Gnosticism and New Age

[Oscar3]

No one is throwing stones on this thread. I started it to let people know my finding of a study I have been doing. I have been studying what the Gnostic gospels say. All I was doing was warning Christians that the gnostic gospels were very similar to New Age, and it is true. Soma is making it more than it is. We (myself and others who are giving links and such) are giving information to those who want it. Others were giving their imput. There has been no judging at all. We have a right to exchange information, there is nothing wrong with that. Telling us we can't do it because someone doesn't think we shouldn't is censorship. We can't always please everyone with the information we share.
I would agree with Soma if someone said that all new agers were going to hell or something but nothing like that has been said.

Christine
While I can't speak for anyone but me, I thank God you care. I never really thought much of Gnostics until you brought it up. I have now spent about 10-12 hours reading many of the old writings and the more I read and learn, the more I realize that the most dangerouse cults are

1) Jejovas wittness
2) Mormons
3) Unitariums
4) Oneness only ( jesus only)

What makes these cults very, very dangerous is that they all claim to be Christians. They twist the preciouse scriptures to make their religion look good and sound right. Reading about them reminds of the temptation of Jesus when the devil took the scriptures out of contex to fit his agenda. The same way some do on this forum.

There are so many more cults but those 4 to me are the most dangerouse because they actually think they are christians.
Oscar

 

[ChristineES]

Thank you, Oscar. I started this thread for members like you.

 

[soma]

Do you guys ever question your own beliefs?

 

[Oscar3]

Do you guys ever question your own beliefs?

I don't

 

[Dave...]

This thread is a perfect example of how political correctness tries to beat down the truth because that's the only way they can fight it. I'm not even sure what they are against...finding the truth?...testing all things?..exposing lies?

Painting a false opposite extreme as an excuse doesn't work either.

Christine, keep up the good work.

 

[soma]

We are told in Matthew 7:2 that "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

You find meaning in Christianity by rejecting something else or other Christians, I say a true Christian will live according to Christian principals and refuse to go along with the poisin that undermines the Christian experience.

True Christians are reflective on themselves and their faith, which brings acceptance. They don't shake their fist at others with scorn and resentment, but remove the log from their own eye before removing a splinter from another's finger.

I pray you find meaning to life and not in rejection of something else. The Christian experience arouses us from immaturity and prejudices so we don't run rampant in the world bullying and putting others down.

 

[ChristineES]

Let's just say that if I have a false belief, that I wish God would tell me about it, so that I can change it.
Once again- No one is judging on this thread except you. :wink:
Thanks Dave... for your support.

 

[ChristineES]

I would also like to add that when people point out that something they believe may be wrong that it is not considered judging. If someone were to point out to me that one of my beliefs is wrong and shows me scripture that backs him/her up, I don't believe that person is judging me. I can either agree with him/her or not agree with them. If it turns out that I was the one who is wrong, then I would thank that person for pointing out my mistake. I (and most others) only get mad when the person pointing out a mistake gets abusive, which happens only rarely.
I pray that God lets you know the difference between judging and correction.

 

[Soma-Sight]

As I progress through my study of the Gnostic gospels, I have seen a disturbing trend. It seems that New Age isn't really new. The Gnostic beliefs have a strikingly similarity to New Agism. Their core beliefs are very much alike. I guess that is the appeal of the Gnostic gospels to some.
The purpose of this post is let Christians know to be on your guard!

Thats about as General as Cheerios....

What is so "New Age" about the Gnostic movement?

Is it the Dualistic distinction of the mind and body?

Is it the importance placed on personal experience versus authoritative control?

Is it the fact that the RCC labels both "New Agers" and "Gnostics" as "heretics"?

Or is it just because you heard someone else lump them in the same category?

Or maybe because "New Age" means pretty much the same thing as "anything not Jerry Falwell approved" with no real distinction with WHAT New Age is exatly (Gnosticism by its very nature has no central dogma).....

Or were you just making a black and white blanket statement about something you dont understand...... GOT GNOSIS?????? :-?

 

[Soma-Sight]

I sincerely doubt anyone here who bashes Gnosticism has ever had a "Gnostic" experience as described in various areas.....

 

[Soma-Sight]

Hello
I did a google search on gnostics and so many sites came up. Finally
I found this one and started to read many of the links and comments.
I have come to the realization that there are many Gnostics on the forum.
many cults, many new agers..

http://www.pro4machineworks.com/Gnostic.html

And Hitler was a Catholic....

Whats your point?

You like labels dont you?

