Gnosticism is Alive

Gnosticism is one of the most fascinating and perplexing phenomena in western  theological history.   At the heart was the Greek word gnosis meaning,  “Knowledge or Direct knowledge of God”.  Existing far before its Christian descendants, Gnosis in Classical Greek meant true knowledge or wisdom depending on which ancient slide_3philosopher one reads. According to Plato, reality as perceived by the five senses is merely the surface of a highly complex and structured system. The act of seeing and recognizing this system Plato calls “ideas.” A key element in his philosophy, which would later transfer to Gnosticism and Gnostic, is the  concept that every human had a previous and thorough understanding of the structures of reality. Unfortunately, this knowledge was somehow lost. The reclaiming of this knowledge through the comprehension of reality underlying structures is Gnosis.

Gnosis in the first century was a quiet movement, adapting to the situations and locations of the societies it encountered. From early Christian literature, there is an impression that Gnosis was a threat to subvert Christianity, even though there seems to be no unified front of Gnosis during this time. The Gnostics were just a variety of independent, small sects that on the whole seem very different from each other. However, these different sects even debated the same metaphysical,  cosmologic, soteriological, and ethical themes as their more mainstream Christian counterparts.  Gnostics were the early movement of Christianity and lost the early E9F625CB-1D92-43E3-A3FC-33CC72001CE7Christian struggle to define orthodoxy.  

So who were the Gnostics?  Irenaeus of Lyon, a bishop in the late 2nd century was an enemy of the Gnostics whom he called heretics.  Irenaeus claimed that a single true Christianity originated with Jesus  and the apostles. In his view other groups, such as the Gnostics, may claim to be Christians, but they were false deviations for the one true Christianity, and all competing Christians were heretics.  Today we know Christianity was diverse from the very beginning.  Even the original apostles did not agree on a single Christian message.

One of the most striking features of the Gnostic myth as Irenaeus tells it is that the God of Genesis is  lower than the ultimate God and is arrogant, ignorant and evil. He is hostile to humans beings because humans beings have a share of the divine spirit that belongs to the  higher God.  The real name of the god who created this world is Ialdabaoth, a spiritual being who runs this universe like a tyrant.

This biblical father god of the Old Testament, also known as Yahweh or Jehovah, was hostile to human beings when he AdamEve-600x397commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, preventing them from knowing the spiritual truth.

When Adam and Eve eat from the tree, they gain gnosis, knowledge of the true God.  Eve was  encouraged to eat the fruit from a female deity  known as Sophea, (Wisdom).   As human beings continue to see true spiritual knowledge,  Yahweh grows jealous of their devotion to the higher God and causes a flood to wipe out humanity.  The higher God,  Universal Intelligence, saves Noah and his family from the Yahweh evil plot.

Finally, human beings begin to lose the knowledge that Adam and Eve gain when they ate from the tree, but Universal Intelligence sends Jesus to restore this lost gnosis and rescue them from Yahweh and his fellow rulers. 5a4da62576d47c9081ee29e510cd504e

The Gnostic Version of the Garden of Eden is much like the Sumerian Tablets and  the Law of One Yahweh is mentioned 19 times and agrees with much of what the Gnostics said about the God of the Old Testament.

Orthodox Christianity created the idea of heresy to condemn the Gnostics quest for higher knowledge because of the different belief system. Early Christians wanted a single harmonious system and considered themselves as a single body of Christ and did not want any division. Overtime, people who followed the Gnostics were considered godless and imperious members of a school of thought and therefore heretics. Some in the Christian religion still believe that today. The destruction of their sacred texts was inevitable, so some hid them in caves and various other places so they could not be found.

In 1945, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the 20th century occurred. Thirteen ancient codices containing over 50 texts of Gnostic works were found in caves in Upper Egypt untouched by scribes. All of these can be found in the Nag Hammadi Library.

The discovery in 1945 provides a new and refreshing school of thought about spiritualitygnostic-christ-1024x791 and Jesus’s message. The discovery also came at a time when it could be shared with the world and not suppressed as it was for the last twenty centuries. Jesus is a teacher of wisdom and understanding, speaking in metaphors and parables of love and enlightenment. Much different from the sin and repentance as the Church teaches. Since the discovery and publications, the Gospel of Thomas has been the most celebrated of the 50 ancient texts discovered in 1945.

 Jesus said in saying 5 of the Gospel of Thomas,  “Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you . For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest.”  Have we come to a time when all the secrets of the world are manifesting?  Gnosticism was not confined to the Christians but is part of the belief systems of Sufism and the Saints of India and other eastern mystics. Gnosticism is not only alive but reemerging in a world that needs much love and wisdom in todays greatest   spiritual battle the world has even known.

Jesus Secret Sayings 20, 21 and 22

The Gospel of Thomas presented  114 secret saying of Jesus,  discovered in 1945 in  a cave in upper Egypt with many other Gnostic manuscripts.  The text have been untouched by man for  nearly 2000 years, perhaps for good reason.  Some of the references  and parallels sayings can be found in the New Testament.    Jesus’ message is  different from the church teachings.  Instead of sin and repentance, it is love, enlightenment and look within and know yourself.  In  the very beginning of this wonderful text, we are told whoever understands and learns the meaning of these saying  will not experience death. Jesus spoke in parables with a metaphysical and even mystical  understanding with deeper meaning than we have been taught or even understood.  Jesus was a Master, a teacher, telling us we all have the power within us known as the Christ Consciousness.    Even in the New Testament  Jesus tells us we can do the same works as he, even greater.   In John 14:12, he said  Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

In saying (20) The disciples said to Jesus, “Tell us what the kingdom of heavens resembles.” He said to them, “What it resembles is a grain of mustard seed. It is smaller than all other seeds, but if it falls upon plowed terrain it puts forth an enormous foliage and is a shade for birds of heaven. A similar parable can be found in Matthew 13:31-42 .

