Gnosticism and the Early Church's Response

Early Gnosticism
[title goes here] The discovery of the books like the Gospel of Mary, the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, and the Secret Gospel of John makes the Bible
look less like the sacred, holy texts of God the Father, and more like a film in the theaters. Chunks of the story that were shot but never put into the
final edit sit on the cutting room floor. Some parts even change the whole story. All religions do this sort of editing, both consciously and
unconsciously. Sometimes, holy books are just lost to time. Paper rots, stone erodes, and oral stories are forgotten, and that's all there is to it. In some
cases, however, the editing is done with knives, or with blood, or with political change. In the case of the parts of the Bible that didn't quite make it...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many of the themes and doctrines of this belief fit well into the values of young academics, especially the focus on the acquisition of knowledge to
reach salvation, as opposed to living without sin. However, at the birth of Christianity, there was a lot about the Gnostic doctrine that the layman found
disagreeable. Adding Gnostic text to the canonical Bible complicated the New Testament even further. It was also considered elitist, as a religion
based on knowledge during a time where most of the population was illiterate would be exclusionary and inaccessible. The main reason, however, that
the early Christianity we all now know and love survived over Gnosticism is that Gnosticism is individualistic, while Orthodox Christianity is more
community–centric. In ancient times as well as modern, it is easier to survive while working with a group, for the good of the group. This focus on
community also made organization easier, where church leaders could explain what the Bible says to the people, instead of having them read it
themselves and possibly reinterpret sections to make them disagree with the
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Similarities And Differences Between Gnosticism And...
Gnosticism is nearly as old as Christianity and some would argue very similar to Christianity in beliefs. However, there are distinct differences to
Gnosticism in beliefs, doctrines, and practices from, and practices of Christianity. Gnosticism had several key leaders during its early years, few of
whom we will discuss at further length later in this paper. There were also several key leaders of the early Christian church who denounced Gnosticism
for heresy and claimed that it was pseudo way to Christianity. Up until the 1900's, very little was known about the precise beliefs of Gnosticism, then
this changed with the discovery of the Nag Hammadi works which may have been written by Valentinus. Gnosticism is a more distinct religion than it
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Their idea of salvation is that God sent a "spiritual redeemer" to teach those humans that will listen where their true home is and that they can obtain
their salvation through self–knowledge. Gnostics held to the idea that Jesus was the "spiritual redeemer" sent from God to teach humans about their
true home. However they did not believe as Christians do that Jesus was the incarnate of God because they believed that all material is evil and that
God could not take on the form of a human who died and rose bodily. To justify that Jesus was indeed their spiritual redeemer they claimed that
whoever entered Jesus at his baptism left him before his death on the cross. So while Gnostics identify themselves as Christians many of their doctrines
are not biblically based.
Scholars have not found sufficient proof, but tradition holds that Simon Magus and Cerinthus were the founders of the Gnostic faith. Tradition also
holds that Paul on his second missionary journey encountered Simon and his beliefs of Gnosticism. Later we will discuss Paul's views of Gnosticism.
Cerinthus was a Jewish–Gnostic from Asia Minor who lived around 100 A.D. Gnosticism was perhaps the most well known in Alexandria because
from there haled Valentinus most famous of all Alexandrian Gnostics. Valentinus wrote his Letter to Rheginos in order to clarify the standpoint of
Gnostics in regards to redemption and that freeing of the spirit comes not by

Elias Ashmole, An English Alchemist
Elias Ashmole, an English alchemist during the late Renaissance wrote about the Philosopher's Stone in the Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum
Prolegomena (1652), and is described as a "Lightning Stone", a meteorite–like stone fallen from the sky, or the "Angelic Stone" as he called it:
Lastly, as touching the Angelical Stone, it is so subtle, said the aforesaid author, that it can neither be seen, felt, or weighed; but tasted only. The
voice of man ( which hears some proportion to these subtle properties) comes forth in comparison; the Air itself is not so penetrable, and yet (Oh
mysterious Wonder!) a Stone, that will lodge in the Fire to Eternity without being prejudiced. It has a Divine Power, Celestial and Invisible, above
the rest; and endows the possessor with Divine Gifts. It affords the Apparition of Angel, and gives a power of conversing with them, by Dreams and
Revelations; nor dare any Evil Spirit approach the Place where it lodges. because it is a Quintessence wherein there is no corruptible Thing; and where
the Elements are not corrupted, no Devil can stay or abide.
In Gnosticism, we also find the references to the divine imagination. In the Apocryphon of John, it quotes a lengthy section from the lost Book of
Zoroaster, which explains how the astral rulers or "powers" create each part of the material body of Adam and list their appropriate correspondences.
The text tells us, "And the one over the imaginaВtion, Oummaa." The Apocryphon of John itself is brimming with

What Was Paul 's Response Of The 1st Century Circumcision...
Armand Jeffris
Daise
RELG 204
May 2nd, 2016
Final Exam
1. Paul and Gnosticism.
What was Paul's response to the 1st–century circumcision controversy? What were the characteristic features (beliefs & practices) of Gnostic
Christianity? And in your judgment, can either viewpoint (or both) be considered 'orthodox' over against the other?
Throughout the early history of Christianity, disputes broke out over mosaic law, particularly in the mid first century when the issue of circumcision,
cutting off the foreskin of a man's penis, was a heavily debated and a recurring issue among different churches and members of the church. Many
Christians believed that following the mosaic law, which included the act of circumcision, was no longer required for salvation as having faith and
accepting Jesus as the messiah would be enough. Others, on the other hand, believed that requirements set forth in the mosaic law were still necessary
to be saved. These people were negatively branded with the name Judaizers (those who believed that all Christians should follow the Law of Moses),
and were often criticized for being discriminatory and elitist. A meeting was then held to discuss the whether the application of the mosaic law to new
members of the Christian community, particularly focusing on if those trying to convert, were obliged undergo circumcision to be accepted into, and
become part of, the Christian community. The apostolic decree of the council of Jerusalem moved away from its

The Beliefs Of Gnosticism And The Church's Response
Gnosticism
Gnosticism was one of the movements that grew out of Christianity. It would challenge the beliefs of the church in a way that would put the two at
odds. This case study will discuss the beliefs of Gnosticism and the Church's response to it using research from scholarly printed text and on–line
resources.
The term Gnosticism originates from the word gnosis, which means knowledge. It is a religious movement that became popular during the first and
second centuries. The school of thought behind the Gnostic movement has not been able to be traced to its exact origin. However, some of the
influences on this movement go as far back as the second and first centuries BCE. Among those influences would be the early treatises of the corpus
Hermeticum and the Jewish Apocalyptic writings. The greatest source for the movement came through the Platonic philosophy and the Hebrew
Scriptures (Moore). The movement is a controversial one with scholars being unable to put it in a definitive category. In one instance it is called "the
label for an ill–defined category" that is "under heavy criticism" (Olsen). A major problem with Gnosticism lies in the fact that there are very few
absolutes where questions and answers are concerned. This makes it problematic to have a dialogue that can bring everyone into agreement on the
subject. Clues can be drawn from the texts but even those prove to be both inconsistent and inconclusive. Many of the Nag Hammadi texts are some
form of

