Post by Aaron on Mar 27, 2007 14:00:23 GMT -5
If you were to take a moment and Google the word "Gnostic", you would come up with 3,000,000 hits. The word gnosis and the philosophy and beliefs around it have been around for thousands of years, with a resurgence in the 20th century, so one would not have a problem finding a gnostic community to become a part of if one so chose.
So why start a new community? The main reason is that Gnosticology is NOT a gnostic religion. Gnosticology is its own animal, drawing from many religious and spiritual traditions but not only those recognized as gnostic. Gnosticiologists are skeptical of those traditions as much as we are humbled by them.
The Gnosticologist doesn't have a tradition or dogma. Gnosticology doesn't claim to have any answers, either. If you want to be a follower and be led, then there are many churches out there you may want to look at, but Gnositicology isn't about following other people, but about leading through study, research, and actions.
Gnosticology will not tell you how to believe, but will ask you why you believe the way you do.
Gnosticology will not tell you how to reach gnosis/enlightenment, but will ask you to explain whay gnosis/enlightenment means to you.
Gnosticology will ask the seemingly innocuos question: What is enlightenment/gnosis, and how do you know that? Have you attained enlightenment? How do you know this? How do you reach enlightenment? How do you know this?
It might seem that Gnosticology is advisarial of gnosis/enlightenment, but it is quite the contrary. Presumably historical accounts of the Buddha and Jesus and others describe being saved, or attaining gnosis, or enlightenment, as a life altering experience that provides the person with insight into the universe that cannot be adequately expressed in words. Enlightenment is said to erase suffering and bring the enlightened to a union with absolute love. This is great! But in the modern world, I have yet to find that person who has attained this stage of development. Is it possible? Gnosticology endeavors to find out.
So why start a new community? The main reason is that Gnosticology is NOT a gnostic religion. Gnosticology is its own animal, drawing from many religious and spiritual traditions but not only those recognized as gnostic. Gnosticiologists are skeptical of those traditions as much as we are humbled by them.
The Gnosticologist doesn't have a tradition or dogma. Gnosticology doesn't claim to have any answers, either. If you want to be a follower and be led, then there are many churches out there you may want to look at, but Gnositicology isn't about following other people, but about leading through study, research, and actions.
Gnosticology will not tell you how to believe, but will ask you why you believe the way you do.
Gnosticology will not tell you how to reach gnosis/enlightenment, but will ask you to explain whay gnosis/enlightenment means to you.
Gnosticology will ask the seemingly innocuos question: What is enlightenment/gnosis, and how do you know that? Have you attained enlightenment? How do you know this? How do you reach enlightenment? How do you know this?
It might seem that Gnosticology is advisarial of gnosis/enlightenment, but it is quite the contrary. Presumably historical accounts of the Buddha and Jesus and others describe being saved, or attaining gnosis, or enlightenment, as a life altering experience that provides the person with insight into the universe that cannot be adequately expressed in words. Enlightenment is said to erase suffering and bring the enlightened to a union with absolute love. This is great! But in the modern world, I have yet to find that person who has attained this stage of development. Is it possible? Gnosticology endeavors to find out.
