Gnosticism throughout History

Gnosticism, a spiritual and philosophical movement well known among ancient scholars, has left an indelible mark on the history of religious and philosophical thought. Its influence extends from the early centuries of the Christian era to the present day, manifesting itself in various forms and currents whenever Divinity deems it necessary to propel souls toward awakening and self-realization of the individual’s ethical principles and values.

Origins and basic characteristics

The term “Gnosticism” derives from the Greek “gnosis,” which in turn means “knowledge.” However, this knowledge does not refer to intellectual information, but rather to an intuitive and experiential understanding of spiritual reality, which is accessible to the sincere and intrepid seeker who yearns to know…

The main characteristics of Gnosticism are:

• Energetic Bipolarity: A distinction between a transcendent, all-good God and a creator of the material world, or demiurge, considered imperfect or evil. Nowadays and in the light of contemporary Gnosis, this antagonism of forces and their defined polarizations in the culture of peoples is very marked. Politics is an example of this.
• Complex Cosmology: The belief in a hierarchy of invisible, immaterial beings, often called “archons,” who rule the material world and hinder access to divine knowledge. The reality of other parallel worlds with their respective humanly circles is a highly revolutionary idea that has been proven true by the technological advances of the 21st century.
• Salvation through knowledge: Self-knowledge, or individual intuitive knowledge resulting from the practices and assimilation of principles, is the key to the liberation of the soul from the material world and its continual returns to the human realm, where the various psychological elements repeat their tragic stories and induce pain.
• Divine nature of the soul: Gnostics have always taught that the human soul contains a divine spark, that is, the essence, which is unfortunately trapped in the physical body and the laws that govern it.

Historical development

Gnosticism flourished in the second century AD, in a context of religious and philosophical syncretism. It drew on diverse sources, including Platonism, Pythagoreanism, Judaism, and Christianity.

• Christian Gnosticism: Various Gnostic groups emerged that reinterpreted Christian teachings, such as the Valentinians, the Basilidians, and the Sethians. These schools were widely accepted at the time but were considered heretical by the early Christian Church.
• Pre-Christian Gnosticism: Some scholars argue that Gnosticism has pre-Christian roots, tracing back to the religious and philosophical traditions of the ancient Near East. The very fact that Joshua or Jesus did not invent the Christic drama, but rather rescued it from ancient times, is disturbing in itself.
• Medieval Gnosticism: Gnosticism was revived in the Middle Ages by the Cathars, a mystical movement that flourished in southern France, particularly in the Languedoc region, during the 12th and 13th centuries. Their name comes from the Greek “katharoi,” meaning “pure.”
• Modern Gnosticism: Today, Gnosticism has experienced a revival, with the emergence of new currents and the reinterpretation of ancient texts, such as those discovered in Nag Hammadi in 1945 and the seventy works of universal esotericism written by Samael Aun Weor.

Gnostic texts

Ancient Gnostic texts provide invaluable insight into the myths and practices of this movement. Some of the most important texts include:

• The Nag Hammadi Texts: A collection of Gnostic texts discovered in Egypt in 1945, including the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Apocryphon of John and others…
• The Pistis Sophia: A Gnostic text describing the fall and redemption of Sophia, and revered by those affiliated with Gnostic institutions as the direct teachings of Jesus to his disciples.
• The Gospel of Mary Magdalene: A Gnostic text that presents an alternative view of the role of Mary Magdalene in early Christianity.
• The Stanzas of Dzyan: The Stanzas of Dzyan are a collection of archaic verses that the master Helena Blavatsky claimed to have translated from a secret language called Senzar. These verses form the basis of her major work, The Secret Doctrine.

Influence and legacy

Gnosticism has influenced various currents of religious, philosophical, and cultural thought among peoples of all the world, including mysticism, theosophy, and depth psychology.

His emphasis on experiential knowledge and the search for inner truth, or enlightenment, continues to resonate today in the various forums, classrooms, video channels, and podcasts that have been established throughout the world during this pivotal time for humanity.

Conclusion

Gnosticism is a set of revolutionary ideas and practices that has left a lasting mark on human history. Contemporary Gnosis, with its exploration of fundamental questions about the nature of reality, the soul, and salvation, continues to inspire people around the world in their quest to understand directly why we are here and why we came into life.

Ramon T Juarez

Here from Orion