A
AnneElizabeth
Guest
"… our life is hidden with Christ in God… " Colossians 3:3
Occult- definition: “knowledge of the hidden.”
I’m not trying to stir controversy with my question here, but if occult means hidden knowledge can we assume that our life hidden with Christ in God is a type of ‘occult’?
I know that the word “occult” has nefarious connotations. At its most basic definition (hidden knowledge) , it doesn’t seem like it should be considered ‘evil’ but can the word also be assigned to aspects in Christianity? Are there ‘occult’ parts in Christianity? I’m thinking about how not all apostles got to see the transfiguration of Jesus (His Glory), but only a very specific few. They were told by Jesus not to tell what they saw. So how is this not ‘occult’?
… Or is it what is known as ‘Gnostic’? :::
gnostic
[nos-tik]
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
adjective, Also, gnostical
1.
pertaining to knowledge.
2.
possessing knowledge, especially esoteric knowledge of spiritual matters.
3.
(initial capital letter) pertaining to or characteristic of the Gnostics.
noun
4.
(initial capital letter) a member of any of certain sects among the early Christians who claimed to have superior knowledge of spiritual matters, and explained the world as created by powers or agencies arising as emanations from the Godhead.
…And so, how does this not effect what we know as ‘Gnostic’? It seems to me the church rejects that which is labeled ‘Gnostic’ and condemns ‘the occult’ But why? Obviously if there is something wrong and evil about it I can see why. I’m just confused because there are those that say that Christ was always open and transparent for everyone to see… but according to some passages like the one about the transfiguration, that doesn’t seem so. How is this not ‘hidden’ knowledge, aka “occult”?
Occult- definition: “knowledge of the hidden.”
I’m not trying to stir controversy with my question here, but if occult means hidden knowledge can we assume that our life hidden with Christ in God is a type of ‘occult’?
I know that the word “occult” has nefarious connotations. At its most basic definition (hidden knowledge) , it doesn’t seem like it should be considered ‘evil’ but can the word also be assigned to aspects in Christianity? Are there ‘occult’ parts in Christianity? I’m thinking about how not all apostles got to see the transfiguration of Jesus (His Glory), but only a very specific few. They were told by Jesus not to tell what they saw. So how is this not ‘occult’?
… Or is it what is known as ‘Gnostic’? :::
gnostic
[nos-tik]
Code:
Examples
Word Originadjective, Also, gnostical
1.
pertaining to knowledge.
2.
possessing knowledge, especially esoteric knowledge of spiritual matters.
3.
(initial capital letter) pertaining to or characteristic of the Gnostics.
noun
4.
(initial capital letter) a member of any of certain sects among the early Christians who claimed to have superior knowledge of spiritual matters, and explained the world as created by powers or agencies arising as emanations from the Godhead.
…And so, how does this not effect what we know as ‘Gnostic’? It seems to me the church rejects that which is labeled ‘Gnostic’ and condemns ‘the occult’ But why? Obviously if there is something wrong and evil about it I can see why. I’m just confused because there are those that say that Christ was always open and transparent for everyone to see… but according to some passages like the one about the transfiguration, that doesn’t seem so. How is this not ‘hidden’ knowledge, aka “occult”?