Gnosticism: Difference between revisions
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:: Gnosticism (from gnostikos, "learned", from Greek: γνῶσις gnÅsis, knowledge) is a modern scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices found among some early Christian and non-Christian groups called "gnostic" ("knowing") by Irenaeus and other early Christian leaders. In the past many scholars believed that gnosticism pre-dated Christianity, but now it is generally accepted that gnosticism developed into a coherent movement only in the second century CE. | :: Gnosticism (from gnostikos, "learned", from Greek: γνῶσις gnÅsis, knowledge) is a modern scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices found among some early Christian and non-Christian groups called "gnostic" ("knowing") by Irenaeus and other early Christian leaders. In the past many scholars believed that gnosticism pre-dated Christianity, but now it is generally accepted that gnosticism developed into a coherent movement only in the second century CE. | ||
Gnosticism is a heresy that, like God Himself, is ever ancient and ever new. Whereas agnostics say they don't know, gnostics say they do. The source of their knowledge (gnosis) is inside themselves. It is vastly easier to teach gnosticism than faith--it is simple, straightforward, seductive, and wrong: "Look inside yourself. By mystical insight, you will know what is good, true, and beautiful. | |||
You do not need information. You do not need to check your ideas against objective reality or external standards. What you think is true is true; what you think is beautiful is beautiful; what you think is good is good." Students love to hear that. It is music to their ears. The gospel message that we need to be saved from our wrongdoing by one who is innocent can't take root in this stony ground. The Beatles sang, "All you need is love." The gnostic anthem is, "All I need is me." | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 15:28, 1 December 2012
"Gnostics" are "those who claim to know." By contrast, "agnostics" are people who say that they don't know.
- Gnosticism (from gnostikos, "learned", from Greek: γνῶσις gnÅsis, knowledge) is a modern scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices found among some early Christian and non-Christian groups called "gnostic" ("knowing") by Irenaeus and other early Christian leaders. In the past many scholars believed that gnosticism pre-dated Christianity, but now it is generally accepted that gnosticism developed into a coherent movement only in the second century CE.
Gnosticism is a heresy that, like God Himself, is ever ancient and ever new. Whereas agnostics say they don't know, gnostics say they do. The source of their knowledge (gnosis) is inside themselves. It is vastly easier to teach gnosticism than faith--it is simple, straightforward, seductive, and wrong: "Look inside yourself. By mystical insight, you will know what is good, true, and beautiful. You do not need information. You do not need to check your ideas against objective reality or external standards. What you think is true is true; what you think is beautiful is beautiful; what you think is good is good." Students love to hear that. It is music to their ears. The gospel message that we need to be saved from our wrongdoing by one who is innocent can't take root in this stony ground. The Beatles sang, "All you need is love." The gnostic anthem is, "All I need is me."
References