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Renounced my Gnosticism

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
To answer the question of "What just happened?", I had two tabs open on my phone. I believe one was on the Introductions board. I don't really like the tab system the way it's set up by Google.

Anyway, going back to the subject, I've been thinking over my beliefs too. It's quite fun.
 

The_Fisher_King

Trying to bring myself ever closer to Allah
Premium Member
Hello @The_Fisher_King ,

I am quite interested in reading more about your journey. What ever you choose to share ...

More specifically, I am curious about the new identifier "Hedonistic". Also, what elements contributed to this shift away from Gnostic Islam?

Hedonistic because I believe that God created us to live in Eden and Eden was a place of pleasure. And we are striving to return there.

Why the shift away from Gnosticism? Well, as I say, wrestling with the incompatibility between my previous Gnostic beliefs and mainstream Islam. Something had to give. It was the Gnosticism which gave.
 

The_Fisher_King

Trying to bring myself ever closer to Allah
Premium Member
Extremely rare. Gnostic way opens one's mind on what Scriptures say.

I'm still struggling with what this Gnostic way actually involves that is different from non-Gnostics' ways of meditation, prayer, communing with God, etc.
 

leov

Well-Known Member
I'm still struggling with what this Gnostic way actually involves that is different from non-Gnostics' ways of meditation, prayer, communing with God, etc.
You know, in Gospel of Matthew Christ Jesus teaches how to pray to the Father. Free word used means "iterally, to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes (ideas) for His wishes " Strong's Greek: 4336. προσεύχομαι (proseuchomai) -- to pray
Basically Christ Jesus talks about transcendental meditation with mantra. Word "Gnostic" may be confusing. It id division based on spiritual understanding, a person may use Gnostic method without knowing it. It is the same in all religions beginning with shamanism. Islam is the same.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
So how does one make that connection in spirit?

I'm still struggling with what this Gnostic way actually involves that is different from non-Gnostics' ways of meditation, prayer, communing with God, etc.

Gnosticism can be considered coming from a Christian tradition or more broadly. I'm not sure how you are referring to it here.

But to answer your question, shariat is following the rules and rituals of Islam. Tariqat, the path, lies beyond ordinary rituals. Rumi, Hafiz and others write from this inner understanding.

Another way of saying this is that what you do, meditation etc, might be the same but one's inner state could be very different.
 

The_Fisher_King

Trying to bring myself ever closer to Allah
Premium Member
You know, in Gospel of Matthew Christ Jesus teaches how to pray to the Father. Free word used means "iterally, to interact with the Lord by switching human wishes (ideas) for His wishes " Strong's Greek: 4336. προσεύχομαι (proseuchomai) -- to pray
Basically Christ Jesus talks about transcendental meditation with mantra. Word "Gnostic" may be confusing. It id division based on spiritual understanding, a person may use Gnostic method without knowing it. It is the same in all religions beginning with shamanism. Islam is the same.

Yes, but I'm not sure how this is Gnostic..
 

The_Fisher_King

Trying to bring myself ever closer to Allah
Premium Member
Gnosticism can be considered coming from a Christian tradition or more broadly. I'm not sure how you are referring to it here.

But to answer your question, shariat is following the rules and rituals of Islam. Tariqat, the path, lies beyond ordinary rituals. Rumi, Hafiz and others write from this inner understanding.

Another way of saying this is that what you do, meditation etc, might be the same but one's inner state could be very different.

So my prior use of the word was in the sense of the early Gnostic sects of the early centuries CE - that is what I am renouncing. The way in which you - and perhaps also leov - use the term seems to be wrt a different kind of gnosis, a kind of deep spiritual understanding.
 

leov

Well-Known Member
Yes, but I'm not sure how this is Gnostic..
Imo, the entire NT is Gnostic. Gospels and Paul.
Especially St. John. Just look Jesus explain His pupils that they do not understand his teaching because they do no use Gnosis but eidon ("what is physically seen" ) instead. Follow Greek in Jn 14.
Exactly the same still happens now, using eidon instead of gno keeps many blind.
 

The_Fisher_King

Trying to bring myself ever closer to Allah
Premium Member
Imo, the entire NT is Gnostic. Gospels and Paul.
Especially St. John. Just look Jesus explain His pupils that they do not understand his teaching because they do no use Gnosis but eidon ("what is physically seen" ) instead. Follow Greek in Jn 14.
Exactly the same still happens now, using eidon instead of gno keeps many blind.

I think I understand how you are using the term now. Different to my prior use of the term (the kind of Gnosticism I am renouncing).
 

leov

Well-Known Member
I think I understand how you are using the term now. Different to my prior use of the term (the kind of Gnosticism I am renouncing).
I understand, traditional ancient Gnostics, which also was not exactly uniform at all. Roman Christianity buried Gnosticism. Paul's church was run by pneumatics - who were Gnostic.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
So my prior use of the word was in the sense of the early Gnostic sects of the early centuries CE - that is what I am renouncing. The way in which you - and perhaps also leov - use the term seems to be wrt a different kind of gnosis, a kind of deep spiritual understanding.
Now I understand better.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Hi all,

After wrestling with it and its general incompatibility with mainstream Islam for quite a while now, I have finally decided to renounce my Gnosticism and embrace a more world-affirming view of life and a more generally mainstream view of Islam (though with the odd difference from the mainstream and a progressive line).

In case anyone is vaguely interested!

TFK

Ism not lest thou hast something to renounce.
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
Hi all,

After wrestling with it and its general incompatibility with mainstream Islam for quite a while now, I have finally decided to renounce my Gnosticism and embrace a more world-affirming view of life and a more generally mainstream view of Islam (though with the odd difference from the mainstream and a progressive line).

In case anyone is vaguely interested!

TFK
I rejected Gnostocism for the same reasons. It's depressing.
 

Milton Platt

Well-Known Member
Hi all,

After wrestling with it and its general incompatibility with mainstream Islam for quite a while now, I have finally decided to renounce my Gnosticism and embrace a more world-affirming view of life and a more generally mainstream view of Islam (though with the odd difference from the mainstream and a progressive line).

In case anyone is vaguely interested!

TFK

What makes a particular view of Islam mainstream?
 

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
Which is perhaps why I always thought of myself as a Gnostic Muslim previously.

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.
 
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