Have you investigated Gnostic Christianity?

[Pleroma]

I could not find it. Can you give me the list?

Regards
DL

Valentinus and Valentinian Tradition

 

[Greatest I am]

Valentinus and Valentinian Tradition

Thanks for this.

I say his beliefs but not a real creed.

His basic message sounds like the Jewish one.

Rabbi Hillel, the older contemporary of Jesus, said that when asked to sum up the whole of Jewish teaching, while he stood on one leg, said, "The Golden Rule. That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the Torah. And everything else is only commentary. Now, go and study it."

I could not summarise his beliefs in a creed. Can you?

It should look something like this.

Apostles' Creed
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:
9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
1l. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting. Amen.
--------------------------------

What I have come up with so far look something like this partly plagiarized piece.

BASIC BELIEFS OF A TRUE GNOSTIC Christian


1. The only proper religion for mankind is humanity itself, for it is from this humanity that God first evolved. God, who is our future, came from humans, who are Their past.

2. God is a glorified and exalted human being.

3. All scriptures and God are created by mankind and no supernatural beliefs should be accepted as true by anyone.

4. All people, men, women gays and all other transgender people are equal and normal and should not be discriminated against without just cause.

This is where I end.

Your thoughts are welcomed.

Regards
DL

 

[Jumi]

1. The only proper religion for mankind is humanity itself, for it is from this humanity that God first evolved. God, who is our future, came from humans, who are Their past.

2. God is a glorified and exalted human being.

3. All scriptures and God are created by mankind and no supernatural beliefs should be accepted as true by anyone.

4. All people, men, women gays and all other transgender people are equal and normal and should not be discriminated against without just cause.

This is where I end.

Your thoughts are welcomed.

Regards
DL

Besides definition of God what do you see as separating gnostic Christianity from atheism?

 

[Greatest I am]

Besides definition of God what do you see as separating gnostic Christianity from atheism?

In a word, Gnosis.

Here is the best definition for that. I experienced it without knowing what it was as defined by the ancients.

To accentuate this, I offer the following.

The thinking shown below is the Gnostic Christian’s goal as taught by Jesus but know that any belief can be internalized.

This method and mind set is how you become I am and brethren to Jesus, in the esoteric sense.

When you can name your God, I am, and mean yourself, you will begin to know the only God you will ever find. Becoming a God is to become more fully human.

Regards
DL

 

[Sleeppy]

As a woman, I would have thought that since we are one of the few of the Abrahamic cults that give women full equality as compared to the misogynistic cults, that we would be of interest to you.

Oh well. I guess equality is not something you seek.

No worries, you will not get it if the mainstream religions have their way.


Regards
DL

You know you're being dishonest. Why continue? Why even start? -- Did you honestly believe she was against "equality"? Tell the truth.

 

[Sleeppy]

Equality is a nice word.. But it gets thrown around like it doesn't mean what it does. You can't be wholly equal to the next person -- not even if you were a clone, because you'd be in two unequal/distinct places. Equality is useful, and truthful in some regards. It doesn't apply wherever you decide to throw it.

 

[xkatz]

I don't see the appeal of a largely defunct religion that says material existence is essentially bad because it's either inferior or outright evil. It doesn't make for a practical theology/ideology and it doesn't encourage the betterment of the world.

 

[Greatest I am]

You know you're being dishonest. Why continue? Why even start? -- Did you honestly believe she was against "equality"? Tell the truth.

Not if she supports a misogynistic and immoral religion like Christianity.

Why do you support such?

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

Equality is a nice word.. But it gets thrown around like it doesn't mean what it does. You can't be wholly equal to the next person -- not even if you were a clone, because you'd be in two unequal/distinct places. Equality is useful, and truthful in some regards. It doesn't apply wherever you decide to throw it.

He shall rule over you.

That says that no woman is ever equal to a man.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

I don't see the appeal of a largely defunct religion that says material existence is essentially bad because it's either inferior or outright evil. It doesn't make for a practical theology/ideology and it doesn't encourage the betterment of the world.

That is not quite what evil matter means. It speaks to duality.

As above so below.

If the heavenly realm above is the best, then obviously the below is not as good. Using the word evil is not what modern Gnostics would use.

You forget that Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you and outside of you on the earth yet no one sees it.

We believe that we are in God's kingdom here so we cannot hate matter. It, like us, is a part of God's kingdom.

Material existence is good and if a non-misogynistic thinking persons religion is not for you then good luck finding one that is not misogynistic and allows free thought.

Regards
DL

 

[Sleeppy]

He shall rule over you.

That says that no woman is ever equal to a man.

Regards
DL

Actually, no it doesn't. If you have a job, or have ever had a parent or mentor, you'd realize that superiority is never absolute, but pertains to certain roles and events. I might run faster than you, but that doesn't mean you can't be the one taming horses.

You need to think thoroughly before you accuse. A thorough assessment more than likely involves questioning.

 

[xkatz]

Material existence is good and if a non-misogynistic thinking persons religion is not for you then good luck finding one that is not misogynistic and allows free thought.

How is gnosticism less misogynistic? Did I miss something here?

 

[Desert Snake]

Not if she supports a misogynistic and immoral religion like Christianity.

Why do you support such?

Regards
DL

And your presentation is any better?

 

[Desert Snake]

So far, some divisive unproven theory, that's all I've noticed.

 

[Greatest I am]

How is gnosticism less misogynistic? Did I miss something here?

We are Universalists and see the spark of God in everyone so cannot discriminate against anyone without a just cause.

Gnostic View of Gender Equality by Meera Lester
The Gnostic writings celebrate women as bearers of truth, wisdom, and light. The Gnostic God is often regarded in the context of a dyad possessing both masculine and feminine attributes. The orthodox Christians speak of God the Father and his Son. For the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is added. Mary, the holy mother of Jesus, is not accorded the same stature as God the Father, though she may be reverently referred to as “Mary, Mother of God,” according to religious scholar Elaine Pagels, an expert on the Gnostics. But Mary is not considered the same as God the Father in feminine form. Yet the Jewish wisdom literature in the Hebrew scriptures (Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Sirach, the Wisdom of Solomon, etc.), in which Christianity has roots, personifies Wisdom as a female.

Further.

On Righteousness
The righteousness of God is a kind of sharing along with equality.
Gnostic Scriptures and Fragments: Epiphanes - On Righteousness

We are all children of God and Gods in our own right so to think we love some of our children more than others would be wrong.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

And your presentation is any better?

Yes it is. It does not discriminate without a just cause.

To not see it is intellectual dissonance.

Regards
DL

 

[Greatest I am]

So far, some divisive unproven theory, that's all I've noticed.

Universalism cannot be divisive. It is all inclusive.

A heaven and a hell is divisive.

Regards
DL