Gnosticism and ancient alien fallacy

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This thread has gone on way too long.

Also: it is “fallacy”. Spell check is a friend, not an enemy (autocorrect, however :roll_eyes: )

Gnosticism, from what I understand, is not a fixed belief. It is a kind of “make up your own pseudo-Christian type religion with whatever other elements may appeal to you.” The gnostic texts are all over the place, theologically. Some are just downright bizarre. There is really no one gnosticism, like there is a standard for Catholicism, which is best defined by the official Catechism of the Church.
 
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Again it comes down to literalism versus myth, metaphor and esotericism. Simon Magus’ teachings as we have them in only bits and pieces are very challenging to interpet. You shouldn’t literally think that the garden is eden is an explicit story of female anatomy or the God is made of fire.
Do I really think Simon was the one Christ and Helen was Sophia’s incarnation? No. His teachings are profound however and hold many layers of meaning but are too difficult and incomplete for me personally to put into much practice. They do establish though there was a very large portion of early Christians who followed him for about two centuries.
 
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That is put very well. Indeed, there really aren’t secrets. If the Gnostics were even the slightest bit good or actually interested in keeping secrets we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all.
The idea of secrecy comes from two aspects, one is that few are capable of an esoteric practice and mystical prayer so these texts keep themselves secret because few who read the words actually penetrate any of their meaning, iraneaus being a perfect example, he treats all the myths literally and doesn’t really understand their meanings.
The other reason for secrecy is because God is hidden to us. He actively conceals His presence to us for mysterious reasons. Faith is in some degree a game of hide and go seek with the Divine.
But your wider point is even more true. The Truth is all around us and it is within us. The chrism, the baptism by water, fire and the bedchamber, does indeed hold the Truth but sadly many churches and many churches practice empty words and look only at the surface, neglecting any real wisdom. Yet the wisdom, as you say, isn’t secret and it’s right there.
I agree also that is sort of ironic that I agree in theory with Protestants on many things, even though their mainline and superficial, cheap grace practice is what I dislike most about the church. Like an evangelical, I believe in a “personal relationship” with Jesus and I subscribe to a sort of Sola scriptura, just with very different texts and methods of interpration. Yet my personal relationship with Christ would horrify a baptist study group!
 
100% yes! Responses like that are the reason I come back to this forum.
I’ve learned I can’t drink the whole ocean. But at the same time I shouldn’t stick to staying on the shore worrying about the rules about swimming. The Baha’i text the 7 valleys does a marvelous job with this analogy.
 
I would say that Pentecostalism, in theory at least, I’m not sure what it’s like in practice is gnosis-tic, that is it relies on direct experience and seeking spirtual states of wisdom, the Quakers are like that too listening for the voice of the Spirit.

One place I think Gnosticism with a captiol G shows up in today’s world is the Mormons. That’s because gnostic teachings influenced the Masons and Joseph Smith incorporated alot of Masonic stuff into the LDS church, though they are ignorant of it. The whole passwords and shaking hands thru curtians and stuff is very gnostic.
 
“Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
 
I haven’t read any of those actually. I’m familar with the Jesus prayer and I love the desert fathers. Thanks for recommendations.
Have you read St John of the Ladder, ive not gotten to read it but I understand it’s quite good. However the advice is not to study without a priest to guide you, normally I ignore such warnings of course. However, I had some issues with the Ignatian spirtual exercises when I foolishly attempted them solo.
 
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Your understanding does not negatively effect that humans can be spiritual people. With a drive that does not stop. Just like other animals it is in our gene’s. Go forth and multiply. Try stopping that.
You have a natural mine and a spiritual mind. And as in Romans 8 saint Paul says they fight for dominance.
Human kind has a desire for a spiritual God
 
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This person is wrong and a deceiver . I have been a Roman Catholic charasmatic from the 1960s
A curren 14 lesson on the charasmatic is the wild goose ministry program.
Its easy to find Catholics who think they know the truth. because this is what they were taught to say.
 
Your understanding is flawed.
James 1:3-5. Getting wisdom from God is more than memorize some other commentary.

Or your lack of Direct spiritual experience.
I guess you haven’t observed angels or spirits like the Virgin Mary? Or can tell when they are present.
Saint Paul said to 1cor.2:1-5.
Your desire correct other denominations as saint Paul said "I pray in tongues more than you all.
Or jude 19. Build your self up by praying in the Holy spirit.
( not your natural prayer language )

In this day and age. Everyone is right in their own mind. Just saying??
 
When I point out that this example was understood by the audience in their native tongue, they get mad at me.
I guess I am not supposed to notice the difference between the Bible and their example.
 
Having a historic lineage to the past is the only way one might have reasonable odds of understanding much of Scripture beyond best-guess interpretations.
 
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This is what my Catholic friends believe.
We just go to mass and try to be good
 
Simon Magus is an arch-heretic better known as “the father of all heretics” for a reason. Why you would indulge yourself in such an evil practice is beyond me.
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For your own salvation, please repent away from this wickedness and come home to Rome. Least you fall like Icarus and Simon before you.
 
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