Simon As A Christ Figure Analysis
The Christ Figure
A Christ figure could be interpreted as an individual that is a manifestation or delegation of Jesus Christ. It is apparent to distinguish a Christ–like
human from someone of common characteristics by their alluring behavior. For instance, one could define this feature using appearance, personality,
and attitude. The Lord of the Flies is a novel that opens up with a plane departing a group of schoolboys from Britain that had been shot down over a
desolate island. Britain had been in the depths of a war and these school kids go to extreme in means of survival. Initially, the boys relished the idea of
not having any adults with them until they had realized they could not possibly live without them for long. Simon, one of the schoolboys on the island,
was introduced as a spiritual, kind–hearted kid.Acknowledging he possess these components, Simon appears detached from the rest of the boys. This
essay will demonstrate how the novel portrays Simon as a "Christ Figure" by the way he performs on the island, such as his seclusion and peaceful
nature, his appearance, his actions towards the boys, and his death.
Simon primarily is isolated from all that is occurring on the island. He portrays himself as one of the sane boys considering the rest had exposed
savage like demeanor from remaining on the island for an extended amount of time. " Simon paused. He looked over his shoulder as Jack had done at
the close ways behind him and glanced swiftly round to confirm

1 John Gnosticism
7. The author of 1 John was concerned about the conditions within the group, which related to false teachings of some Christians. Specifically, the
physical humanity of Jesus, his Incarnation "in the flesh", and the necessity of showing love for fellow believers (Harris, 2014, p.437). The book of 1
John may have been a response to protoGnostics, secessionists who were predecessors of the Gnosticism that challenged other forms of Christianity
from the second through the fifth centuries CE (Harris, 2014, p.437). Specifically, Gnosticism concentrated on a two–fold view of the cosmos, which
represented the belief that only the spirit was pure and good and that the physical world, the creation of a subordinate god, was permanently dishonest.

Analysis Of Christ Healing At The Pool Of Bethesda
Visual Analysis: Christ Healing at the Pool of Bethesda by Carl Bloch
The influence of Art is evident through many different contemporary means that alludes to any one time–period or era. The relevancy of such a
depiction is represented through the aspect or topic of religion. In the Christian religion, whether directly or indirectly many Christian artist have spread
faith over generations, drawing inspirations of the faith and incorporating them into their pieces. Carl Bloch a Danish painter illustrates the Christ's life
through paintings, as his work was displayed Frederiksberg Castle Church in current day Denmark. The paintings showed how Christ taught and healed
many people. Some of his paintings are alter pieces for the church. The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This reflects their intentions of following Christ. They are not following to help him, but find fault with him. Many of the people at the pool of
Bethesda are waiting for the disturbance of the water so that they may be healed of their illnesses by it miraculous powers. In the painting, Bloch's
use of color depicts the water as dirty implying that it may not have miraculous powers that the people believe it does. The elderly man had not been
able to bathe in these waters and be healed from his disease for thirty–eight years. When Christ heals this man, he does not help him to the water; he
tells him to rise and walk and he is healed. Christ is the one that the people should believe in to be healed. This shows that Christ being a perfect being
wants to help those in need and he is the one that has the power to perform miracles. Bloch effectively uses body position in the painting Christ Healing
at the Pool of Bethesda to add to the theme of Christ being there to help people.
In the painting Christ's position shows his willingness and ability to heal the elderly man. His left hand is lifted the shelter of cloth the man is under,
literally shows that Christ can lift the sick and heal them or can lift the burdens which befall them. Christ's right–hand gesture is inviting and shows his
love and willingness to help toward the elderly man. The elderly man's hands are starting to reach up towards Christ, trusting and accepting his help.

Orthodox Beliefs Of Gnosticism
What is Gnosticism Gnosticism is a religion that is derived from the 'orthodox' teachings the implies the belief of more than one God and the belief
that women are of equal authority to men. This belief is quite unpopular and unknown to the modern Christianity due to its downplay from the
orthodox believers. It is perceived as 'wrong' because the orthodox teachings were against everything the gnostic believers were. Gnosticism embraces
the idea of worshipping more than one God and the belief that there are female Gods meant to rule certain things. The whole world believed in it,
totally and completely––we have had many lives. The word 'gnostic' means 'knowledge' and comes from the Greek word 'gnosis'. The Gnostics
believed that they were privy ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They know that there is a God that will answer their prayers and bless them with inner peace. It is said that there are no secrets in the gnostic
beliefs because of the idea of everyone is meant to be one. The reasonable idea is that you keep progressing, that whatever wrongdoings have been
done are ultimately for a reason, nothing is random or pointless. One of the aeonial leaders whos name Sophia, the Goddess of Wisdom, is of great
importance to the Gnostic world view. In the course of her journeying, Sophia came to emanate from her own being a flawed consciousness, a being
who became the creator of the material and psychic cosmos, all of which he created in the image of his own flaw. This being, unaware of his origins,
imagined himself to be the ultimate and absolute God. Since he took the already existing divine essence and fashioned it into various forms, he is also
called the Demiurgos or "half–maker" There is an authentic half, a true deific component within creation, but it is not recognized by the half–maker
and by his cosmic minions, the Archons or "rulers". how the orthodox teachings strived to exclude the Gnostics teachings with a belief that declared
the existence of only one true God. She explains that the Gnostics would not accept that there was one God that created the world. The Gnostics
believed that there was a second God –a false creator– who the orthodox wrongly worshipped. The Gnostics proposed that God was a jealous being:
why would the all–mighty creator feel so threatened as to make himself the sole ruler and king of everything? Thus, the Gnostics felt there would be no
need to feel that powerful unless there were higher Gods. In contrast, orthodox stood by the idea of there being one and only God. The Gnostics realize
that Gnosticism does not care whether you are Lutheran, Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, or Buddhist. Gnosticism is an addition to your existing

The Hindu Faith is an indigenous theology and philosophy...
The Hindu Faith is an indigenous theology and philosophy of India spanning thousands of years. Reincarnation is the center of the Faith, the
teaching that all things become unified through living many lives. After each cycle of life, karma decides which caste or level of life a person will
next experience. Lying, cheating scumbags, who were greedy and did not assist the poor could be reincarnated upon death into a life of poverty and
illness. With a little hope, such a soul would learn a valuable lesson and the next time around would be a bit more comfortable. Some Hindus also
believe that a human can be reincarnated as an animal. Whether that is karma from a good or bad previous life, one can only guess.
The majority of Hindus live in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Atharvaveda – Verses that speculate on the earth–human connection and other philosophical ideas. Hymns throughout the Rigveda are referred to as
Samhitas. Brahmanas are textual verses that explain ritual prayers and relay instructional information. Aranyakas and Upanishads propose speculative
theologies and philosophical concepts. Long–practiced traditions and cultural behaviors determine the specific school of philosophy each Hindu will
follow. Six major schools of philosophy exist within Hinduism. Each school, or DarЕ›ana, is separate from the others, but they are all centered on
verses in the Vedas. Sage Kapila orally addressed the natural and spiritual worlds in the Samkhya School founded in the 6th century BC. It is the most
ancient Hindu school of Hindu thought. Nyaya is the school of logical thought introduced by Aksapada Gautama in approximately the 5th century BC.
The philosophy stresses the importance of knowledge and scientific theory. Vaisheshika, the atomic school, instituted by Sage Kannada in the 3rd
century BC, attempts to answer questions surrounding the creation of the universe and the connection between life sustaining substances and the soul.
The philosophy states that Brahman instills consciousness in all atoms, the smallest form of life. Sage Patanjalt, founder of the Yoga school in the 2nd
century BC, proposed that mastering Yoga could transform the physical and spiritual self. The Yoga school and Samkhya are closely related
philosophies.

