Gnosticism

[francisdesales]

To me that action of flesh flagellation only shows that the beater thinks that by punishing the flesh, the presence and actions of indwelling sin depart.

It doesn't.

s

Smaller,

The goal of ANY mortification is to GRADUALLY LESSEN the effect of the fleshy desires. Not to complete eliminate them. Do you honestly think that when a person diets, for example, that they no longer have an occasional tempation?

Perhaps I am mistaken, but it sounds like you are trying to justify your desire to put down any effort of self-mortification because you do not feel like doing these things yourself...

Regards

 

[Pard]

Thanks Pard, thats what I always thought gnosticism was, but I thought they died out long ago - are the current people who follow these teachings actively and knowingly adhearing to gnosticism or are they coming up with their own interpretations that mirror the ancient gnostics?

Not in the strict sense of the word, no. However we see people who exhibit these qualities and remind us of Gnostics and so they garner the label. The same way that there are no Pharisees in the sense of Jesus' time, but we still consider some people pharisees.

I am sure there are cults who rock it the gnostic way still... they have cults that commit ritual suicide, so I am pretty much willing to believe that there are cults for anything!

 

[smaller]

Smaller,

The goal of ANY mortification is to GRADUALLY LESSEN the effect of the fleshy desires. Not to complete eliminate them.

I really do not expect the workings of indwelling sin to become obedient. That will NEVER happen. Paul was clear about 'how' indwelling sin works in OPPOSITION to Gods Laws in Romans 7. His observation was that working was NOT HIM, but that of indwelling sin.

Whipping or starving ones self will never make the power of indwelling sin OBEDIENT or LAWFUL.

Do you honestly think that when a person diets, for example, that they no longer have an occasional tempation?

Nope. The temptation remains, and does so from THE TEMPTER. It is quite futile to think the TEMPTER is going to 'change his stripes.'

Perhaps I am mistaken, but it sounds like you are trying to justify your desire to put down any effort of self-mortification because you do not feel like doing these things yourself...

I'm not into such vanities. You may think such things are spiritual. I think they deny the obvious.

s