Fellow Christians...

[DrunkenKitty]

I like the idea of Gnostic Christianity.

I prefer Christians who follow the doctrines of Christ rather than following the doctrines of the churches made in his name.

A Gnostic Christian church here in my town enticed me by stating their primary fundamental as: "The beliefs of the individual supersede the beliefs of the church." I identified strongly with this because I believe that everyone has a relationship with God that is as unique as the individual.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, "I love your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

I think it's important for Christians to separate the teachings of Christ from the teachings of those who use his name to control them.

http://www.harpers.org/media/image/art/cartoons/mrfish/JesusChildren_393x640.jpg

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

No, seriously, who's DM?

DM, dungeon master.

I basically equated life to a big game of D&D, or in this case D20 modern.

Ohhhhh. That makes sense.

 

[TerraMGP]

I like the idea of Gnostic Christianity.

I prefer Christians who follow the doctrines of Christ rather than following the doctrines of the churches made in his name.

A Gnostic Christian church here in my town enticed me by stating that their primary fundamental as: "The beliefs of the individual supersede the beliefs of the church." I identified strongly with this because I believe that everyone has a relationship with God that is as unique as the individual.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, "I love your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

I think it's important for Christians to separate the teachings of Christ from the teachings of those who use his name to control them.

http://www.harpers.org/media/image/art/cartoons/mrfish/JesusChildren_393x640.jpg

Yes, Gandhi was a brilliant man. Though my favorite quote from him is still "GET THIS F#$%ING DESSERT CART OFF MY FOOT!"

Its true, he said that, Look it up.

Seriously though you hit the nail on the head. The problem is that so many people adhere to Christianity according to dogma built upon dogma built upon dogma. People don't do the work, or perhaps don't know that they have work to do. I don't know I think that in the end people need to get away from concepts like hell and Satan and some battle for our souls and just start focusing on living a good life.

No, seriously, who's DM?

DM, dungeon master.

I basically equated life to a big game of D&D, or in this case D20 modern.

Ohhhhh. That makes sense.

Yes, which makes me wonder why I made a pure smart hero knowing how much they fail in pure combat.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I'm actually atheist but I'd like to chime in. My understanding is gnosticism was declared a heresy quite a while ago. (At least by the Catholic church. I can't remember if that was before or after the Schism) Anyway, my personal view on it is that it is an extreme devaluing of nature and humanity. This declaration that "everything of the flesh" is evil puts off most Christians due to some of the self-inflicted torture and hate of family that arise from it.

You need to not do that.

You can't call Catholics "Christians" when referring to the entire Christian faith. Before I get heat, they ARE Christians, but there are really two sects in the Christian faith. Catholics and Protestants. Most of the time, and yes MOST of the time Catholics and protestants won't agree on many subjects.

]

Three, you forgot Greek Orthodox

 

[DaniJ]

Why can't some Christian people respect other beliefs, especially Atheism(Aardvark and HSIAMetalKing, I'm looking at you). I just don't get it. There are over 6.5 billion people in the world, do you they expect everyone to have the same religion?

 

[Adam Jenson]

I'm not taking sides but it is a two way street, you know.

 

[TerraMGP]

Why can't some Christian people respect other beliefs, especially Atheism(Aardvark and HSIAMetalKing, I'm looking at you). I just don't get it. There are over 6.5 billion people in the world, do you they expect everyone to have the same religion?

Well personally, While I respect Atheists I don't fully understand their view, even when I was one for a short while in high school. Still as long as an atheist does nto go 'fundie' I think it should be live and let live.

Still it is supposed to be the mandate of every christian to spread the word of god, but they all act like Moses did in one of his hours of failure. We are supposed to preach by simply being good people and living good lives, people who see someone who is genuinely happy say 'I gotta get me some of that', ask the christian and then make THEIR OWN genuine decision to buy into what the christian has found or not. in other words we are supposed to be passive and help people and if they are interested, all the better.