The Women Of The Early Religion
Ruiwen Chu
Paul Tchir
10811862
Assignment 2
Nov 2, 2015
The Women States in the Early Religion The woman as a divine being and a consolidator of every belief that adheres to divinity is defined and
explained in both Karen Christina Lang's Images of Women in Early Buddhism and ChristianGnosticism and in Elaine Pagels' The Gnostic Gospels.
As analysis of religious beliefs, the works define the religious and cultural relevance of the woman in the origins of both Buddhism and Gnosticism, as
well as the effects that the patriarchal society has changed in this original belief system. Both literatures assert that the role of the woman in religion
serve the purpose of being the divine – or the evidence that Gnosticism is a symbol of the feminine, of celebrating the woman as the most significant
element that created the world view as well as beliefs. The traditions set forth by both Buddhism and Christian Gnosticism all adhere to the celebration
of the woman, her power, her purity, and her importance in shaping the world, and the men who have to purposely oblige to this belief and to create
the tradition which the community should follow. Hence, both Lang and Pagels identified that woman, in her own vestal powers, is the main exhibitor
of religious participation as well as the symbol of wisdom in humanity. Lang (1982) defined that women were subjected as the fall of humanity despite
being the original images that women has portrayed from Buddhist and Gnostic texts: a) woman is

The Gospel Of Judas '
The Gospel of Judas was discovered in the late 1970's near El Minya in Egypt however the gospel was not available to scholars until 2006 when
National Geographic published a translation of the Coptic text. The Gospel of Judas, believed to be written sometime in the second century, contains
sixteen chapters that document Jesus teaching spiritual matters and cosmology to Judas. In 2006, when the translation was released, National
Geographic came out and said that this text reveals Judas as the perfect gnostic where his act of betrayal is righteous and allows him to surpass all
other disciples. One of the major problems with the release of this translation was that scholars, like April DeConick, began realizing that some words
and phrases... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Before Rodolphe Kasser worked on preserving the text in 2004, the Tchacos Codex, the manuscript in which theGospel of Judas can be found, changed
hands many times. At one point the codex landed into the hands of an antiques dealer who wanted an enormous amount of money. However, what he
came to realize was that anyone who wanted the manuscript could not afford his price. At this point, the manuscript ended up in a safety deposit box in
New York until 2000. Eventually, a Swiss individual bought the codex and finally the manuscript was reconstructed by Kasser. In 2008, scholarship
began associating the final redactor of the gospel with Sethian Gnosticism. The Ohio fragments were photographed and reconstructed in 2009 leading to
much of the missing text being added. By 2011, the basic established theory was that the Gospel of Judas was a second century polemic Sethian Gnostic
text that was against the apostolic and Orthodox Christianity.
The opening of the Gospel of Judas finds the disciples offering thanks over bread in which Jesus laughs because they are offering thanks to their
'God.' Then Jesus asks them who he truly is but none could answer, except Judas. Judas said that he came from the realm of the immortal Barbelo but
he cannot say the name of the one who sent him. In which Jesus then tells Judas to separate from the others and he will reveal the mysteries of the
kingdom. When Judas comes to Jesus a vision in which he saw a

Women's Status : A Good Number Of Religion Scholars
Women 's Personage in Religion A good number of religion scholars would agree that some aspects and interpretations of religion have always been
controversial among the followers, as well as the experts. One of these controversial aspects is the role of women in religion. Although very differently,
Karen Christina Lang and Elaine Pagels both have tackled the issue in their articles, Images of Women in Early Buddhism and ChristianGnosticism,
and God the Father/God the Mother. The source of the articles is the Buddhist–Christian Studies. This is a source of the scholarly article devoted to
Buddhism as well as Christianity regarding their historical and contemporary areas of convergent. The differences and similarities between the
different views of Buddhist as well as Gnostic scripture are highlighted in these two sources. The first article, Images of Women is authored by Karen
Christina Lang. The second article is from the Gnostic gospel, which the second articles, which is a collection of about 54 ancient texts based on the
teachings of several spiritual leaders written between second and fourth century AD. Besides, the source provides different historical stories about the
ancient collections and the views of the different spiritual leaders. Elaine Pagels is the author of this second article known as God the Father/God the
Mother. This essay seeks to bring out the different perceptions about women involvement in religion, in light of the articles by Lang and

Corruption Of The Human Race
Megan Hinojos
Dr. Grinder
American Novel
1 December 2015
Corruption of the Human Race As one considers the past and present world, countless acts of violence, death, and sadness are revealed. Throughout
existence, the human race has participated in destructive ways that in some instances, eliminate all hope for goodness. Countries go to war, individuals
kill in the name of revenge, hatred, jealousy, and personal achievement. At times the brutality and sin displayed byhuman beings is overwhelming,
making the world seem resistant to any form of goodness. In addition to the horrific actions displayed by humans, the world is prone to natural
disasters. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and countless other catastrophes leave human life and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Human beings are formed by both the Demiurgos and the true god. For the most part, humans are unable to identify the goodness within themselves or
the "Divine Spark" which is instilled by the true god. The false creator and his Archons work to resist human acknowledgment of their divine elements.
Human superficiality lessens one's divine spark and further imprisons them to Earth. There are some beings who are able to recognize their divinity
and contain pnuema or elements of the true spirit which aid their release from Earth after death. (Filoramo, Mundik, PeМЃtrement)
Because of Earth's corrupted state, Gnostics justify the fact that the world is prone to suffering and endless violence due to human spiritual deficiency
and immorality. This deficiency and corruption is what leads to greed, violence, and death which are all present within the novel. McCarthy creates a
vicious world of suffering through the actions of Glanton and his gang. Taking place after the Mexican–American War, Glanton leads his men into the
newly gained land with the purpose of massacring the native Apache people. The violence performed by the gang is unimaginable, "the dead lay
with their peeled skulls like polyps bluely wet or luminescent melons cooling on some mesa of the moon" (174). In this reality all hope is lost. The
weak are massacred and the strong live on the kill another day. While talking to the gang of men the judge suggests, "Moral law is an invention of
mankind for the

Gnostic Writings Of Jesus
Gnostic Writings of Jesus
Gnostic writings of Jesus portray him as a heavenly redeemer made less of flesh than of spirit. The emphasis of Jesus' importance is not on his
physical humanness but rather, on his ability to show people the way to the kingdom. Jesus put on flesh in order to give people gnosis and reveal to
them where they come from and where they will eventually return. When it is time for Jesus to return to his heavenly home, he is crucified and
resurrected before he finally ascends. His body's lack of importance in some Gnostic texts gives this series of events a different connotation than other
versions of the story more common today. The Gnostic understanding of Jesus gives us better knowledge of what will happen to us... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
The All came forth from me and the All reached me" (G of Th., v.77). Many people, however, look at Christ's incarnation in different ways.
According to some Gnostic thought Christ comes to our earth and puts on Jesus' human body so that he may walk among us. "I visited a bodily
dwelling" (Ehrman, 231). Some of the Gnostic writings show Jesus as an earthly being with a heavenly nature, while others show Jesus as a
purely heavenly being with a lack of earthly context. In the Second Treatise of the Great Seth, Christ's incarnation was into Jesus' body in which
he cast out the original occupier (Franzmann, 75). Christ's arrival on earth in the Gospel of Thomas is described in a docetistic way, "I stood in
the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in flesh" (G. of Th, v.28). He is said to appear to them in flesh only in outward appearance
(Franzmann, 78). The Gospel of Truth describes Jesus as "a fruit of knowledge" that when eaten gives people gnosis (Ehrman, 161). This Gnostic
text shows Christ as a revealer. He is referred to as the book or logos, which reveals to us all that is unknown (Ehrman, 162). He put on the book,
was nailed to a tree and published the edict of the father on the cross (Ehrman, 162). These actions say that by dying on the cross, which in this text
is not in flesh, he is helping people receive gnosis. Many Gnostic views have implied a hatred of the body. The body is what is keeping people from
realizing their origin (G.