 

[ChristineES]

I said that I thought what the Gnostics believed based on their writings resembles New Agism the way I understand it. As for real gnostics, they are long gone. :wink:

 

[jgredline]

I would also like to add that when people point out that something they believe may be wrong that it is not considered judging. If someone were to point out to me that one of my beliefs is wrong and shows me scripture that backs him/her up, I don't believe that person is judging me. I can either agree with him/her or not agree with them. If it turns out that I was the one who is wrong, then I would thank that person for pointing out my mistake. I (and most others) only get mad when the person pointing out a mistake gets abusive, which happens only rarely.
I pray that God lets you know the difference between judging and correction.

Christine
I agree with you 100%
JUDGING OTHERS
What was Jesus calling for when He ordered His followers to “judge not†(Matt. 7:1)? Did He want us to close our eyes to error and evil? Did He intend that managers forgo critical performance reviews of their employees? Or that news editors and art critics pull their punches? Or that juries refrain from judgment? Should we decline any assessment of others, since none of us is perfect?
No, those would all be misapplications of Jesus’ teaching. In the first place, He was not commanding blind acceptance, but grace toward others. Since all of us are sinners, we need to stop bothering with the failings of others and start attending to serious issues of our own (Matt. 7:3–5). His words here extend His earlier exposeé of hypocrisy (Matt. 6:1–18). Don’t blame or put down others while excusing or exalting yourself, Jesus was saying.
Is there room, then, to assess others, especially when we know we are not perfect? Yes, but only in Jesus’ way: with empathy and fairness (Matt. 7:12), and with a readiness to freely and fully forgive (Matt. 6:12, 14). When we are called upon to correct others, we should act like a good doctor whose purpose is to bring healingâ€â€not like an enemy who attacks.

The woman presented to Jesus (John 8:3) must have been utterly humiliated at being dragged into the temple by self-righteous men who were only using her to try to trick the Teacher they hated. According to the Law, adultery required capital punishment of both parties (Lev. 20:10). Did the accusers forget to bring the man? Or had they allowed a double standard to creep in?
If so, Jesus refrained from challenging their hypocrisy, but He did set a new standard for judgment: Let someone perfect decide the case (John 8:7; compare Matt. 5:48). Ironically, He was the only one who fit that qualification, and He did decide the caseâ€â€declining to condemn the woman, but admonishing her to “go and sin no more.â€Â
Are there double standards in your moral judgments? Are you eager to point out the speck in someone else’s eye, while ignoring the plank in your own (Matt. 7:4–5)? Or, perhaps, like the woman, you’ve experienced the forgiveness of God for grave offnses against His holiness. If so, live in His graceâ€â€and sin no more.

I hope this helps.

 

[jgredline]

Hello
I did a google search on gnostics and so many sites came up. Finally
I found this one and started to read many of the links and comments.
I have come to the realization that there are many Gnostics on the forum.
many cults, many new agers..

http://www.pro4machineworks.com/Gnostic.html

And Hitler was a Catholic....

Whats your point?

You like labels dont you?

Soma-sight
By the way your taking offense to this thread I am guessing that you have been caught up in new age, mysticsm, gnosticsm or Scientology etc.
What Christine is doing and she is very right in doing so is letting people know that Gnosticm is cultish and plain and simple is inspired of the devil himself.
One of the main things John is doing in his Gospel and the books of 1,2,3rd John is address this problem of Gnostisism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnostic
Have you ever read for example the Gnostoc Gospel of Thomas?
If you have and believe the bible you will know its Heresy and devil inspired.
If you have not I suggest you do so. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/thomas.html
They are short and won't take you long to read them.

 

[soma]

You guys sound like you are devil inspirored. You take a Jesus quote and then justify the opposite. That is anti and against what Jesus said so it sounds anti-Christ.

The following cult test questions seem to describe your actions.

You have cult speak
Group think
You don't question your beliefs
Infallible ideology
Group-think, Suppression of Dissent, and Enforced Conformity in Thinking
Irrationality.
Denigration of competing sects, cults, religions...
Personal attacks on critics.
Insistence that the cult is THE ONLY WAY.
The cult and its members are special.
Induction of guilt, and the use of guilt to manipulate cult members.
Unquestionable Dogma, Sacred Science, and Infallible Ideology.
Appeals to "holy" or "wise" authorities.
Instant Community.
Aggressive Recruiting.
No Humor.
You Can't Tell The Truth.
You must change your beliefs to conform to the group's beliefs.
Dishonesty, Deceit, Denial, Falsification, and Rewriting History.
The Cult Implants Phobias.

 

[Soma-Sight]

soma,

Wow.... thats a pretty awesome list!

