Gnosticism

Master of Gnosticism.................................$65

Gnosticism Outline & Lessons

Lesson 1 ------------------------- A Definition of Gnosticism

Lesson 2 ------------------------- Gnostic scriptures, Texts

Lesson 3 ------------------------- Gnosticism

Lesson 4 ------------------------- philosophical and religious

Lesson 5 ------------------------- The main features of Gnosticism

Lesson 6 ------------------------- Moral and ritual practice

Lesson 7 ------------------------- Major Gnostic movements and their texts

Lesson 8 ------------------------- Important terms and concepts

Lesson 9 ------------------------- History

Lesson 10 ------------------------ Gnosticism: Ancient and modern

Lesson 11 ------------------------ Gnosticism and the New Testament

Lesson 12 ----------------------- Gnostic and Gnostic-Christian ties

Lesson 13 ------------------------ Gnosticism vs. Christianity

Lesson 14 ------------------------ The Gnostic Gospels -- Are they the real history of Jesus?

Lesson 15-------------------------- Why is Gnosticism Important Today? Since the Da Vinci Code,

This Religion Has Been Gaining Interest

Lesson 16 ------------------------------ Nag Hammadi Library

Lesson 17 -------- Gospel of Judas - Who Wrote It and What Does it Say

Lesson 18 -------------------------- The Secret Teachings

Lesson 19 ------------------------ Gnosticism Today

Lesson 20 -------------------------- Summation

Gnosticism

What Is Gnosticism?

This article talks about the origins of Gnosticism, what it's about, and its' connection to mainstream Christianity.

Gnosticism is the belief system which notes the differences between the bad Universal Consciousness of this world (who has been identified as the Universe of the Old Testament), from a higher more abstract Supreme Being revealed by Jesus Christ. It is a religion that regards our world as the creation of a series of wicked entities who wish to keep the human soul trapped in a physical body, as well as being a religion that preaches a secret information known only to a select group, which is required to achieve salvation from this world.

The movement as well as its writings were essentially destroyed by the end of the fifth century CE by heresy hunters from mainstream Christianity. The only sect continuing to survive into current times is the Mandaean sect of Iraq and Iran. That group has about 15,000 members (one source says fifteen hundred), and are able to trace their history continuously back to the original Gnostic movement. Their beliefs have been recently experiencing a rebirth throughout the planet.

Although Gnosticism does draw on one’s personal religious experiences, it is wrong to assume that every experience will end up in people becoming Gnostic. It's closer to the truth to say that Gnosticism expresses a particular religious experience, one which does not lend itself to the language of theology or philosophy, but which is instead closely related to, and expresses itself using, the medium of myth. Indeed, you will find that the majority of Gnostic holy words are in myth form. The word “myth” used here should not taken to mean “stories that aren’t real”, but rather, the truths embodied in these myths are of a different type from the strict rules of theology or the statements of philosophy. Gnosticism has been the name used to refer to a movement during the yrs of early Christianity, where the followers had a strongly-held belief that matter has been evil and which salvation is possible by spiritual knowledge.

In 1945, near of the Egyptian desert of Nag Hammadi, several Gnostic gospels which were hidden for centuries, were found by two local farmers.

Some Gnostic documents are: the Gospel of Truth, the Letter to Rheginus, Treatise on the Three Natures, Apocalypse of Adam, the Gospel of Matthias, Gospel of Philip, Acts of Peter, and Acts of Thomas. Although the Gnostics were prolific writers, the majority of of their writings were set afire or ‘lost’ in favor of proto-orthodox writings (and hinted at only in patristic references).| Some scholars have proposed that Gnosticism may have its beginnings in pre-Christian religions, rather than being only as a split off of Christianity.

Master of Gnosticism.................................$65

Master of Gnosticism

Written by Bishop Pat