Although, Gnosticism is an orientation towards religion, here we focus on Gnostic Christianity as taught by Paul, John, Thomas, and Valentinus.
How do you relate the Bible and the Valentinian writings in the Nag Hammadi Scriptures? First, what authority do the Valentinian writings have? Second, what authority does the Bible have? Third, how do the Nag Hammadi Scriptures and the Bible relate to one another? These are difficult questions and little consensus among Gnostic Christians. But…
Gnostic Christianity began as one of many kinds of Christianity. It followed the teachings of the apostles Paul, Thomas, and John. Unfortunately, the organized institutional Church joined up with the imperial Roman Empire and decided that only one form of Christianity would be tolerated. Therefore, gnostic Christianity became a persecuted group, and eventually died out…
"I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “Unless you are reborn, you can’t experience God’s kingdom.” – Jesus Christ (John 3:3 FBV) In Buddhism, people are reborn into five realms. There is the earthly realm, the animal realm, the ghost realm, the hell realm, or the heavenly realm. Each transition is a rebirth. When you…
I am a student of Gnosticism because I am a specialist in Christian mysticism. The Gnostics were among the first mystics. This is important to remember, because later mystics had to distance themselves from the Gnostics in order to survive. And even now, telling you their secret, could cast the heresy label on them. But…
It is interesting, in fact, fascinating, that those who are interested in Gnosticism tend to speculate all over the place. They bring in occult ideas such as alchemy, Kabbalah, and astrology. But their interests and mine are different. I'm in a quest to discover the historic Christianity. I want to understand the early Christian background,…
Gnosticism is not a single thing. It is not a belief system at all. Rather, it is an orientation towards religion. So in Gnostic Christianity, the orientation is Gnostic, but the belief system is Christian. In other words, it is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ as taught by Paul, John, Thomas, and Valentinus.…
As a Christian mystic and Gnostic sympathizer, how much of orthodox doctrine can I affirm? Here is what I agree with. I believe that the Holy Scriptures are inspired by God. I believe that God created all things through the Logos and the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Holy Trinity, that God is both…
Simon Peter said to them, "Mary should leave us, for females are not worthy of life." Jesus said, "Look, I shall guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter heaven's kingdom." (GThom 114). If you read…
A Gnostic Christian approaches Scripture as myths, interprets Scripture allegorically, has mystic secrets reserved for the initiated, aims for salvation through mystical insight (gnosis), is open to new revelations from God, and follow Jesus as the Messiah, God, and Savior. A Christian Mystic may or may not approach Scripture as myths and interprets Scripture allegorically.…
The Congress of Messina, meeting in 1966, made a huge mistake by defining “gnosis” as “knowledge of the divine mysteries reserved for an elite.”[1] Following their lead, many have continued to repeat this mistake. Gnosis, writes Elaine Pagels, “is not primarily rational knowledge.” Rather, it is “an intuitive process of knowing.”[2] It is, in the…