Some requested ground rules;
- Please bear in mind I'm looking for personal comments (I don't expect you to speak for all Gnostics) about contemporary Gnosticism as a living religion, not about historical Gnosticism.
- Please specify if you're clergy, and if so in which organization, and when you were ordained. I'm striving for a good cross section, not just EG / EGM / AJC.
- Please understand that responding gives me permission to use your answers in the book. If you need me to use a pseudonym, you must let me know in every e-mail communication. If you don't want me to quote you, don't respond.
- I will edit your response when I quote you. You have to trust me not to distort your meaning, because I can't go back to each respondent and get approval for edits. I'm actually pretty good at this sort of thing and you're going to have to trust me. Or don't, because that's perfectly fair and I understand.
- You can be as long-winded as you like, as obscure as you like, as source-text quoting as you like, as brief as you like. The audience is sympathetic, smart, and not afraid of having to look stuff up.
- You don't have to answer every question.
- Please let me know (by number) to which questions you're responding.
- Obviously I may not use every submission.
- Don't worry you're writing the book for me; I have 100 pages done for the front and 70 pages done at end; this stuff is for the middle (although I'm sure I'll be sprinkling some of this stuff throughout.
- I realize each question is often multiple questions. This is because the next question in the cluster is a follow up. Pretend it's a conversation, not an essay. Nice and chatty is just fine.
- Please don't think you're not "qualified". I'd love to have the voices of not just of the Eckharts and the Jeremys and the Troys of the world (although I need you guys too) but also Pauline, Andrea, Coe, Fell, Marsha, and you non-blogging commentors.
- Please send your contribution to jordan@johannite.org
1) What's the difference between gnosis and Gnosticism?
2) Is Gnosticism a distinct religion, an approach to religion, or a sect within another religion?
3) As a Gnostic, have you achieved gnosis? What is your experience of gnosis? If gnosis is "knowledge" of the Divine, do you believe in God?
4) How do you express your Gnosticism in your daily life?
5) I think I'm a Gnostic! What do I do now?
6) If the sacraments don't lead to gnosis, automatically or even eventually, what's the role / need for the sacraments in Gnosticism?
7) Is the Demiurge real? What role does having the Demiurge or Archons in your world-view play? Is an evil god the cause of evil in the world? Does this evil god create earthquakes and tsunamis?
8) What's the difference between Gnosticism and "mainstream" Christianity?
9) What role does the concept of sin play in Gnosticism?
10) If it's gnosis that saves, what is the role of faith? If gnosis is necessary for salvation, are non-Gnostics saved? Saved from what?
11) What is the role of the Divine Feminine in Gnosticism? Why are some attracted by this idea, while others are repelled? Is Sophia a Goddess?
12) Why do you think orthodox Christianity is still threatened by the message of Gnosticism?
13) If you admit there is not one, continuous, unbroken Gnostic church throughout history, how is Gnosticism not a "revival" religion, or a kind of "dress up"?
14) How does "the occult" factor into Gnosticism? Do you practice ceremonial magic or cast spells or read tarot cards?
15) Do you believe in reincarnation?
16) Is Gnosticism best pursued in a specifically Gnostic organization, exclusively solo, or in a broader community (ie Unitarianism, Society of Friends, Theosophical Society?)
17) How will the growing popularity of Gnosticism affect what's happening now? How will it affect your practice and expression as a Gnostic?
18) How did you come to identify yourself as a Gnostic? Are you "out" about this identity?
19) To which Gnostic historical figure do you most relate (even if that person was not Gnostic per se, such as Joan of Arc)? What's the most meaningful Gnostic scripture to you personally, and why?
20) What is the most important thing that Gnosticism has to offer non-Gnostics? What's the one thing you want everybody to know about Gnosticism?
Thank you so much for participating!
15 comments:
These are very thought provoking questions. I think they are good to answer regardless if you publish them or not. It's almost seems like doing a gnostic 4th step inventory.
"Made a searchless and moral inventory of ourselves" AA/Al-anon
I'd be happy to answer the questions, it'd be a growing experience.
Andrea
Hi Jordan+: Will respond (sep., Word Doc) may take time.
Cheerfully, RK
Hi Jordan,
I will respond, but it might take me some time. I'll have to print it out and ponder over it a bit. Then I'll send it to you my responses in an email.
Pax,
Marsha
Great questions, all. I've posted my replies here, on fantastic planet.
You should already have my replies.
I found myself really enjoying reflecting on the questions and answering them.
Look forward to the book!
:-)
- Joe
I couldn't agree more with andrea....these questions are very thought provoking and prompt a spiritual growth of sorts.
I will thoughtfully answer and respond. :)
Please don't hesitate to post your responses to your own blogs! These are your words, you own 'em, and the entire point is to engage contemporary Gns on these very basic issues. The list is largely a compilaton of FAQs that I've received over the last 2 years or so (which is why "reincarnation" is in there). I've replied to each of these at least 30 times.