Swot Analysis Of A Sniper
Maintaining the Edge
In MARSOC's Assessment and Selection an instructor by the name of Joseph Morrison talked of the word 'Shinken' meaning "Razor Sharp." The
Japanese used this to describe the mindset of the individual Samurai due to their complete focus in honing their skills. He stated that this mindset and
commitment to staying "razor sharp" is paramount to special operations; yet this is where this organization tends to slide. For almost a decade,
MARSOC has earned its place in Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and has developed a unique training plan focused on the current mission.
This training covers a broad spectrum of what each Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT) will face on deployment and does well to improve the
effectiveness ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
During their work up they set one week aside in their DA phase for snipers and breachers break away to work on each skill. They then return for that
last two of weeks of the DA package and finish training with the rest of the company. This is a simple model and is practical for 1stMSOB to
implement; however, several things need to happen to make this effective. One portion is to establish a set sustainment checklist for both snipers and
breachers that is considered mission essential tasks based directly on what the Marine Special Operations School (MSOS) is teaching in it's courses.
The next component is putting responsibility on the Company Commander for all CSOs in his company to attend this training. Marine Special
Operations Forces (MARSOF) Pub 1 states that the "Commanders are responsible for all training" (MARSOF, 2011) conducted to enhance or maintain
the force. This level of responsibility ensures that the individuals form all the teams are pressed to attend training and that they meet all requirements
to be declared mission ready. Last is T–Cell must be involved to aid in the development and supervision of training. The T–Cell ensures all training is
conducted without favor and establishes a standard throughout the battalion. The three possible COAs

The Gnostic Gospels By Elaine Pagel
The Gnostic Gospels written by Elaine Pagel discusses the origins of the Christian faith and the true reasons behind some of the Christian's beliefs.
Pagel claims that the theological disputes between the Orthodox Church and Gnostics in the early stages of Christianity were largely motivated by the
political struggle for leadership of the religion. Orthodox Christians supported texts and interpretations to strengthen their goal which was to create an
organization of believers. Gnostics, who was not necessarily seeking authority over Christianity, were eventually overshadowed by the supremacy of
the Orthodox. Prior to the discovery of the artifact at Nag Hammadi in Egypt 1945 there were only had texts that support the Orthodox Christians
belief, now historians were able to fully evaluate the two groups in a new prospective. Some of the writings found in this newly discovered artifact
are believed to be the Gospel of Thomas and Mary Magdalene. Although Mary Magdalene does not have a book in the current bible, it is believed by
many gnostic Christians that Jesus came to her in spirit after his death and passed on to her the secret knowledge of enlightenment. The new gospels
that were discovered in Nag Hammadi doesn't emphases on the birth or death of Jesus as the current biblical gospels do, but focuses more on Jesus'
life. Each chapter is devoted to a major theological problem that divides the Orthodox from the Gnostic. Pagel makes a compelling case that theological
beliefs

Comparison Of Gnosticism In The Truman Show And The Da...
In modern day society, there are several ways in which the belief of Gnosticism is gradually being circulated throughout our culture. One popular way
that Gnostic concepts are being easily dispersed is through the film industry. In widespread movies such as The Matrix, The Truman Show and The Da
Vinci Code, the presence of underlying Gnostic themes is undeniable. While each of these movies do not encompassGnosticism as a whole, there are
certain Gnostic themes that are strongly represented within each of the movies. For example, in The Da Vinci Code there is a huge focus on the
existence of a divine feminine principle just as the Gnostics believe in their religion. This example shown here is the Gnostic theme that will be focused
on the most throughout this essay. By comparing the divine feminine principle within Gnostic texts with the feminine principle in the film The Da Vinci
Code, I will demonstrate the ways that the feminine principle in The Da Vinci Code relates with the one from Gnosticism. However, these divine
females must first be described ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After being denied the assistance of becoming impregnated by the First Principle, Sophia decided that she would create offspring on her own. Her
plan backfires on her and her offspring ends up stealing her light and creating the material world that we humans reside in today. This creator of the
material world is known as Ialtabaoth (Layton, Page 36). Now Sophia's central purpose is to descend down to the material world that her damaged
offspring created and remind the people of this world that the spiritual world is our real home. This process is what the Gnostics call "enlightenment"
and this is the only way to achieve true acquaintance with the spiritual realm. Sophia is the savior who bridges the gap between the human ignorance
and the Gnostic truth. She is the only hope for revealing the supposed spiritual

The Gnostic Gospels
The Gnostic Gospels
In this essay, I will discuss about the Gnostic Gospels. To discuss this matter,
I will divide this paper in a few key points. The first is what Gnosticism is. The second is the
Gnostic gospels miscellaneous literature and the last is the conclusion of the Gnostic gospels.
What is Gnosticism?
According to Bentley (1987): " Gnosis derives from Greek, and connotes "knowledge" or the "act of Knowing ". (On first hearing, it is sometimes
confused with another more Common term of the same root but opposite sense: agnostic, literally " not knowing ", A knower of nothing).The Greek
language differentiates between rational, Propositional knowledge, and the distinct form of knowing obtained not by Reason, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Repertoire or library owned Gnostic community in Egypt at that time was probably due to their opposition papers hidden. Gnosticism is esoteric
mystical teachings are then be lieved to be syncretism with Christianity by followers. Gnostic comes from the Greek gnosis, which means secret
knowledge revealed to man. Flow offers a Gnostic secret knowledge about the divine reality. Divine spark or a good seed that fell from a
transcendent reality to the two evil matters, and imprisoned in the human body. Awakened by secret knowledge, the divine spark that can come back
to the world where he actually comes that transcendent spiritual world. For the followers of the Gnostic, there is the highest good source called the
one divine mind which are spiritual in nature beyond this material nature is basically good. Divine mind lower radiated out from sources that are
multilevel. The last of the series of jets that is Sophia
(wisdom) that contains a desire to find out the source of the unknown goodness. This desire produces divine shadow evil or defective and is believed to
be the Demiurge created the uni verse. Divine spark that inhabit the man fell into the realm of matter to liberate humanity.
People assume Gnostic Demiurge as Yahweh of the Old Testament who created the heavens and the earth from a desire to maintain their humanity back
to its