I will have to print that out! :D

Soma-sight
By the way your taking offense to this thread I am guessing that you have been caught up in new age, mysticsm, gnosticsm or Scientology etc.
What Christine is doing and she is very right in doing so is letting people know that Gnosticm is cultish and plain and simple is inspired of the devil himself.
One of the main things John is doing in his Gospel and the books of 1,2,3rd John is address this problem of Gnostisism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnostic
Have you ever read for example the Gnostoc Gospel of Thomas?
If you have and believe the bible you will know its Heresy and devil inspired.
If you have not I suggest you do so. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/thomas.html
They are short and won't take you long to read them.

Once again why not pick an issue that is less broad.

Instead of "Gnostics are Devils" why not narrow down your criteria to a certain POINT they are wrong on?

Is it because of a Dualistic interpretation of the Mind - Body interaction?

Or that they believe Jesus Christ can be Experienced in this life personally without an institution?

Of course once again..... Just like you have RCC, Lutheran, and Methodists which vary WIDELY on core practices and are still considered ORTHODOX..... you have varying sects of Gnostic - bent folks who will not fit into any set "Devil/Heresy/Evil' category you spew out.

 

[jgredline]

soma,

Wow.... thats a pretty awesome list!

I will have to print that out! :D

Soma-sight
By the way your taking offense to this thread I am guessing that you have been caught up in new age, mysticsm, gnosticsm or Scientology etc.
What Christine is doing and she is very right in doing so is letting people know that Gnosticm is cultish and plain and simple is inspired of the devil himself.
One of the main things John is doing in his Gospel and the books of 1,2,3rd John is address this problem of Gnostisism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnostic
Have you ever read for example the Gnostoc Gospel of Thomas?
If you have and believe the bible you will know its Heresy and devil inspired.
If you have not I suggest you do so. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/thomas.html
They are short and won't take you long to read them.

Once again why not pick an issue that is less broad.

Instead of "Gnostics are Devils" why not narrow down your criteria to a certain POINT they are wrong on?

Is it because of a Dualistic interpretation of the Mind - Body interaction?

Or that they believe Jesus Christ can be Experienced in this life personally without an institution?

Of course once again..... Just like you have RCC, Lutheran, and Methodists which vary WIDELY on core practices and are still considered ORTHODOX..... you have varying sects of Gnostic - bent folks who will not fit into any set "Devil/Heresy/Evil' category you spew out.

You answered my question
Thanks

 

[ChristineES]

Why on earth would I want to question my beliefs? Would I be a true Christian if I did that?
I still haven't figured out what you are offended about. You are contradicting yourself. First you say I should not do a study in Gnosticism, then you tell me I never question my beliefs. I did the Gnostic study in the first place to find out what Gnostics believed in. I did not go looking for problems in their writings but I did find those that contradict my faith. I was concerned that people were reading Gnostic gospels and mistaking them for inspired so I started this thread to voice that concern, the same way I would warn my kids not to play with the lighter and burn our house down. There is a chance they can play with the lighter withour burning the house down, but why take a chance.
I am finished responding to you. You are too wrapped up in the "political correctness" disease that is spreading across this country and the rest of the free world. I don't have to agree with you, and I don't have to accept everyone else's teachings. I follow only God and Jesus, never the world.

And never and at any time did I say that Gnostics were devils.

 

[jgredline]

Why on earth would I want to question my beliefs? Would I be a true Christian if I did that?
I still haven't figured out what you are offended about. You are contradicting yourself. First you say I should not do a study in Gnosticism, then you tell me I never question my beliefs. I did the Gnostic study in the first place to find out what Gnostics believe in. I did not go looking for problems in their writings but I did find those that contradict my faith. I was concerned that people were reading Gnostic gospels and mistaking them for inspired so I started this thread to voice that concern, the same way I would warn my kids not to play with the lighter and burn our house down. There is a chance they can play with the lighter withour burning the house down, but why take a chance.
I am finished responding to you. You are too wrapped up in the "political correctness" disease that is spreading across this country and the rest of the free world. I don't have to agree with you, and I don't have to accept everyone else's teachings. I follow only God and Jesus, never the world.

Christine
WELL SAID!!!

 

[Dave...]

How can one decern without applying some judgement? The Judgement Jesus was speaking of was hypocritical judgement.

The fact that people try to push and believe this new age watered down "no judging anyone Moral relevance" foundational for liberalism is only further evidence that they are indoctrinated by the world and not the God's Word.

If memory serves me correctly, we have a ton of threads on Judging others that go over this topic in great detail. Soma only wants to indoctrinate you with liberalism and confuse you about the truth.