The fascinating thing that I didn't expect from the early respondents is how SIMILAR they all are - with all the talk of diversity and personal experience, it reads more like we have some sort of *orthodoxy* going on. ;-)
Do you have a time when you need the questions by? It's taking me some time to answer the questions do to life and I also have a paper due on proving the Pythagoras theorem this Monday, which of course I haven't started yet.
Question 1:
Great question - and it seems a lot of paths ask it - like one of those barometer questions - is it a springboard or a stumbling bock?
It seems easy enough to me...
What is the difference between the Mystery, the Mystic and Mysticism?
the difference between Christ (Consciousness), the Christian and Christianity?
between Eck, Eckist and Eckankar?
... you get the idea ...
The difference is always the one in the middle. What I find interesting from personal viewpoint/experience, is the question: What does the one in the middle imply? The ones on the left all seem to imply the same unity (with different labels) - the Enlightenment.
The ones on the right all imply great diversity - the myriad paths.
The one in the middle is the one who is faced with the challenge of discovering that nobody - absolutely nobody - can know anything _for_ them. The one in the middle is the individual. You. Me. The sparks of Eternity.
So far, so good. But we live and interact and communicate within a world of labels, associations, and meanings.
So, for the moment, I'm not interested in defining the left or the right. The right can be explored fairly richly through discursive techniques - the left by acquaintance - it is the one in the middle for whom (while we are immersed in the world of moments) the clock tics, and where each tic sometimes asks, 'are you still awake? Are you still in the know? Are you still in Love?'
Well, enough of my wind from the mountain. Let's talk semantics.
What is a Gnostic, a Mystic, a Christain, an Eckist? For if each feels they are on the one true path, then they are choosing the wrong labels for themselves. They (we) should be calling themselves Gnosticismists, Mysticismists, Christianityists, and Eckankarists. And we _are_ these, those of us who have taken up a path. (or several) These corrected labels give us exclusive membership to these fine paths.
Does this mean, there's really no such thing as a Gnostic, a Mystic, a Christian, or an Eckist? Certainly not! They are everywhere. It's just that - more often than not - we must look beyond our own chosen path to discover the thriving community of them.
1&2...
Gnosis is a process, a process of unfolding. By gnosis and the expierence of it, one can come to Gnosticism. Gnosticism is both a practice and a way of life. It is a religious tradition.
Gnosis is the approach to Gnosticism. Gnosticism is both a distinct religious tradition and a sect within a religion. Christian Gnosticism falls under the umbrella of Christianity. Islamic Gnosticism or Sufism falls under the umbrella of Islam. I am not aware that there is still a “gnostic” Judaism but, I’m sure there is.
7...
A traditional view Gnostic Cosmology goes like so: “The material universe is flawed because its creator is flawed.” The Demiurge is real; all of the suffering and injustice around me attest to this. I do not see The Archons as actual beings, but more or less actions, thoughts, words, and deeds that are inconsistent with a peaceful and just way of life. I do not think an evil god sits around and says, “Well all of you are going to die by fire today.” This is not the way, the earth was created imperfect; therefore, it has cataclysms on its own accord.
3) As a Gnostic, have you achieved gnosis? What is your experience of gnosis? If gnosis is "knowledge" of the Divine, do you believe in God?
No. As Soul we realize gnosis. As members of clubs, we realize membership cards. ;-)
I guess my experience of gnosis might be called the wild gnosis. The little self and all its dualities falls away, and ceases to limit that which I am. With it comes an awareness of unlimited wisdom, power, and freedom. The essence of Being. HU-Realization. Love, detachment, responsibility, humility and gratitude.
Then the dualistic consciouness returns, and I return to my same old sets of problems with new creativity. Gnosis needs to be won and re-won. I try to die daily for it.
Do I still believe in God? Yes. I ration it is necessary. The faith of the mustard seed, not because the mustard seed is small, but because it is alive and contains the mustard tree within it.
Soul may not believe in God for it experiences God. But "I" the ego, the mind, is my child - Soul's child. If it does not practice faith it gets lazy. Soul calls the mind to be still and believe, then it can partake of what Soul has to offer it. It must be alive. Be-alive. Bealive. Beliave. Believe.
I don't stop believing in anything just because I have proven it to myself. It's just a personal attitude to keep me from getting jaded - the opposite might work for others, though. I just never cared for the popular phrase of 'been there, done that, got the T-shirt.' You end up with a closet full of T-shirts that have little meaning. I'd rather lose the T-shirt, and return once again to Figi all wide eyed! :-)
15) Do you believe in reincarnation?
Sometimes. When I'm not all wrapped up in remembering a past life, or trying to learn something from it, I will believe in reincarnation. *g*
See, there's a perfect microcosmic example to me about faith. I remember and experience some things about past lives. Many of us do. Who, though, remembers them ALL - even of those that 'got their gnosis?'
