What is Gnosticism Anyway? June 9

Gsoticism was a definite threat to the church in the early days of the churches development. It seems to have developed in Egypt and perhaps also grew in the Eastern areas more than Europe. Interestingly Islam appears to be philosophically the opposite of Gnosticism.

Presently the teaching of the church is threatened by the New Age thinking. Gnosticism and Gnostic thinking is definitely a large part of this movement. It is interesting the combination of beliefs that go into the New Age: Budhism, Hinduism, Gnosticism, Shamanism, etc. The list seems endless. These ideas were very much in opposition in the past, but, today, seem to be holding hands. These ideas do not make a consitent whole so it is hard to argue against the New Age.

I think there are two very important links that are part of this New Age.

1. The Light seems to be important all New Agers (see The Tibetan Book of the Dead). Although the Light is separate from God (in a very Gnosgtic view) the Light they are talking about is exactly what Jesus meant when he said "I am the Light."

2. They all understand the futality of the attempt to achieve salvation through physical striving (although salvation may have some different manings for the different groups). This is really only a slight difference with "we are saved through grace lest anyone should boast." We need to make it clear exactly what that means.

I can't think of a form of Gnosticism that had more than one Demiurge. Although the name is borrowed from a neutral creator-figure in Platonic philosophy, the Demiurge was an example of "splitting" (as children sometimes do with their parents): God in Gnosticism held the libration, the light, the goodness traditionally associated with God while the Demiurge (called Yaldabaoth or Saklas, both Aramaic names) was the taskmaster, the arrogant and petty elements of God. Gnosticism came out of Judaism, just as Christianity did (scholars argue which is the older of the two: it's difficult to date ideas). Think of Paul's discussion of the Law: what does that make God as the Lawgiver? What does that do to one's view of God?

Some branches of Judaism became disappointed with God both because of advances in science (see Gregory Riley's _River of God_ for a description of this process) and because of the general disappointment with traditional ideas of the divine (including the Greek gods) in contemporary Platonic philosophy. (Syria is also a good canditate for the origin-place of some forms of Gnosticism.)

-Kushana

Kushana:

There are actually several demiurges, depending on which texts one reads, although like Satan, there can be one who is more primary. Yes, many do see Gnosticism coming out of Judaism, but as a pretty complete rejection of it. This is where its character makes it unlikely as a direct reflection of the earliest Christianity which gives evidence in all of its earliest sources as embracing the picture of the God of Israel as Creator.

Ancient and modern studies of Gnosticism have approached the subject with motives of defining true Christianity. No individual writing fits the various definitions of Gnosticism. Gnosticism is an unreal, artificial, false, and harmful category. All definitions of 'Gnosticism' have always been artificial and unreal and have heavily misrepresented, to the point of complete polemical fantasy, the writings they purport to generally categorize.

Just read Ancient Gnsoticism by Birger Pearson or Gnosticism by Kurt Rudolph and you will see that what you claim about Gnsoticism is not true, nor doesitrelfect the materials we have found.

dlb