Are Protests and Gnostics nearly synonymous terms?

[PJM]

Gnostics have there own understanding of God; right?

Is this not reflected in self interpretation of God’s Inspired Holy Word? And does that make them heretics?

Why or why not?

Love and prayes,
Pat

 

[StrawberryJam]

Gnostics have there own understanding of God; right?

Is this not reflected in self interpretation of God’s Inspired Holy Word? And does that make them heretics?

Why or why not?

Love and prayes,
Pat

Don’t they use the dead sea scrolls and/or other books not considered inspired by the catholic church?

So, I don’t know if you can say it’s an interpretation matter solely, it is also a question of canon correct?

 

[James_S_Saint]

You can claim that Gnosticism is a Protestant entity, but the word “synonymous” is inappropriate. A Gnostic might be a protestant, but a Protestant is not necessarily a Gnostic.

I have a little trouble nailing down exactly what constitutes Gnosticism, but it is obviously one form of Protestantism because anything not Catholic yet still claiming Jesus as Lord is defined by the Catholic as “Protestant”. But then, I’m not sure that Gnosticism necessarily proclaims Jesus as Lord.

 

[EphelDuath]

Gnosticism also implies that material things are inherently evil, which is something most Protestants don’t believe.

 

[Benadam]

A Gnostic seeks within for the ‘true self’ and when found believes that God is found.

A Protestant seeks God from the Bible. In as much as it’s meaning has an external source, or is really from God, it is not like Gnosticism. Sola scriptura is a practice that is not well protected from gnostic influences imo.

When I hear Protestant fundamentalist say " don’t you believe the Word of God?" when someone doesn’t agree with their enterpretation, it seems to demonstrate that they believe their own internal voice is the voice of God. That smacks of Gnosticism albeit unconsciously expressed.

 

[PJM]

James S Saint;6153634]You can claim that Gnosticism is a Protestant entity, but the word “synonymous” is inappropriate. A Gnostic might be a protestant, but a Protestant is not necessarily a Gnostic.

I have a little trouble nailing down exactly what constitutes Gnosticism, but it is obviously one form of Protestantism because anything not Catholic yet still claiming Jesus as Lord is defined by the Catholic as “Protestant”. But then, I’m not sure that Gnosticism necessarily proclaims Jesus as Lord.

Excellent post:thumbsup: Thanks.

Gnostics at base, while having more than a single understanding; seem to hold there own personal opinion of Who and WHAT God are, is and has to be.

This seems to me to define the foundation for all Protestant secs?

My foundation for posing the question stems from, common, but not unanimous positions such as OSAS, personal intermediation of the bible [which seems to me to be an oxymoron], lack of acceptance of the extremely explicit and clear doctrines of One Church, Eucharist / Real Presence and Confession for forgiveness of sins.

I accept that “Faith is a Gift from God,” but wonder do we not have an innate and grave moral obligation to seek truth? And how is this to manifested?

And how is one to reconcile this notion and Faith?

Love and prayers,
Pat

 

[Bluegoat]

No, Protestantism does not believe in secret revelation, and it doesn’t believe matter is evil. Many Protestants see the Bible as the true and complete revelation of God to all, which pretty much rules them out as Gnostic.

One might argue that some groups like Mormons have some characteristics of Gnosticism, but even then it could be debated (not to mention whether they are really what you could call Protestants.)

Catholicism also has some things in common with Gnosticism. That doesn’t mean that it is just another type of Gnosticism.

And I feel like I keep having to say this, but it is so difficult to talk about “Protestant theology.” There were several movements that can, for convenience, be called Protestant, but they were really not the same movement.

 

[Bluegoat]

I have a little trouble nailing down exactly what constitutes Gnosticism, but it is obviously one form of Protestantism because anything not Catholic yet still claiming Jesus as Lord is defined by the Catholic as “Protestant”. But then, I’m not sure that Gnosticism necessarily proclaims Jesus as Lord.

This is simply false. If Catholics use the word Protestant that way (and ones that know anything about the subject don’t), it is both historically and theologically inaccurate. Do you think that the EOC is composed of Protestants? What about the OOC? Or the various groups of pre-Schismatic heretics?

And no, Gnosticism does not necessarily proclaim Jesus as Lord - those that do tend to deny that he was a man though.

 

[Benadam]

Consider these parallel’s. early Gnostics devalued the meaning of the Apostolic witness and the authority that flows from it. Protestants deny apostolic succession.

Gnostics either denied that Christ came in the flesh or denied that the man visible on earth was Christ. Today Protestants deny the true Presence.

Ancient Gnostics denied that Christ died on the cross. Protestants tend to deny that the one Sacrifice is made present at Mass. They claim “it is finished”

I don’t think Gnostics and Protests are synonymous terms but they would be if mainstream protestants weren’t anchored in faith brought to them by the one true Church

 

[Bluegoat]

Consider these parallel’s. early Gnostics devalued the meaning of the Apostolic witness and the authority that flows from it. Protestants deny apostolic succession.

Gnostics either denied that Christ came in the flesh or denied that the man visible on earth was Christ. Today Protestants deny the true Presence.

Ancient Gnostics denied that Christ died on the cross. Protestants tend to deny that the one Sacrifice is made present at Mass. They claim “it is finished”

I don’t think Gnostics and Protests are synonymous terms but they would be if mainstream protestants weren’t anchored in faith brought to them by the one true Church

THis is rather like saying Protestants would be Gnostics if they were Gnostics.

