Gnosticism
What is the main problem in Gnosticism?
Humans are trapped in the material realm in ignorance
When were gnostic writings found?
- Discovered in Nag Hammadi, Egypt in 1945
When were the gnostic writings written? And by who?
2nd - 4th centuries Anonymous
What is Gnosticism?
A cult of Christianity with Mystery religion ideals
Who is the Demiurge?
An ignorant god who thinks he is the pleroma
What are humans viewed as?
Bodies = evil (materialistic) Soul/spiritual spark = good Light trapped in the material body
What did Jesus-Souter do?
Brought secret teachings from the Pleroma
Who is Sophia's twin?
Christ
What is the book of Thomas about?
Collection of Jesus' sayings
What Mark's of the cult are shown in Gnosticism? And how?
Defies Christology False basis of salvation Segmented biblical attention Syncretism Extra biblical revelation
What is the similar conclusion between many interpretations of the problem in Gnosticism?
Drops of the Pleroma are trapped in the fleshy tombs of the body
Who is Adamas?
Emanated aeon (superman) created to combat the darkness
What is salvation?
Esoteric knowledge
What is the material realm? Why?
Evil & corrupt Created by Yahweh/demiurge
Describe serpent?
Good, awakens the desire to revel against Yahweh
What are women viewed as?
Highly persecuted Looked at as inferior
Who first taught that the God of the old testament is evil and the God of the second testament is good?
Marcion of Sinope (110-160AD)
What do the Gnostic writings not contain?
Narratives or evidence
Is jesus human?
No!! Flesh becomes word, not word becomes flesh
What is the relationship between creation and the pleroma?
Nothing to do with it
What happens when you escape the material realm?
Reabsorbed back into Pleroma
What happens if you don't escape the prison of the material realm?
Reincarnated
Pleroma has tried to do what?
Save us, but it has failed
What are Aeons?
Self-emanated parts of the Pleroma
In a state of confusion sophia did what?
She emanated a selfish, corrupt being called the Demiurge
Who is know as the father of Gnosticism?
Simon Magus of Syria (50s AD)
What does the demiurge become? Who is he the origin of?
So evil, forces people to serve him inthe material realm Yahweh, God of the evil untrue first testament
What's an Antinomian?
Someone who goes without the law
Who sought to know the Pleroma?
Sophia (wisdom)
Who is God? And how is it describef?
The Pleroma (Or depth, the fullness of being, light) Impersonal & unknowable force
Who is jesus?
The Pleroma produced Jesus-Soter, Logos, or Christ
Why do agnostics deny the 1st testament?
They claim that the demiurge wrote it
How are you enlightened?
Through knowledge and magic
How do you discover virtue?
Through rituals and magic
Who fully developed the gnostic ideas into a complex system and spread them?
Valentinus of Alexandria (100-160AD)
What did simon believe and teach?
You can become a god and you dont have to follow any rules