The term "gnostic" originates from "gnosis," meaning "knowledge" in Greek. The Gnostics strongly felt that they were given access to a hidden knowledge with regards to the Divine, thus the name. (Huxley created the term "agnosticism" with the idea that all knowledge has to be discovered using reason. We cannot rationally claim to have access to information that's beyond the powers of the intellect.)
As mainstream Christianity increased in power and organization, Gnostic sects were under growing pressure and persecution. The Gnostics nearly disappeared by the 6th century. The only group continuing to survive into current times has been the Mandaean sect of Iraq and Iran. That group has about 15,000 practitioners (1 source says 1500), and can trace their history continuously back to the original Gnostic movement. Their beliefs are currently experiencing a rebirth all over the world.
Although Gnosticism does draw on personal religious experiences, it would be wrong to make the assumption that every experience will end up in people becoming Gnostic. It's nearer the truth if you say that Gnosticism expresses a particular religious or spiritual experience, an experience which does not lend itself towards the language of theology or philosophy, but which has been instead closely related to, and expresses itself through, the medium of myth. Indeed, one finds that the majority of Gnostic holy words take the form of myths. The word “myth†used here ought not to construed as meaning “stories that aren’t realâ€, but rather, that the truths expressed in these types of myths are of the unusual order from the dogmas of theology or the statements of philosophy. Gnosticism consisted of many syncretistic belief systems, which combined elements taken from Asian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek and Syrian pagan religions. It utilized parts from astrology, from Judaism, and Christianity. Their beliefs constituted one of the three main types of early Christianity, of the other two being:
·The remnants from the Jewish Christian sect which was created by Jesus' disciples, and
·The churches created by St. Paul, which were eventually to grow into "mainline" Christianity by the end of the 3rd century.
In 1945, near the Egyptian desert of Nag Hammadi, quite a few Gnostic gospels which were hidden throughout the centuries, were discovered by 2 simple farmers.
Some Gnostic documents are: the Gospel of Truth, the Letter to Rheginus, Treatise on the 3 Natures, Apocalypse of Adam, the Gospel of Matthias, Gospel of Philip, Acts of Peter, and Acts of Thomas. Although the Gnostics had been prolific writers, the majority of of their writings were burnt or ‘lost’ in favor of proto-orthodox writings (and hinted at only through patristic references).| Some scholars have proposed that Gnosticism may have its roots in pre-Christian religions, rather than being only as a split off of Christianity.
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At the Universal Life Church Seminary, you can learn about Gnosticism ,become ordained for free and get free minister training.
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