The's Relationship With Abraxas
Olsen goes on to ask important questions when it comes to the Templars' relationship with Abraxas, such as why the Templars used the Abraxas seal
and did the Order use it like Lamy suggested? And if they did use it, was it utilized by an inner secret circle of Templars? Olsen also mentions a
mysterious text called the Levitikon, which is probably written in the early 1800's which presents Jesus as an initiate of the Egyptian higher mysteries,
just as Simon Magus is depicted in the Clementines. Further onward, Olsen writes (p. 123): In 1877 a German Masonic specialist named Merzdorf
claimed to have found, among other Masonic manuscripts, two Latin "Rules" of Templars (purported to date from the 13th Century). One was the Rule
for the "chosen brothers," and the other for the "consoled brothers." The first Rule describes the church as the "Synagogue of Anti–Christ," and
stipulates an elect reception ceremony (involving various ritual kisses––one on the male member––and including readings from open verses from the
Koran). The latter Rule implies strongly the Templars shared the doctrines of the Cathars, including that of the "consolamentum," or mystical baptism.
Still authenticity of these has yet to be determined. What is the most tantalizing of what Oslen is saying here is that there is a Medieval text from
1240 called The Book of the Baptism of Fire which was transcribed by Robert Standford, the Grand Master in England. In this text, it talks about more
about these

Gnosticism And Western Esotericism
Stephan A. Hoeller defined Gnosticism as a system of 'teachings based on gnosis: the knowledge of transcendence arrived at by way of interior
intuitive means'. The Greek words gnosis is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as 'a special knowledge (or wisdom) of spiritual mysteries'. An
individual or group that possesses gnosis as a part of Gnosticism is labelled with the Greek word Gnostic. 'Historical context indicates that Gnosticism'
'was originally a Jewish esoteric (secret) spirituality that assumed a Christian form after the coming of the Christian dispensation'.
Gnosticism is a significant example of Western Esotericism. Esotericism (Greek root esЕЌteros meaning inner) is the inner gnosis held by a limited
circle of people, whose aims are individual salvation through gaining gnosis. Gnostic principles are explained through myths, just like esoteric gnosis
is. Gnosticism in Western Esotericism originated in the first century of the common era. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
While orthodox Christians believe that, through his suffering and death by crucifixion, Jesus Christ performed his work of salvation from sin for all
the followers, Gnostic Christians believe that they themselves perform work towards their own salvation from ignorance through gaining gnosis and
sacraments (salvific mysteries) from the guidance of Jesus Christ (referred to as Messenger of Light and Logos (Greek word for 'reason') of God).
Hence, Orthodox Christians believe in following ethics and moral codes in honor of Jesus Christ's sacrifices in order to join Jesus in heaven, while
Gnostic Christians believe in revelation of inner gnosis with guidance from their Messenger of Light in order to transcend their earthly

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Simon is one of the major characters in the "Lord of the Flies" novel. Simon's character seems to live by what is right as to the rest of the boys on the
island. There are many reasons and examples in the Lord of the Flies that have to do with Simon being compared to Jesus Christ.
One reason Simon is called the Christ figure in Lord of the Flies is that he always seems to commit to many selfless acts just like the Christ did.
Simon, he chooses to stay and help Ralph build huts then to go play with the other boys. Ralph gave Simon a compliment by saying "Simon. He
Helps. All the rest rushed off. He's done as much as I have". The author also shows that Simon is caring when "Simon pulled off the choicest from the
endless, outstretched hands". Jesus Christ was very well known to have been very caring and kind with children. Simon's carness and unselfishness
showed that Simon was being a Christ figure.
Another reason Simon is a Christ like figure is that he has mystical qualities like Christ. A lot of things that Simon does are either very unusual or
supernatural. Simon tells Ralph, "I just think you'll get back alright," even though he believes that he, himself might not get off the island alive.
Simon predicts his own death; just like Jesus. Also after Jesus dies, his body magically disappears. Simon was killed during the so called, "ritual
dance" so that all the other boys will live. All the boys on the island killed Simon, but many of them were told that it wasn't really

The Pros And Cons Of Gnosticism
The Gnostic view is one of the issues that have been debated among Christian and nonchristian scholars. This is because a different school of thought
has risen in the past concerning Gnostic teachings and the negative effects it poses to the gospel truth.
Many who oppose gnostic teachings tend to tag them as heretic movement while gnostic teachers believe that their teaching is base on cosmetic facts.
There are many scholars in the past that have oppose gnostic views because they see it as an obstacle in preaching the gospel. One of the early
scholars that oppose gnostic ideas is Ireanus. He believes that despite the writings of the early Church Fathers, most of whom were fanatics with an
axe to grind theology see gnostic belief as an enemy of the true gospel. Ireanus used the term 'herectic ' which was not universally used by early
church fathers. This is because gnostics themselves were comprised of diverse groups which did not have a uniform set of beliefs because of their
diversity. Because of their diversity and lack of having a define theory on some of their views, one is posed with the difficult task of identifying the
main aim of the movement.
Furthermore, the research intends to discuss or define the term Gnosticism, it will also look at its origin and how it relates to Christianity.
What is Gnosticism?
The term 'Gnostic' has traditionally been referred to the various groups which flourished in the early centuries of the Common Era and which stressed
the

The Gospel Of Judas, Tell Judas
A Gospel is a religious document that describes Jesus' life from when he was born, until death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus, himself, had
12 disciples, whom advised him and later grew to the name, 'The 12 Apostles'. Those of whom Jesus' call his Apostles (Students) were: Simon (Named
Peter), Andrew ('Peters' brother), James (Son of Zamebee), John (James' brother), Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (The Tax Collector), James
(Son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (The Cananean) and lastly,Judas Iscariot. Of these Twelve Apostles, one presumably betrayed of lord. His name,
Judas Iscariot. The Gospel of Judas, tell Judas' accounts of what is going on through his point of view. It has been lost through time. But has been
found. 1,600 years later in the caverns of Egypt.
Gnostic Church's are the religious
Throughout all the other gospels, they claim that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ to the Romans for a mass sum, of 30 pieces of silver. Now that
may not sound like too much now, but back then in 33AD, it was a large amount. Judas was a politician. Who played both Jews and romans to use
Jesus as leader of the revolution against the roman empire, in which was doubled politic by Jews and the Rabbi and they get rid of both Jesus and
Judas in one place. Once they were united, Judas laid a kiss upon Jesus', cheek, telling the Romans; whom were watching, that this is Jesus Christ. The
Romans didn't believe Jesus to be the man whom he'd heard stories about.