Consider our faith or belief system is  represented by the mustard seed. It comes to us from Universal Intelligence through the Christ within, the Christ Consciousness. We are all born with this great seed. As we experience life, it is up to each individual to cultivate and grow this great power within by accepting love and compassion into our lives. Many may refer to this great power as the Holy Spirit, perhaps the emotions of Infinite Intelligence.  All of our lives are full of trial and tribulations, but those experiences are our way to grow, much like the mustard seed. We call it God in expression, through the Christ in us. In saying 3 Jesus said When you know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will know that you are the sons of the living Father.   But if you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty, and you are poverty.  

In saying (21) Mary said to Jesus, “Whom are your disciples like?”
He said, “They are like children who have settled in a field which is not theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, ‘Let us have back our field.’ They (will) undress in their presence in order to let them have back their field and to give it back to them. Therefore I say, if the owner of a house knows that the thief is coming, he will begin his vigil before he comes and will not let him dig through into his house of his domain to carry away his goods. You, then, be on your guard against the world. Arm yourselves with great strength lest the robbers find a way to come to you, for the difficulty which you expect will (surely) materialize. Let there be among you a man of understanding. When the grain ripened, he came quickly with his sickle in his hand and reaped it. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Perhaps Jesus is describing the human condition, most  unaware they are the divine spark of God or that mustard seed.  Humanity as a whole accepts what they are told, provoking mostly negative thoughts and emotions.  We all have to be on guard or we will be robbed of our divine right. If we believe difficulty will come, then it will materialize. Again our thoughts, emotions and actions create our reality. Those who understand this think independently will not fear death and are often taken young because they are ready.  In the New Testament verses  in  Luke 12:39-40Luke 11:21-22, Matt 24:37-44Matt 12:29Mark 3:27,  and Mark 4:26-29,  are similar sayings in the New Testament.

(22) Jesus saw some infants at the breast. He said to his disciples: These little ones at the breast are like those who enter into the kingdom. They said to him: If we then be children, shall we enter the kingdom? Jesus said to them: When you make the two one, and when you make the inside as the outside, and the outside as the inside, and the upper side as the lower; and when you make the male and the female into a single one, that the male be not male and the female female; when you make eyes in the place of an eye, and a hand in place of a hand, and a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then shall you enter [the kingdom].

Jesus is saying every child is born perfect. Not only here but in the New Testament in verses Luke 9:46-48, Luke 18:15-17, Matt 18:1-4, Matt 19:13-15, John 3:1-10, Mark 9:33-37,   and Mark 10:13-16.   Every child born has the spark or seed of the Christ Consciousness and is perfect. Only the thoughts of  humanity can lower that perfection.

So why does the Church teach us we are born sinful when Jesus teaches we are born perfect? Original sin is an Augustine Christian doctrine that says that everyone is born sinful. This means that we are born with the urge to do negative things and to disobey God. It is an important doctrine within the Roman Catholic Church.   The Church also teaches that baptism removes original sin which stains all souls since the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. It appears the Church teaching is contrary to Jesus’ teaching.

The remaining part of the saying is addressing our thoughts, feelings and actions which should be positive, loving and compassionate. Each female has a masculine side and each male has a feminine side. When we understand we are not female or male we have truly found our true selves and have cultivated our Christ Consciousness. It is a true power we all have within each of us.  We all have the ability to cultivate and grow our  Christ Consciousness as well as our Buddha nature.  Both men were telling us what has been lost over the centuries,  that we and only we can find that divine spark and be just like them and be one with God.

The Law of One confirmed that belief, that we are all one and even tells us that if we are 51 percent positive in all our thoughts, emotions and actions we will ascend to our next journey, what many call heaven.  There was also discussion about Jesus.  Jesus was quick to anger and at a young age he killed a young boy by simply touching him.  He was so  unsettled by this experience, he began a lifetime of seeking and searching. Jesus studied  day and night in its own religious constructs,  Judaism and was learned enough to be a rabbi at a very  young age. Around the age of thirteen he left his family and walked to many other places seeking further information. This went on sporadically until the entity was approximately twenty-five, at which time it returned to its family dwelling, and learned and practiced the art of its earthly father. When Jesus had become able to integrate and  synthesize all experiences,  he began to teach others of the things of a worthwhile nature.  Apparently all his disciples were crucified  except John, who is thought to have died in 100 AD of old age.

The Church has distorted Jesus message and teachings and that is why it is important for each to read and decide for themselves the truth.  There is truth in the Bible and other sacred texts but one must use discernment, our God given gift and be aware of the methods used to control us.   There are other Masters and teachers in the world today that are able to heal and do the same feats as Jesus.  We can as well,  but we have to believe and reprogram ourselves in our own way. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind

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