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Heroic Knight
 
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chris (5/18/2006)
Gnosticism is actually quite specific: it refers to the practice of direct experience of and interaction with deity, rather than the practice of using intermediaries, or of interacting with deity only through intercessory ritual without direct experience of the nature of said deity.
Woo there.... Gnosticism as a specific term is based on the belief of a remote and alien god who's nature is so removed form that of humanity that he cannot be understood by man. Threfore no direct interaction is possible, and contact with the diety is only possible through the use of an intermediary...hence it was the Gnostics that developed the concept of Angels.
chris (5/18/2006)
While Gnosticism as a proper noun is usually used to identify a Christian sect who got in trouble with the early church because they didn't believe in bishops
Not entirely true, Gnosticism predates the catholic church, and is seperate from judaism, in the medieval period there was some scuffles relating to the incorperation of some Gnostic ideas into christian mythology. This was very little to do with Bishops per se, and more to do with concepts of hell and purgatory.
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I'm a variable power wit.... sometimes full-on, sometimes only half....
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and Minimeister
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| http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/gnintro.htm Seems to be a useful source about Gnosticism as described by someone who says they're a Gnostic Bishop. Also, I don't quite get it. Religion is one of those "faith" things where there's no evidence either way, it's certainly not amenable to scientific proof or disproof (much though Richard Dawkins may disagree with me) and so, what's the problem here? No one who actually cares about their beliefs will be bothered to debate you as it boils down to: "You're wrong." "No, you're wrong." "NO! You're! WRONG!" etc. and that's boring and pointless. As far as I can make out the posting guidelines just ask people not to swear and "shout" at each other where possible. I don't particularly enjoy being sworn or shouted at, so I don't see why it should be a right.
There is only overconfidence and terror.
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Heroic Knight
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Folks, having read a little around the subject (though not claiming to be a scholar of Gnosticism myself) for a decent summary of Gnosticism this Wikipedia entry covers the bases fairly well. It would be well worth reading through this before positing what you think Gnosticism means.
"When I want your opinion, I'll read it from your steaming entrails"
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