Evangelical Gnosticism

[Esdra]

…]

I don’t really find this in Protestantism, however, although I find great evidence of it in religions such as Mormonism which claim an affirmation of the their faith through the “burning in the bosom”; in other words, secret knowledge imparted only to them which one can neither prove nor disprove.

But the idea that if we have physical elements around us we might be led to idolatry, as if we would worship plaster or some image, is truly nonsense and may be associated with some aspect of certain gnostic cults that has carried over to some modern day denominations.

Slightly off topic: @SteveH
Could that be that you are a former LDS Mormon? I am just curious, because I reliazed that you often throw in Mormons in conversations and that you often comment on threads here dealing with Mormonism.

 

[SteveVH]

Slightly off topic: @SteveH
Could that be that you are a former LDS Mormon? I am just curious, because I reliazed that you often throw in Mormons in conversations and that you often comment on threads here dealing with Mormonism.

How is this “off topic”? And no, I am not a former Mormon. I have a great interest in the LDS church because one of my students followed her boyfriend into the the LDS church and I decided to find out, from the horses mouth, what they were all about. I found the LDS forums very unfriendly and not willing to enter into any meaningful discussions. I found just the opposite, strangely enough, on CAF. The Mormon posters here, in my opinion, have been more than willing to explain their beliefs and I have learned a lot. One of the things I learned was what I posted and I stand by that comment. I’m not sure how this concerns you.

 

[TimothyH]

I’ll jump in here, and offer a suggestion. The thread is very ineresting, and from one who knows nothing about Gnosicism, from what I have gleaned here, this thread screams “Theology of the Body” by Bl. Pope John Paul II.

He goes into “Personhood” and the sacramental nature of our bodies, not just as spiritual beings created in God’s image, but physical creatures, who recieve knowledge through our bodies, through our senses.

There is a lot of good material on JPII’s Theology of the Body, especially notable is the work by Christopher West. I’ll leave the suggestion there, for what it is worth, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

Forgive me if I have barged in and assumed anything, or for sticking my nose where it might not belong.

-Tim-

 

[Esdra]

How is this “off topic”? And no, I am not a former Mormon. I have a great interest in the LDS church because one of my students followed her boyfriend into the the LDS church and I decided to find out, from the horses mouth, what they were all about. I found the LDS forums very unfriendly and not willing to enter into any meaningful discussions. I found just the opposite, strangely enough, on CAF. The Mormon posters here, in my opinion, have been more than willing to explain their beliefs and I have learned a lot. One of the things I learned was what I posted and I stand by that comment. I’m not sure how this concerns you.

No just curious and wondering. So in this case our approach to the LDS Church is similar than mine.
I am interested in them because I have emailed with a LDS minister and later on with various RLDS/CofC ministers and have studied their Holy Scriptures!