More to the point, most Protestants would abhor many of the beliefs and practices of Gnosticism. To then claim that they are just a type of Gnostic is not only silly, but offensive. It is no different than a Protestant claiming that Catholics are cannibals who believe in witchcraft.

Everyone knows that Catholics believe that their church is the keeper of the Truth. However, to say that Protestants only maintain a bit of Truth thanks to the Catholic Church is also a little silly. It is restricting Gods actions to the Catholic Church, which is not only arrogant and illogical, the Catholic Church doesn’t even teach that is the case.

I am really flummoxed that people want to make such foolish assertions. It seems they have no interest in understanding Protestantism, or Gnosticism for that matter. Do people not realize this also translates in to misunderstanding Catholicism itself? Not to mention that it is dishonest and uncharitable. Is “proving” Protestantism is wrong actually more important than justice, charity, and Truth? Do people really believe that the end justifies the means? When you leave behind Truth, you leave behind God.

 

[puzzleannie]

Gnostics have there own understanding of God; right?

Is this not reflected in self interpretation of God’s Inspired Holy Word? And does that make them heretics?

Why or why not?

Love and prayes,
Pat

no, Gnostics do something no true blue Protestant would do, which is claim that non-Canonical writings contain divine revelation (I am of course using the P word to describe denominations arising from those established by the Reformers or their off-shoots, not entirely new religions). Most Protestants would also eschew all the new age practices of the neo-Gnostics.

 

[PJM]

=Bluegoat;6159057]THis is rather like saying Protestants would be Gnostics if they were Gnostics.

More to the point, most Protestants would abhor many of the beliefs and practices of Gnosticism. To then claim that they are just a type of Gnostic is not only silly, but offensive. It is no different than a Protestant claiming that Catholics are cannibals who believe in witchcraft.

Everyone knows that Catholics believe that their church is the keeper of the Truth. However, to say that Protestants only maintain a bit of Truth thanks to the Catholic Church is also a little silly. It is restricting Gods actions to the Catholic Church, which is not only arrogant and illogical, the Catholic Church doesn’t even teach that is the case.

I am really flummoxed that people want to make such foolish assertions. It seems they have no interest in understanding Protestantism, or Gnosticism for that matter. Do people not realize this also translates in to misunderstanding Catholicism itself? Not to mention that it is dishonest and uncharitable. Is “proving” Protestantism is wrong actually more important than justice, charity, and Truth? Do people really believe that the end justifies the means? When you leave behind Truth, you leave behind God.

Very interesting and powerful post. But I’m confused.

As the OP, I clarified TWICE why I ask the question.

Just as the CC defines Herself as “One, Holy, Catholic and Apolostolic,” Protestants seems to have a common belief that runs through nearly all of the thousands of denomionations. Namely, a very personal [and often different] understanding of God, God’s nature, God’s Word [and the validity there of] and Salvation issues.

It is on this basis that I asked the question. Not accusing Protestants of being “full-fledged” Gnostics; rather holding with them, there own concepts of God. PERIOD.

I am most certainly NOT dishonest in my question; nor do I view the OPQ as unchairatble.

I am asserting a common [may I use the term…“flaw”] in there basic theology.

Love and prayers,
Pat

 

[Bluegoat]

It is on this basis that I asked the question. Not accusing Protestants of being “full-fledged” Gnostics; **rather holding with them, there own concepts **of God. PERIOD.

Love and prayers,
Pat

No, it is quite different. Gnosticism believes in secret revelation, and Protestants do not - they believe in universal salvation. THese are very different doctrines at a fundamental level.

 

[Benadam]

THis is rather like saying Protestants would be Gnostics if they were Gnostics.

More to the point, most Protestants would abhor many of the beliefs and practices of Gnosticism. To then claim that they are just a type of Gnostic is not only silly, but offensive. It is no different than a Protestant claiming that Catholics are cannibals who believe in witchcraft.

Everyone knows that Catholics believe that their church is the keeper of the Truth. However, to say that Protestants only maintain a bit of Truth thanks to the Catholic Church is also a little silly. It is restricting Gods actions to the Catholic Church, which is not only arrogant and illogical, the Catholic Church doesn’t even teach that is the case.

I am really flummoxed that people want to make such foolish assertions. It seems they have no interest in understanding Protestantism, or Gnosticism for that matter. Do people not realize this also translates in to misunderstanding Catholicism itself? Not to mention that it is dishonest and uncharitable. Is “proving” Protestantism is wrong actually more important than justice, charity, and Truth? Do people really believe that the end justifies the means? When you leave behind Truth, you leave behind God.

I didn’t assert anything blue. But your response is to the parallel’s of gnostic thought and modern Christian thought. Gnosticism is a spirituality that works subliminally these days especially in the New Age spiritual movement. The primary error of gnostic thinking is to mistake the self for deity. All the other gnostic traits stem from that. The dualism , the view that matter is evil and a prison to break free of, the denial of a divine authority from without etc. Protestant Christians are more vulnerable to these deceptions is all I’m saying.
edit; I did assert that Protestants would be like Gnostics if they didn’t hold to certain elements of the True Faith. Sorry Blue.

 

[Benadam]

THis is rather like saying Protestants would be Gnostics if they were Gnostics.

What I mean is that true faith anchors them and without it I believe they would be swept away and into the spiritual tide of Gnostic spirituality that is the chosen ecclesia of today that flows from the modern media