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  1. G

    Is the holy spirit a female?

    In my worldview, there are two spirits relevant to this discussion - the Angelic spirit of gnosis (knowledge), known in Mandaeism as Manda d-Hayyi, who is male, and Ruha, an evil spirit who plays a part in the creation of the material world, who is the 'Holy' Spirit of some other traditions and...
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    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    Which claims of Christianity are you referring to?
  3. G

    Forever

    Interesting idea, thanks for sharing!
  4. G

    Ritual purification

    So the ritual ablution I perform morning and evening and before my prayers involves me washing particular parts of my body in a particular order with the intention that I am doing it to remember God and to purify myself of the defilements/impurities associated with living in the material world...
  5. G

    Ritual purification

    I believe this material world in which we live to be an inherently impure place and that we should ritually purify ourselves on a regular basis. I perform a ritual ablution under running water every morning and evening, and before my daily prayers, and immerse my whole body under running water...
  6. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    So I draw on the sources on the beliefs and practices of the Cainites mentioned in the Wikipedia article on them and on Mandaean scriptures which you can find links to from the Wikipedia page on them. But my beliefs and practices are nevertheless very much my own. I believe one can develop one's...
  7. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    In my worldview, in the Lightworld whence we originated, we are free. In the material world we are trapped as in a prison and not free. And there is no path for us to the Darkworld. So there are two options. To remain trapped in the material world or to find the path to freedom (return to the...
  8. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    I think we're both beginning to repeat ourselves on this so may have to agree to disagree.
  9. G

    Expectations of the Messiah Vs What the Scriptures Stipulate

    I don't buy into the so-called Biblical prophecies or Biblical texts more generally, developed as they were by followers of Yahweh/the creator of the material world.
  10. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    I'm afraid I don't think that's how it works. Once you're free, you're free and go on to the Lightworld, and that is the end of it for that soul. It's not some superpower that you can gain more of over time.
  11. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    Great, that is all good. Just bear in mind that I don't limit myself to these texts but go beyond them to develop my own ideas.
  12. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    But I don't think it works like that - I don't think you can increase yourself in freedom from attachment to the material world - once you've freed yourself from attachment to the material world, that is it. There is no more 'strength' to be gained. You free yourself, that is it, it's enough for...
  13. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    I draw from Mandaean holy texts which can be considered revelation to the greatest of the Mandaean Prophets, Yuhana Masbana (John the Baptist, Yahya ibn Zakariya), but I go beyond them to develop my own ideas.
  14. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    I'm not sure what you mean by coming back 'amplified'. The Demiurge is arrogant and wanted to create a world essentially populated by beings subject to and worshipping him. And he is weaker than God, which is why he needs the assistance of Ruha from the Darkworld to bring his plan to fruition.
  15. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    So I'm not completely alone in having these beliefs - the Mandaeans, whose religion is Mandaeism, a Gnostic religion with an estimated 60k-100k adherents today, also talk of Ptahil and Ruha in a broadly similar fashion (though my account is simpler). Wikipedia is an okay place to start if you...
  16. G

    When Will You Die?

    As I suspected! So I don’t believe the soul/spirit that is who I really am ever dies. My current material (physical) body will die when its time has come.
  17. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    As a Gnostic with both Cainite and Mandaean influences, I reject Jesus as a false Prophet who had no real power, but I take your point.
  18. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    What makes you think that you could overpower them, though, just by virtue of being free from attachment to the material world?
  19. G

    A Gnostic account of the world (in brief)

    More powerful in what way, and what do you think you would be able to do to the Dark forces?
  20. G

    When Will You Die?

    How are you defining death? Or perhaps that is your point?
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