Renounced my Gnosticism

[The_Fisher_King]

Gnosticism in the purest sense is personal Revelation in priority over scripture as in the 'Whirling Dervishes branch of the Sufis. The Sufis vary, but are to an extent gnositc.

I'm not sure that was quite the view of the early Gnostic sects of the early centuries CE. That was the kind of Gnosticism that I previously espoused.

 

[shunyadragon]

I'm not sure that was quite the view of the early Gnostic sects of the early centuries CE. That was the kind of Gnosticism that I previously espoused.

I believe the early gnostics relied heavily on personal Revelation from God.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

I believe the early gnostics relied heavily on personal Revelation from God.

Some did, perhaps. Not least perhaps the founders of the different sects. But they had their sometimes complex cosmologies that went with following a particular sect's founder and in some cases at least, they also had their scriptures.

 

[shunyadragon]

Some did, perhaps. Not least perhaps the founders of the different sects. But they had their sometimes complex cosmologies that went with following a particular sect's founder and in some cases at least, they also had their scriptures.

Some wrote them down and they became scripture as in the Book of Revelation. In one way the claim of Gnosticism is 'special knowledge' that one claims through a relationship with God, to receive and reveal if they choose to do so, that others, maybe no one else, do not have.In Christianity churches like the Pentecostals, the founders of Quakers believe that thus special knowledge is revealed to everyone who sincerely believes.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

In one way the claim of Gnosticism is 'special knowledge' that one claims through a relationship with God, to receive and reveal if they choose to do so, that others, maybe no one else, do not have.

That sounds like the claim that many a founder of a particular religion or tradition or a denomination within a tradition has made - are you saying that all such are Gnostics?

 

[MonkeyFire]

In my religion knowledge is a living thing and the embodiememt of the fallen angel of light. Not to be confused with satan the angel and demon of hatred, Lucifer was and still is a prominent angel who assist God and Jesus in helping mankind. One day he became aware of hell after an eternity in heaven perfectly and things like existence and perception became fallen. Because Lucifer knew all things all along, but still allowed for hell to come into existence causing st. Michael to endure the transgression as FAITH himself suffered, so until hell goes out of existence and the fallen angel proves he can know without being evil to God he must remain away from the rest of us.

 

[shunyadragon]

That sounds like the claim that many a founder of a particular religion or tradition or a denomination within a tradition has made - are you saying that all such are Gnostics?

Gnostics usually do not claim to be manifestations of God as Jesus Christ, Mohammud, and Baha'u'llah, but there are some who claim to be 'prophets' withing the context of Christianity, such as Mary Baker Eddy founder of Christian Science. Commonly call 'metaphysical religious' movements of the 19th century in the USA and Europe.

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Gnostics usually do not claim to be manifestations of God as Jesus Christ, Mohammud, and Baha'u'llah, but there are some who claim to be 'prophets' withing the context of Christianity, such as Mary Baker Eddy founder of Christian Science. Commonly call 'metaphysical religious' movements of the 19th century in the USA and Europe.

So you're saying we can't necessarily define someone as a Gnostic, even if they make the same claims to special knowledge through a direct relationship with God that Gnostics do (on your above definition)?