D
Deo_Volente
Guest
Grace & Peace!
I’m very interested in what people believe and how they practice what they believe. I’m interested because study of other religions invariably strengthens my love of my own religion and my devotion to God.
For instance, I am and have been fascinated by Gnosticism. It was by reading about the Gnostics and by comparing their views with the views of Irenaeus, Athanasius, Origen, Clement, etc. that I came to a deeper understanding of my own faith, a greater understanding of what true gnosis is, and broader knowledge of why others believed what they did and why the church disagreed. Personally, I find this sort of inquiry very helpful. For instance, there is a difference between knowing that the church rejects dualism and knowing why the church rejects dualism.
And regarding questioning one’s faith–I do not see this as a bad thing at all. The question is an invitation to discovery, not necessarily to doubt and/or despair. Questions are opportunities for growth.
Re: the bookshop selling these books, the struggle with the “gnosis falsely so called” is an important chapter in the development of the church. For instance, without Marcion declaring his canon (an expurgated Luke and a collection of Paul’s letters purged of all content deemed by him too Jewish), a movement towards an orthodox canon would have happened much later, if at all. Without the scandal of Arianism, I wonder what sort of creeds we would have.
At any rate, intellectual curiosity regarding these things is not necessarily bad.
Under the Mercy,
Mark
Deo Gratias!
I’m very interested in what people believe and how they practice what they believe. I’m interested because study of other religions invariably strengthens my love of my own religion and my devotion to God.
For instance, I am and have been fascinated by Gnosticism. It was by reading about the Gnostics and by comparing their views with the views of Irenaeus, Athanasius, Origen, Clement, etc. that I came to a deeper understanding of my own faith, a greater understanding of what true gnosis is, and broader knowledge of why others believed what they did and why the church disagreed. Personally, I find this sort of inquiry very helpful. For instance, there is a difference between knowing that the church rejects dualism and knowing why the church rejects dualism.
And regarding questioning one’s faith–I do not see this as a bad thing at all. The question is an invitation to discovery, not necessarily to doubt and/or despair. Questions are opportunities for growth.
Re: the bookshop selling these books, the struggle with the “gnosis falsely so called” is an important chapter in the development of the church. For instance, without Marcion declaring his canon (an expurgated Luke and a collection of Paul’s letters purged of all content deemed by him too Jewish), a movement towards an orthodox canon would have happened much later, if at all. Without the scandal of Arianism, I wonder what sort of creeds we would have.
At any rate, intellectual curiosity regarding these things is not necessarily bad.
Under the Mercy,
Mark
Deo Gratias!
