Originally posted by Grandma
Now, I sometimes wonder if maybe Moses got a little carried away with himself and did some things he should not have by the name of God.

Well, from my understanding, both Moses and Paul were the equivalent of what we would consider "hitmen." Supposedly, God forgave them and made them his "prophets."

[edit on 21-11-2008 by SpeakerofTruth]

Originally posted by LeoVirgo
Ive never read anything that related to Sophia as knowledge

Sophia was the feminine aspect of God, according to the Gnostics. The feminine was associated with knowledge during ancient times.

Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth

Originally posted by LeoVirgo
Ive never read anything that related to Sophia as knowledge

Sophia was the feminine aspect of God, according to the Gnostics. The feminine was associated with knowledge during ancient times.

Only in some systems. The Sethians called the feminine aspect Barbelo, which means, roughly, "seed," and was "the womb of everything".

[edit on 21-11-2008 by Eleleth]

The Sacred Feminine (Sophia, Wisdom) is real and can be tapped into. You have to adopt a certain viewpoint or state of mind. It is akin to an altered state, kind of like being on drugs but you achieve it with your spirit, which then effects your mind. Eh, Gnosticism is really hard to explain, because it requires EXPERIENCE, not indoctrination or faith. For once you have had one Gnostic experience, it is truly "knowledge" and not "faith."

Not everyone who believes in a little gnosis believes that Jesus was married to Mary Magdelene.

If you list the rites of the Gnostics next to the rites of the Catholics - the one big difference is the rite of the Bridal Chamber.

Discussing the Bridal Chamber, though there are many hints to it in the Bible will open up a can of worms around here.

But just ask yourselves - if it exists - why have they surpressed it?

Gnossis has several meanings. The manner it is used in the Bible, usually refers to insight ( let him who has understanding, etc).

Jesus used analogies, parables, etc . We need to work seeking the truth and understanding the divine, and even then there is always disagreement to what the divine represents, as evidenced in this Wonderfull Thread.



Did Gnostics try and Usurp Christianity...

Christ asked us to seek truth, to meditate and pray, to actively seek truths obscured by the material world...basically asking us to achieve personal and individual insight with the divine.

if anything Christ was a pure Gnostic in a spiritual context, seeking and offering insight to the Divine Nature of the Universe.

It was organized Christianity that usurped the message of Christ from a personal relationship with the Divine, and replaced it with a relationship to an organized theocracy.

Originally posted by Hallberg Rassy

It was organized Christianity that usurped the message of Christ from a personal relationship with the Divine, and replaced it with a relationship to an organized theocracy.

I actually agree with the things you just wrote. There are three possible explanations why the Church ommitted certain things from the Bible:

1. Deliberately trying to hinder individual spiritual development.

2. They really felt certain things were heresy and were trying to help our spiritual development.

3. They didn't understand certain things, so they left out what they couldn't explain (this is me just trying to be nice to them).

No matter what they have controlled the content of Jesus' teachings and of course, I'm of the opinion, that Jesus knew this would end up happening and this is the very reason there is an elect group of people, that he makes known his mysteries to.

In Thomas he says: "I will choose you one out of a thousand and two out of ten thousand and you will stand as a single one." This is so that people can stand up and give testimony to the real truth. There is always going to be a need for guides, as long as there is a lack of wisdom and understanding. Furthermore, the saying found in Thomas is backed up in the Old Testament: Jer 3:14 "Return, faithless people", declares the Lord, "for I am your husband. I will choose you - one from a town and two from a clan and bring you to Zion."

I think discussions like this are so needed.





[edit on 21-11-2008 by Myrtales Instinct]

Another reason why I think the gnostic teachings and the NT teachings were kept separate is because if the churches taught us that we could be empowered all on our own, without the church, without a middle man, the orthodox control would of lost its control over the masses. The last thing the churches wanted also was to show respect to the feminine. Imagine Jesus telling the Jews that women had the same rights as men in a spiritual aspect, mabey even Mary was the one that was to carry on the teachings (just thoughts, not facts). If Jesus taught to find God within us, the Churches would have no purpose besides community. If Jesus would of ever talked about reincarnation....OH MY, Im sure we can all imagine how the people reacted to that one.

I dont think the gnostic text should belong with the NT text. They both contain truths in their own merit, but some of the truths conflict each other too much. (actually, since the Bible is full of conflicts anyway, it really wouldn't matter to add more conflict to it.

When I began reading the gnostic text, I knew right away why these text were burnt, why people were killed and why the churches couldn't have them in existence. But, even though they burned what they could, ironically, a full codex of these teachings that have been buried in time for well over 1500 yrs. or better, are now surfacing for those who would like to read them. Could it not be that these text have surfaced in a time that was ready for them, a time that needed them?

I think its worked out beautifully
LV