance neither were nor are nor shall be. [...] will be perfect when all the truth is revealed. For truth is like ignorance: while it is hidden, it rests in itself, but when it is revealed and is recognized, it is praised, inasmuch as it is stronger than ignorance and error. It gives freedom. The Word said, "If you know the truth, the truth will make you free" (Jn 8:32). Ignorance is a slave. Knowledge is freedom. If we know the truth, we shall find the fruits of the truth within us. If we are joined to it, it will bring our fulfillment.

Does todays church create slaves of doctrine or freedom to seek spirit everywhere? We each have the ability to understand as even the priests (Pope?) do. Their spirits are no more than any mans. Be led by the spirit, not by men. The promise is this:

Luke 11:
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

Faith is the seed that grows the more we nurture it with spiritual knowledge.

Theweirdtophat said:

When I hear someone say they are Gnostic I do get confused because I had thought Gnosticism was a religion, but heard that it was really an umbrella term for certain religions, like Paganism as "Paganism" is not a religion but a an umbrella term and that there are pagan religions, much like there are gnostic religions like the Druze or Mandaeism. Those are considered "gnostic" religions

I know there are other groups, such as abrahamic, dharmic, Oriental, pagan and so forth, but I was wondering if Gnosticism itself is a religion, or there is no one Gnostic religion, but it consists a collections of different religions.

Click to expand...

About the Druze religion, only the Druze priests know, and they tell none else, not even their lay people, but for the rest: correct! Gnosticism is a collection of different religions. The unifying trait is perhaps that the material world is corrupt, and that the goal of the existence is to liberate oneself from this world to return to God.

Mandaeism is as far as I know the only surviving Gnosticism that emerged already in the antiquity.

The Neognostics can be subdivided as follows:

• The Catholics: the Liberal Catholics including the Ecclesia Gnostica, and the French Gnostics, including the Primitive Johannites. They use the Bible, Kabbalah, the Nag Hammadi Library and a mish-mash of new Age teachings, astrology, alchemy, theosophy, jungianism, antroposophy and masonic teachings.
  
• Thelema: they only use Aleister Crowley's magick,
• The fourth way: they only teach Gurdjieffs and Samael Aun Weors books, and perhaps Belsebuub have written something too.

Most of the "Catholics" would not accept Thelema (I know exceptions: some Johannites accept them) and no "Catholic" Gnostic would accept the fourth way, which is considered an evil cult. Thelema perhaps accept the "Catholics" if the "Catholics" accept them. But the fourth way is extremely isolationist and consider all the world around them evil.