New

[firebird21]

Hi there I am new and was refered here by my friend Exoticdaydream. She thought this might be a good place for me to go as I enjoy meaningful discussions about spirituality and the like

Comments

[sir_gnosis]

Have you ever encountered Gnostic Christianity? From what you've written, it could be something that you would be interested in.

[firebird21]

No I have not encountered it but have definately heard of it what are its basic beliefs?

[en_femme]

http://www.religioustolerance.org/gnostic.htm
for a basic introduction

http://www.webcom.com/~gnosis/eghome.htm
For a more in-depth look

[valmorian]

I believe that anything is possible and that includes reincarnation, the idea of the female and male aspects of "God" and the idea of balance.

Possible in what sense? Although clearly there are things that are impossible in both a logical and a physical sense, so it really doesn't matter.

Do you think it's possible that there are married bachelors?

[firebird21]

OK what I mean is that and I am going to use scripture to back myself here All things are possible through God for they that believe in Him. I am paraphrasing here and cannot remember where it is as I do not have my bible here. As far as the bachelors comment that is a contradiction not a thing of possibility as far as I can muster. I could be wrong.

[valmorian]

OK what I mean is that and I am going to use scripture to back myself here All things are possible through God for they that believe in Him.

How do you know scripture is a reliable method for determining what is possible?

[firebird21]

Point taken. I guess I went that route because of my upbringing of using scripture to back myself up. I see your point though.

[theswede]

Which beliefs that Jesus taught do you still hold?

[firebird21]

I believe that he is the son of God and that he was crucified. I think the issues I have with some things in the bible are more around the old testement. I believe in Jesus' teachings as they were of tolerance and love. The old testement is where I have the issues as well as the idea that women are to be subserviant to men which is not a Christ teaching but a Paul teaching. (Correct me if I am wrong on that one please.

[theswede]

Why do you believe he was the son of god, and why do you believe that he was crucified?

The teachings allegedly of Jesus aren't particularly much for tolerance and love. That's a common view of them, but not supported by scripture. John in particular portrays Jesus as quite antisemitic, and the others portray him as having held and taught quite an amount of intolerance.

Paul is a misogynistic authority loving bastard, no ifs and buts there. However, according to scripture he clearly spoke for Jesus. You have much more reason to believe that his writing is in accordance with early christian teaching than that the gospels are; there doesn't even exist any historical evidence that Jesus existed.

[firebird21]

Actually recenct archaological findings have found things that support the idea he existed even more. As for historical evidence I am not sure on that one.

I believe that mostly because that is what I was taught. Again that goes back to my upbringing and not to question I guess. I think it has been tough for me to question things like that.

As for Christs teachings what is your support that they were antisemetic or of intollerance. "Love thy neighbor as yourself" anyone? I would love to hear your thoughts on that one.:-)

[firebird21]

Let me clarify "anything is possible" I think that was incorrect wording. I should say that there are things that are possible such as reincarnation as well as other things. We know that one cannot turn metal to gold and such as Alchemy does not exist. Like I said I worded that phrase wrong. That is why intro posts are so tough sometimes.

[valmorian]

I should say that there are things that are possible such as reincarnation as well as other things. We know that one cannot turn metal to gold and such as Alchemy does not exist. Like I said I worded that phrase wrong.

We "know" alchemy does not exist for the same reason we "know" reincarnation doesn't exist: Lack of evidence to support it.

[firebird21]

I see your point. There is lack of evidence to support a lot of things both inside and outside the bible though.

[theswede]

Correct. And those things that have lack of evidence to support them tend to not be possible.

[sir_gnosis]

Well, because Gnostic sects varied so much in their beliefs and practices, there is no set belief structure. However, most shared at least a few core beliefs, such as

[firebird21]

When you say they believe no one can know God do you mean in the physical or the spiritual because if it is in the spiritual I would have to disagree with that. The idea of the law and sin in the form of a demi-god (for lack of a better word) intriges me though. Could that be their metaphor for what most Christians like myself would consider to be satan as we are taught he enslaves us with sin.

[sir_gnosis]

They believe that most humans cannot know God because they lack the proper spiritual preparedness. i.e. communicating with God is not as simple as prayer. The human mind cannot grasp the Divine, and so a deeper, more spiritual knowledge is necessary. I really cannot explain it more clearly than that, as what this knowledge is differs for each person.
The demiurge is not technically a demi-god, as that implies a half-man, half-god, rather he is a flawed being; divine but removed from the true God. Actually, Gnostics equate the demiurge with the god of the Old Testament, as do I, but there are some who believe him to be Satan as portrayed in the New Testament as well. In other words, the Father whom Christ spoke of is different than the god of Abraham and Moses.

[firebird21]

Thank you for the clarification:-)