Essay about The Gospel of Thomas
Discovered in the twentieth century, The Gospel of Thomas was founded by peasants that were digging for fertilizer close to the village of Nag
Hammadi, Egypt. The peasants revealed a container containing thirteen leather–bound manuscripts that were buried in the fourteenth century. The
container contained fifty–two tractates that represented "heretical" writings of Gnostic Christians. Dated back to 200 A.D., there was not much known
about the Gospel of Thomas besides that there were only three small fragments from Oxyrynchus. The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of literary
works that contains 114 'opaque sayings' of Jesus that were collected and written down by St. Didymus Jude Thomas, but nobody knows if St. Didymus
Jude Thomas wrote the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, the Gospel of Thomas includes salvation by secret knowledge, polytheism, disregard for the bodily appetites, and the thought of a blissful
teaching Christ who is not necessarily human. It is likely related to Sethian Gnosticism. However, "Gnosticism" is largely an umbrella term for the
beliefs of several movements in the post–Apostolic era that sought out special knowledge. Gnosticism is a term that is used for spiritual practices and
religious beliefs. This term was very common for early Christians, as well as Zoroastrianism, Hellenistic Judaism, and Neoplatonism. The discovery of
this Gospel, which was founded in 1945, along with the rest of the Nag–Hamaddi library is very revealing of certain gnostic groups that we previously
had less knowledge of. We knew of Gnosticism from other texts and witnesses to them (Irenaeus) before. However, now there are many more source
texts. There is also a difference between Gnostics and Orthodox Christianity. The Old Testament prophecies were described as fulfilled by Jesus. That
is that Jesus was explained in the canonical Gospels as the Messiah. The Canonical Gospels are highly Jewish in their language and references. They
were written by Hebrews. The Gnostic Gospels seem to be ignorant of the fact of the Jewish nature of Christ. They basically use His name but attach it

The Resurrection Is The Redemption From Sin Through Christ...
According to theologian Maja Weyermann, "the resurrection is the redemption from sin through Christ and therefore the nullification of death." In his
biblical epistles to the Corinthians and the Romans, the apostle Paul considers how the acts of Jesus Christ purge humanity of the previous exploits of
Adam, bringing salvation and life to all where there was previously sin and death. The initial parallels that Paul draws between Adam and Jesus Christ
became the building blocks by which church fathers developed their own soteriology and theories of recapitulation. The most famous of which is St.
Irenaeus of Lyons, whose writings developed an early understanding of Christian theology in the late second century. Drawing on Paul's biblical
writings, Irenaeus further developed his theory of atonement, or recapitulation, that focuses on the idea of a "do–over" that undoes previously
committed sin. Based on the theological assertions made by Paul and Irenaeus, recapitulation in the greater doctrine of salvation is achieved through
Christ as the second Adam, the VirginMary as the second Eve, and the Church as the second Eden.
The central claims concerning recapitulation are found in the Pauline epistles of First Corinthians and Romans in the New Testament. The first biblical
discussion of Paul's doctrine of salvation is found in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul claims, "For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of
the dead came also through a human being. For just as in

The Discovery Of The Traditional Orthodox Form Of...
Gnosticism can be defined as the mystical perception of knowledge and was considered to be a heresy that was condemned by those who followed the
traditional Orthodox form of Christianity. In the second century the movement of Gnostic Christianity occurred; it is also referred to as a Christian sect
(Carus). Though people viewed Gnostic Christianity as a sect, it has never been denied that Gnosticism is older than Christianity and the relation and
importance between the two groups have never been acknowledged (Gnostic Discoveries). Since the discovery of texts found at Nag Hammadi which
presents Jesus as a Gnostic teacher, the connection between the two groups has grown exponentially, and Paul Carus the author of The Monist even
believes that Christianity is a branch of Gnosticism. Marvin Meyer a professor of Bible and Christian studies, has found that the discovery of the
Gnostic texts allows scholars to get a deeper understanding of Christian teachings and relate the findings to biblical texts (Gnostic Discoveries). It is
said that Gnosticism formed when early Christians did not agree with the Old Testament and that Gnosticism was another way for them to understand
Jesus' teachings, which is why there are differences between Orthodox beliefs and Gnostic beliefs (Mansager). In Gnosticism, Jesus, instead of being
looked at as a human, is only looked at as a divine being and the divine being presents the key to reaching salvation. In line 39 of the Gospel of Thomas
it is

Docetism In Gnosticism
One of the early heresies was Docetism, which held that Jesus only "seemed" human. They based this belief on an assumption that God can't become
flesh. Docetism treats John 1:14 as figurative where it states that the Word was made flesh. Part of their reasoning for this belief can be attributed to
the view of flesh as sinful which would result as a problem for God, who is divine, to become "imprisoned" inside. However, Jesus was nailed to a cross
and real blood flowed from his hands and side that is proof that Jesus was in fact human. In Gnosticism it was believed that the trinity was three hidden
spiritual realities. They tended to think in the form of good against bad with the spirit being good and the physical being bad. It can be confusing ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The problem with the description from Apollonarius is that it implies that Jesus is just a flesh suit that God is controlling like a puppet. To be
fully human Jesus must possess not only a flesh body but also a human mind and soul. Nestorius taught that Jesus was two persons with two
natures. In our modern definition this would be schizophrenic or twins. Nestorius viewed Jesus as God and man working together but this goes
against the idea that Jesus is God. It simply has Jesus just working with God. Eutyches takes the approach of monophysitism and claims that Jesus
has one nature because he wanted to avoid separating Jesus into two different entities. His view makes Jesus a hybrid of God and man. Finally to
try and put an end to the debates the Council of Chalcedon was held in AD 451. They set four parameters to define how the church understands
Jesus that included Jesus as fully God, Jesus as fully man, Jesus as one person, and Jesus having two natures. This was good because instead of the
focus being on what was wrong the parameters focused on what was right. The parameters also work in harmony with the Biblical description of the
TrinityAugustine's life pursuit was after pleasure and delight. He was not only about seeking joy for himself but also for

Examples Of Christianity In Frankenstein's Monster
Benevolence, charity and justice are values that come to my mind when I think about Christianity but I normally do not think about them when I am
describing a monster which is for me stereotypical a horrible, brutal and wretched creature. But how can Frankenstein's Monster, which he creates in the
novel Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley in the year 1818, still be a Christian monster? By connecting some of the Monster's qualities with typical
Christian qualities, I will argue that this Monster embodies a plurality of Christian qualities, although they do not prevent him from his brutal revenge.
Frankenstein's Monster knows a lot about Christianity because it reads Paradise Lost by Milton which records the events of Genesis. Here the
creature "learned a lesson about man's place in the order of things", as Robert M. Ryan argues (152). After this lecture, Frankenstein's Monster knows
that there is a creator, a God who cares about his creatures' wellness with benevolence and love. The knowledge of the existence of a God and of
Christianity alone does not automatically make the creature a Christian, but it is the basis for him adopting the Christian ideology. The next step on the
Creature's way to Christianity is to transfer its ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This is shown in the "practical charity demonstrated in the Monster's humble, anonymous services to the DeLacey family" (Ryan 152). Charity is the
most important Christian value as we see in the Bible. Here Jesus answered to the question which would be the most important commandment, that you
should love your next like you love yourself (1133). And so, by collecting wood for his needy, beloved friends (Shelley 77) or clearing the snow in the
night (Shelley 79), Frankenstein's Monster performs one of the most basic, but also most important Christian values, probably even without knowing

