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Gnosticism ancient and modern
"Gnosticism is a philosophical and religious movement which started in pre-Christian times. Some religious historians believe that it had is source in the Jewish community of Alexandria and was later picked up by some Christian groups in Judea and the Galilee."
"Gnostics believe that they have secret knowledge about God, humanity and the rest of the universe of which the general population was unaware. It became one of the three main belief systems within 1st century Christianity, and was noted for four factors by which differed from the two other branches of Christianity:
bullet Novel beliefs about Gods, the Bible and the world which differed from those of other Christian groups.
bullet Tolerance of different faith groups within and outside of Gnosticism.
bullet
Lack of discrimination against women. Although Jesus treated women as equals, and Paul mostly did the same, the other Christian belief systems started to oppress women in later generations. This is readily seen by reading the books in the Christian Scriptures that say they were written by Paul, but were -- according to many mainline and liberal Christian theologians -- in fact forgeries written by unknown authors long after Paul's death either:
* During the 1st Century CE, like Ephesians and 2 Thessalonians, and
* During the 2nd century CE like the Pastoral epistles: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.
bullet
A belief that salvation is achieved through relational and experiential knowledge. In the words of The contemporary Gnostic Apostolic Church, humanity needs to be awakened and brought:
"... to a realization of his true nature. Mankind is moving towards the Omega Point, the Great day when all must graduate or fall. This day is also the Day of Judgment in that only those who have entered the Path of Transfiguration and are being reborn can return to the Treasury of Light." 3
The movement and its literature were almost wiped out before the end of the 5th century CE by Catholic heresy hunters and the Roman Army. Its beliefs are currently experiencing a rebirth throughout the world, triggered in part by the discovery of an ancient Gnostic library at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in the 1940s, and the finding of the Gnostic Gospel of Judas at El Minya, Egypt, in the 1970s."
In effect then, one of the 3 branches of earliest Christianity were Gnostics. And one of the other 2 branches, the Catholics wiped them out. In stark contrast to Catholicism, Gnostic-Christians were far more tolerant of others especially of women.
After nearly 2000 years of Catholic influence then, Christianity became decidely hostile to women (no priests, subjugation to husbands, anti-sex, etc.) whereas early on it wasn't.
"According to Gnostic mythology (in general) We, humanity, are existing in this realm because a member of the transcendent godhead, Sophia (Wisdom), desired to actualize her innate potential for creativity without the approval of her partner or divine consort. Her hubris, in this regard, stood forth as raw materiality, and her desire, which was for the mysterious ineffable Father, manifested itself as Ialdabaoth, the Demiurge, that renegade principle of generation and corruption which, by its unalterable necessity, brings all beings to life, for a brief moment, and then to death for eternity. However, since even the Pleroma itself is not, according to the Gnostics, exempt from desire or passion, there must come into play a salvific event or savior—that is, Christ, the Logos, the "messenger," etc.—who descends to the material realm for the purpose of negating all passion, and raising the innocent human "sparks" (which fell from Sophia) back up to the Pleroma (cf. Apocryphon of John [Codex II] 9:25-25:14 ff.)."
Gnosticism Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
In other words, the god of Gnosticism was a female deity. The god of Catholicism is male. Arguably the female deity's 'consort.' In the ensuring power-struggle, 'dad' killed 'mom' through their respective church-proxies Gnostics and Catholics. And 'dad' became dominant and worshipped via Christianity with 'mom' being forgotten about.
"Gnosticism is a philosophical and religious movement which started in pre-Christian times. Some religious historians believe that it had is source in the Jewish community of Alexandria and was later picked up by some Christian groups in Judea and the Galilee."
"Gnostics believe that they have secret knowledge about God, humanity and the rest of the universe of which the general population was unaware. It became one of the three main belief systems within 1st century Christianity, and was noted for four factors by which differed from the two other branches of Christianity:
bullet Novel beliefs about Gods, the Bible and the world which differed from those of other Christian groups.
bullet Tolerance of different faith groups within and outside of Gnosticism.
bullet
Lack of discrimination against women. Although Jesus treated women as equals, and Paul mostly did the same, the other Christian belief systems started to oppress women in later generations. This is readily seen by reading the books in the Christian Scriptures that say they were written by Paul, but were -- according to many mainline and liberal Christian theologians -- in fact forgeries written by unknown authors long after Paul's death either:
* During the 1st Century CE, like Ephesians and 2 Thessalonians, and
* During the 2nd century CE like the Pastoral epistles: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.
bullet
A belief that salvation is achieved through relational and experiential knowledge. In the words of The contemporary Gnostic Apostolic Church, humanity needs to be awakened and brought:
"... to a realization of his true nature. Mankind is moving towards the Omega Point, the Great day when all must graduate or fall. This day is also the Day of Judgment in that only those who have entered the Path of Transfiguration and are being reborn can return to the Treasury of Light." 3
The movement and its literature were almost wiped out before the end of the 5th century CE by Catholic heresy hunters and the Roman Army. Its beliefs are currently experiencing a rebirth throughout the world, triggered in part by the discovery of an ancient Gnostic library at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in the 1940s, and the finding of the Gnostic Gospel of Judas at El Minya, Egypt, in the 1970s."
In effect then, one of the 3 branches of earliest Christianity were Gnostics. And one of the other 2 branches, the Catholics wiped them out. In stark contrast to Catholicism, Gnostic-Christians were far more tolerant of others especially of women.
After nearly 2000 years of Catholic influence then, Christianity became decidely hostile to women (no priests, subjugation to husbands, anti-sex, etc.) whereas early on it wasn't.
"According to Gnostic mythology (in general) We, humanity, are existing in this realm because a member of the transcendent godhead, Sophia (Wisdom), desired to actualize her innate potential for creativity without the approval of her partner or divine consort. Her hubris, in this regard, stood forth as raw materiality, and her desire, which was for the mysterious ineffable Father, manifested itself as Ialdabaoth, the Demiurge, that renegade principle of generation and corruption which, by its unalterable necessity, brings all beings to life, for a brief moment, and then to death for eternity. However, since even the Pleroma itself is not, according to the Gnostics, exempt from desire or passion, there must come into play a salvific event or savior—that is, Christ, the Logos, the "messenger," etc.—who descends to the material realm for the purpose of negating all passion, and raising the innocent human "sparks" (which fell from Sophia) back up to the Pleroma (cf. Apocryphon of John [Codex II] 9:25-25:14 ff.)."
Gnosticism Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
In other words, the god of Gnosticism was a female deity. The god of Catholicism is male. Arguably the female deity's 'consort.' In the ensuring power-struggle, 'dad' killed 'mom' through their respective church-proxies Gnostics and Catholics. And 'dad' became dominant and worshipped via Christianity with 'mom' being forgotten about.