Then who has experienced the Totality of God? Who has fallen so deeply in Love, that they can never fall any deeper? Who can fathom how deep another's Love extends? Can you tell just by looking? Can you know at all? If you think you can know, but don't yet know, are you somehow disrespecting what you do already know, by having a living faith in something which you do not yet know?
Even in Gnosis (it is MHO), we have the ability and freedom to set rudder and sail into uncharted waters. That's the adventure. Sure, we may glance back at the body and mind, sleeping away peacefully in it's faith. I like to reward their trust, on occassion, for allowing me the freedom to explore the Reality, by bringing back a memory - an artifact or 2 - to encourage that level of love, that faith that I will not abandon them unwisely or prematurely.
5) I think I'm a Gnostic! What do I do now?
Exactly. Well, what did you do yesterday? Could try doing that.
What would you like to do tomorrow? Might give that a whirl.
What would love do? If you think you know, try that. If you're not sure what love would do, look closer to home and ask 'what is love doing?' Maybe get involved in that.
Still not sure? Then just breathe.
20a.) What is the most important thing that Gnosticism has to offer non-Gnostics?
A sanctuary for the respect and acceptance of their own divinity.
20b. What's the one thing you want everybody to know about Gnosticism?
I have no desire for everybody to know one particular thing. I would like them to know they are divine, yes. I would like them to know that they don't 'have' a soul, but indeed are one. But Gnosticism holds no monopoly on these discoveries or teachings. I would rather everyone start off knowing something unique - something of deep resonance and value to them. If we pre-defined it for them, and held it up as 'this is the most important thing to know' it would become common, and enemies would seize upon it like the discovery of a jugular vien.
Nay. Keep the Secret hidden in plain sight, midst the myriad. The safest place to hide something valuable is in a thousand places.
It's worked for thousands of years.
1) Gnosis is a knowledge, understanding of mutual relations of the God and world, and also a special method of interpretation of the Scriptures. "Gnosticism" is the figure of speech invented by opponents behind which there is no reality.
2) About "gnosticism" see above. Gnosis - comprehension of internal essence of any religion. Thus most perfectly it reveals in christianity, for Gnosis is Christ Himself.
3) In direct Revelation. And further there were years of studying, but I shall reach Gnosis only after death of the biological carrier.
Yes, in God I trust.
4) I serve Gnosis as the translator and the publicist.
5) To find gnostic Scriptures, to read them. To study.
6) It is doubtful.
7) Is the Demiurge real? What role does having the Demiurge or Archons in your world-view play? Is an evil god the cause of evil in the world? Does this evil god create earthquakes and tsunamis?
It is absolutely real. We are “phantoms and shadows”.
8) The gnostic christianity and official "christianity" have mutually exclusive representations about the God.
9) The sin is not a bad act, the Sin (η ‛Αμαρτια in greek) is the principle dominating over our world and predetermining its perversity. "Fall of man" - incorrect interpretation of initial chapters of Genesis Book, attempt to impose to the person fault and the responsibility for events for which it cannot bear the responsibility.
10) Everybody will be rescueed from the authority of Creator and Lord of our world. But as everybody has his own Gnosis, everybody has his own salvation.
11) Feminity is really divine if to speak about spiritual and mythological, instead of about its bestially-human aspects.
Not the Goddess, but "divinity" - TMNTNOYTE in coptic; the fallen and uplifted Mother of our world.
12) Because for twenty centuries they have killed too many kind people and lied too much. It is possible to lie to everybody, but for short, it is possible to lie for long, but not to everybody. In any case, the shop is time for closing.
13) TheTruth staying outside of space and time, perfectly does without material and especially biological carriers. We do require It, not It requires us.
Accordingly, I do not see need in any "apostolic continuity" which more than is suspicious (especially in the first centuries after apostles) even at Catholics and Orthodoxes which declare, that possess such continuity.
If I shall get on on myself any "velwet bag", be dared are it will be valid a masquerade. In general, presently people in velwet bags - characters of carnaval culture.
14) I am far from occultism and I shall not begin to condemn what I know insufficiently well. I shall tell only, that "superstition is the enemy of Christs belief".
15) No.
16) Everybody has his own Gnosis. This, however, does not exclude cooperation with people of the most different sights. Modern «Gnostic churches» in the West do not seem to me the sample that should be transferred on the Russian ground without changes.
17) I am pleased and I do everything, that I can.
18) I did not have a choice. I repeat, it was direct Revelation. I chose not - the God chose.
Long time I has been anyhow connected with russian orthodox church. This is a case, still time I testify the repentance of this.
19) Persons: Jesus the Nasorean; John the Theologian; Paul from Tarses; Faustus the Numydian; priest Bogomil the Bolgarian.
Scriptures: The Gospel of Truth & The Apokryphon of John. There is the key.
20) Truth. Let everyone know, that misunderstanding turns to Revelation, and fear – in Pleasure.
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