How To Write An Essay About A Boy
The novel About A Boy, by Nick Hornby, depicts the life of a social outcast named Marcus, who is sheltered from the outside world by his mother,
and is just trying to be accepted by society. While on the path to achieving this goal, Marcus obtains a newly found self knowledge, within himself, as
a direct result of the obstacles and conflicts he faces. There are many obstacles which exemplify how Marcus obtains self knowledge about himself; one
was between him and his mother, Fiona. Fiona was very controlling over Marcus' life, and the day–to–day activities in which he engaged. For instance,
she chose which type of music he will listen to and what style of clothing he will wear, these controlling factors over Marcus' life caused him to ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Also, the incident of Fiona's attempted suicide assisted Marcus in realizing that even though it may seem to him that he is an alien to the everyday
societal changes of the world, he understands that what his mother had done for him in the past was beneficial to him now, because he apprehends that
she knows what is best for him and what will be most beneficial to him. Acquiring this newly found self knowledge aids Marcus further on his path to
self discovery. Another ordeal that is represented in thenovel About A Boy is the ongoing conflict between an individual and his peers. Similarly,
this continuous conflict is emphasized greatly within the relationship between Marcus and his fellow classmates. As a result of Marcus veering off
of the many, absurd rules of society, he is bullied by his classmates and picked on everyday at school. Consequently, Marcus seeks refuge, from the
abuse he endures daily, by befriending fellow classmates Nicky and Mark. After Marcus does acquire a friendship with these two boys, he is
abandoned because he was also causing them to be bullied. Marcus does however meet someone like him, who doesn't follow the laws set by society.
Ellie befriends Marcus after multiple encounters with him at the vending machine, as a result of this friendship; Ellie and Marcus are arrested while on
their way to Cambridge. Marcus then realizes that his life cannot be based entirely on making impetuous decisions, but more so on analyzing the event

The Beliefs Of Gnosticism And The Church's Response
Gnosticism was one of the movements that grew out of Christianity. It would challenge the beliefs of the church in a way that would put the two at
odds. This case study will discuss the beliefs of Gnosticism and the Church's response to it using research from scholarly printed text and on–line
resources.
The term Gnosticism originates from the word gnosis, which means knowledge. It is a religious movement that became popular during the first and
second centuries. The school of thought behind the Gnostic movement has not been able to be traced to its exact origin. However, some of the
influences on this movement go as far back as the second and first centuries BCE. Among those influences would be the early treatises of the corpus
Hermeticum and the Jewish Apocalyptic writings. The greatest source for the movement came through the Platonic philosophy and the Hebrew
Scriptures (Moore). The movement is a controversial one with scholars being unable to put it in a definitive category. In one instance it is called "the
label for an ill–defined category" that is "under heavy criticism" (Olsen). A major problem with Gnosticism lies in the fact that there are very few
absolutes where questions and answers are concerned. This makes it problematic to have a dialogue that can bring everyone into agreement on the
subject. Clues can be drawn from the texts but even those prove to be both inconsistent and inconclusive. Many of the Nag Hammadi texts are some
form of Christian texts,

Gnosticism : A Diverse Set Of Beliefs
Gnosticism Interpretations Gnosticism is a diverse set of beliefs. Gnosticism reflects my current understanding of seeking God through gnosis or
"secret knowledge". The many interpretations that display the definition of Gnosticism makes it unclear on which one is actually the correct one. In
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels, the Gnostics are seen as heretics for not following the religion of the Orthodox Christians. While the Orthodox
Christians seek God through his word, the Gnostics seek God through the experience of one's own self. The Gnostic Scriptures by Bentley Layton,
displays Gnosticism through collections of gnostic scriptures and figures. Through imagery, aeons and the high creator are placed with each other to
form realms in "The Secret Book According to John" reflecting the book of Genesis. "The Secret Book According to John" is like a backstory of
Genesis only with the creations in more specific and complex details. However, through both explanations of each book, Gnosticism does not comprise
of just one true belief, but many beliefs put together to define its content. According to The Gnostic Gospels, the debates between the Orthodox
Christians (Catholic Church) and the Gnostics form from the belief of who represents the true leadership of Christianity. Gnosticism is seen as a form
of heresy according to the Orthodox Christians. The Orthodox Christians see anything that doesn't follow their beliefs as an incorrect way of
worshipping God. The Orthodox

Gnosticism Essay
Gnosticism, which was viewed as a threat to early Christian beliefs can be defined as the "thought and practice especially of various cults of late pre
Christian and early Christian centuries distinguished by the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis (King, p.5)."
Besides the dictionary's condensed definition summarizing Gnosticism, "Gnosticism" is a much more complex belief composed of numerous myths
defining humans and God and viewed as an ancient Christian heresy. Gnosticism is rather a term invented in the early modern period to aid in defining
the boundaries of normative Christianity. Yet, it has been mistakenly come to be thought of as a distinctive Christian heresy or seen as a religion in its
own ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One of the most important characteristics is mythopeia. Mythopoeia is, "the construction of elaborate myth through which revealed gnosis is
transmitted (Birger, p. 14, 17). The Gnostics saw these myths as a divine revelation, which gave more expressions to their beliefs when thought. This
also meant that each teacher would tell a story in their own words.
There were a handful of teachers who taught Gnosticism. They had many beliefs and teachings where they were seeking to address their ideas and
problems. Some of these teachers included: Simon the Magician, Basilides, Valentinus, and Marcion.
Simon the Magician is introduced in the Bible as, "This man is the divine power known as the Great Power". This statement is showing Simon as
God by saying he is the great power. No one really knows exactly when Gnosticism became a movement. Orthodox writers believe that Simon was
the one to begin this movement. He is the first prophet to be known to us by name. He thought that the Garden of Eden, exodus from Egypt, and the
crossing of the Red Seas were allegories. He believed in Jesus. Some believe he may have been the Simon mentioned in Acts 8: 9–24. He wanted to
buy the Holy Spirit from those that believe. Orthodox writers like Justin

The Rise Of Christianity And Christianity
Christianity began its succession into the most dominant worldwide religion after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. "We heard Him say, 'I will
destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days build another made without hands." Upon Jesus' death and resurrection, he completed this
task setting forth the development of Christianity. Since Jesus left no formal authoritative power, organization, or agreed upon scriptures, a wide
variety of sects gained popularity in the development of Christianity. Most of these sects were later deemed as heretic, one of the most notable being
Gnosticism. Gnosticism was a dualist religion believing the material world evil and the invisible spirit realm good. This belief obligated Gnosticism to
follow Docetic interpretations. Docetism is the belief that Jesus was never truly man but rather a divine from the spirit world. All forms of Christianity,
however, believe Jesus is son of God sent as humanity's savior from damnation. Docetism, along with other aspects of Gnosticism, drove other
Christians condemn Gnosticism as heresy. Gnosticism, however, is more comparable to Canonical Christians than realized. Specifically, the distinction
between Docetism and strict Canonical belief is not only insignificant but also justifiable due to Canonical contradictions surrounding Jesus' existence.
Canonical Christians' belief on Jesus' time on earth is exhibited clearly by The Gospel of John, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among

Marcion Against Gnosticism
Marcion also mimicked the church by having his own bishops and a similar system to the church. Because of these things, the church had to recover
quickly by meeting the challenge that was created. Although the Marcion church did challenge the Christian church, its beliefs were very similar to the
Gnostic beliefs in that they believed that the Old Testament was not scripture and should not be treated as such.
Up until the mid to late 1900's the knowledge about Marcion and the Gnostics was only known through the heresiologists. (Gonzales 1984, 70)
Heresiologists – Christian writers that argued against Gnosticism and its tenets. In 1945 a large collection of Gnostic writings were discovered in
Egypt; they included the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Truth of Valentinus, a leading Gnostic teacher.
The response of the heresiologists to the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He believed that Jesus was who He said He was and everything that we know in the Bible about Jesus was fact. These faith systems that were
teaching things contrary to what was known in the scriptures were false and needed to be exposed for what they were. The belief that these other
religions were going to have a negative impact on the church at large likely caused Irenaeus to expose the differences to protect the scriptures that he
held dear. Gnostics and Marcionites had many similar beliefs, but the Gnostics believed that their secret knowledge (knowledge that was only
available to select persons) was what provided them with salvation and left others who did not have this knowledge to themselves and their evil ways
which will lead them to the eternal destruction. This knowledge was the source that assisted them in escaping from the prison of the body. Without the
knowledge they would not be able to escape and could be destroyed with the body when it was

The Label Of Gnostic Gospel
The label "Gnostic gospel" was used for the revelation dialogues between Jesus and his disciples, which form a prominent group of Gnostic writings.
Titles of the form "gospel according to ..." became attached to the canonical Gospels in order to distinguish another writing in a collection; this was a
development in the mid to late second century. In addition, when copying collections of writings, scribes had to assign titles to individual Gnostic
works. Based on how rarely "gospel" appears as a title, one would have to conclude that Gnostics had little interest in the specification. Gnosticism is a
religion that differentiates the evil god of this world from a higher, more abstract God revealed by Jesus Christ. It is a religion that ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Once attributions with no basis in the works themselves are discounted, the number of Gnostic texts entitled "gospel" shrinks even further. The
Valentinian entries, the Gospel of Truth and the Gospel of Philip, have no ties to the genre "gospel." Valentinian teachers interpret Gospels that are
common property of the larger Christian community. In the remaining cases, both the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Judas have an incipit that
employs a different literary designation. A later scribe took the apostle 's name from the incipit to create the title. The opening pages of the Gospel of
Mary have been lost. Her prominence in the second half of the text may have provided a scribe with the name for a title. None of the Gnostic tractates
entitled "gospel" initially had that designation.
Used in the oral sense for preaching a message about salvation revealed through the coming of Jesus, it is the content of their soteriology, not the term
that distinguishes Gnostics from other Christians. Used in the mid–second century forward for written accounts of Jesus and his teaching commonly
circulated among Christians, there is no special Gnostic Gospel. Gnostic teachers rely on the range of gospel traditions being circulated among
Christians, with no greater tendency than believers to exploit apocryphal Gospels. In addition, the poetics of the Gnostic universe push its teachers
away from imaginative engagement with the historical or physical world such as might produce additional

Irenaeus Of Lyon : A Influential Theologian
Irenaeus of Lyon was a very influential theologian during the second century. From his defining works changing Christians views on Gnosticism, to
his letters concerning Roman priest and controversial topics, Irenaeus began to change the view of Christianity. Irenaeus was born in Smyrna, Asia
Minor around 120 AD (Olson, 68). He was tutored by the famous Polycarp, who learned from the Apostle John. During his life, Irenaeus spent much
of his time writing to different leaders as well as writing to Christians, as a whole, dealing with the issue of Gnosticism. Adversus Haereses and Proof
of the Apostolic Preaching are two works, by Irenaeus, that we have been able to receive complete transcript of (Poncelet, 2016). Irenaeus also has
many works that we only have partial transcripts of. For example, On the Subject of Knowledge, On the Ogdoad, "a treatise on schism," and letters
to the Pope Victor, are a few of the partial transcripts of Irenaeus works (Poncelet, 2016). Irenaeus death was one that has a twist of mystery. One
thing, known for sure, is he was killed during a Christian massacre in Lyons, during the year 202. What remains a mystery is the manner in which he
died. According to Olson, "he was counted a martyr and saint by both Greek–speaking Christians of the East and Latin–speaking Christians of the
Western half of the Roman Empire" (70). Irenaeus life was one of significance, especially when it came to his writings on Gnosticism and the theory of
Redemption.

The Colossian Heresy Essay example
The city of Colossae
Located on the South bank of the Lycus River in the province of Phrygia stood Colossae. Before the Christian era, Colossae was a principle city in
the Lycus Valley . Part of a major trade route in Asia minor from Ephesus to Miletus, the city was most known for its production of textiles, especially
its purple wool . With other large cities such as Laodicea and Hierapolis, this was a well–populated and high business area in the Lycus Valley. Yet,
with changes in the road system, Laodicea became a more important trade city than Colossae. And though once a city of great prominence, by A.D. 61,
Colossae had suffered a great deal. An earthquake shook the city that year, Eusebius writes, and had disappeared from the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
" In fact, Baird goes on to question whether there was a heresy to even be considered at all ! While this might seem a reluctant view of the situation
in Colossae, J.B Lightfoot offers an interesting proposal to the situation. While he does recognize the Judaizing and early Gnostic influences (which
will soon be discussed), he believes there to be a single group or culprit responsible for the religious heresy that is taking place . Lightfoot goes on to
defend his theory with the ideas that the epistle shows no traces of multiple opponents being faced, and that in historical criticism the multiplication of
persons is needless and should be downplayed . While this theory would also seem to be solid, it would still seem that there is more than a single
movement taking place in Colossae.
Inside the heresy
In an interesting synopsis, William Barclay gives a descriptive list of what the false teaching was like. He states that some of the traits were :
– A beguiling seduction
– To be considered philosophy rather than religion
– Based on human tradition
– Turned religion into human regulations
– Having a legalistic spirit
– Issued observances of holidays and festivals
And while this may not be an all inclusive list, it does lead into the next

Images Of Women In Early Buddhism And Christian Gnosticism...
How do you define women? The perspectives from the past are way different from what we think nowadays. Although there may have some religious
and cultures degrade women, the social status of women is becoming higher and higher. Back to the past, the social status of women was very low.
They could not even go to school or work outside. According to "Images of Women in Early Buddhism and ChristianGnosticism", Karen Christina
Lang uses many Buddhist and Gnostic scriptures to examine how people see women in the past. Moreover, Elaine Pagels' The Gnostic Gospel uses
gospels to express the relationship between Jesus, the Mother and Father of Jesus and also the definition of God. These two articles have different
sources and titles, but they ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Lang examines that if a women wants to involve in the community, she would have to change her mind to man. Lang also mentions that Buddhist
thinks that the highest goddess is neither a male nor female (Lang 95–103). What she wants to argue is that women should not be tied with sexuality
and impurity. Somehow, woman is equal to man because to become a highest goddess, there should not have a gender problem.
On the other hand, Pagels focuses more on the gender of God. Pagels rises the question of is God masculine, and in the article, she uses different
gospels to conclude that the God in Christians' eyes is gathering the finest things of man and woman; which in the article, she mentions the
"bisexual power". She also uses Jesus' birth as an example of divine power. As it is well known that Jesus' mother, Mary is virgin birth, in this way,
people believe that this is a combined power of "the Father of All" and the "Holy Spirit". Pagels writes about the equal treatment for women in some
Gnostic beliefs. She uses the birth of Jesus and the words of Jesus to bring up the equality social status of women in the early centuries. For example,
on earth, Jesus has a father, Joseph, and a mother, Mary, which explains that man and woman are equally important to the world. Even in divine
heaven, Jesus also has the Father of Truth as father and Holy Spirit as mother too (Pagels 48–69). Pagels uses

Gnosticism and the Early Church's Response

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Laura Olson

More from Laura Olson (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Gnosticism and the Early Church's Response