Christians are humans though, and so many of them seem to think that the responsibility is to 'save souls at any cost'. They are convinced that hell is real and that they need to use anything to make sure those souls are saved even bigotry and violence.They hit the stone instead of speaking to it.

 

[Untamed Waters]

I'm actually atheist but I'd like to chime in. My understanding is gnosticism was declared a heresy quite a while ago. (At least by the Catholic church. I can't remember if that was before or after the Schism) Anyway, my personal view on it is that it is an extreme devaluing of nature and humanity. This declaration that "everything of the flesh" is evil puts off most Christians due to some of the self-inflicted torture and hate of family that arise from it.

You need to not do that.

You can't call Catholics "Christians" when referring to the entire Christian faith. Before I get heat, they ARE Christians, but there are really two sects in the Christian faith. Catholics and Protestants. Most of the time, and yes MOST of the time Catholics and protestants won't agree on many subjects.

]

Three, you forgot Greek Orthodox

Eh... I'd classify them really pretty close to Catholics, there are a few differences, but a lot of doctrines are quite similar.

Well I'm christian... but I take many other beliefs from other religions (like my idea of hell from the muslim faith, ect.)

Is that... christian agnosticism? is there like a certain point that if you don't beleive a certain amount of christian beliefs that means you're a agnostic? or is like "YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS ONE THING, HERESY"?

*Is trying to remember his world religions class* Isn't it fairly similar to Limbo?

 

[CrafterMan]

I'm not exactly "christian" and I haven't read the Wikis that have been posted, but I disagree with this "gnosticism" because it has an -ism at the end of it. -isms, especially -isms that have to do with religion, are universally stupid and pointless.

Catholicism? Atheism? Buddhism? Judaism?

Think before you speak, dipshit.

Uncalled for, he's entitled to his opinion. (Reported)

Anyway on topic, I have to admit I have no interest in any higher being, the truth is I'm here. I do my job, I help all I can and I have fun.

That's my answer to life..

LIVE

 

[Knight Templar]

I'm not exactly "christian" and I haven't read the Wikis that have been posted, but I disagree with this "gnosticism" because it has an -ism at the end of it. -isms, especially -isms that have to do with religion, are universally stupid and pointless.

Catholicism? Atheism? Buddhism? Judaism?

Think before you speak, dipshit.

He said things to do with religion, not a regligion itself. Anyway if he did mean all words with that ending, he was thinking and you should be angry for a diffrent reason.

EDIT: If he was being a idiot that doesn't mean you get too as well.

 

[thiosk]

Gnostics? BAH! I am a true believer!

Long live Flagellantism!

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

I'm not exactly "christian" and I haven't read the Wikis that have been posted, but I disagree with this "gnosticism" because it has an -ism at the end of it. -isms, especially -isms that have to do with religion, are universally stupid and pointless.

Catholicism? Atheism? Buddhism? Judaism?

Think before you speak, dipshit.

I did think before I "spoke". Those are all stupid and pointless.

I'm not exactly "christian" and I haven't read the Wikis that have been posted, but I disagree with this "gnosticism" because it has an -ism at the end of it. -isms, especially -isms that have to do with religion, are universally stupid and pointless.

Especially Atheism and Agnosticism

I wouldn't say "especially" those, since by definition I am very much an Agnostic. But inventing -isms is just man's way of making things more confusing. Every -ism is a subgroup, many of them subgroups of subgroups... ad infinitum. I just don't see the point.

 

[teh_gunslinger]

Why are some people talking about agnosticism?
Did they not notice the missing letter "A" in gnostic? I mean, this was actually an interesting way to see how different sects within the christian faith saw each other. Don't turn it into a religious/atheist/agnostic flame fest, please.

 

[Robyrt]

Christian Gnosticism in my mind is a heresy that is dangerous because it sounds so reasonable. Christians are not generally called to remove themselves from the world entirely, or deny that it is fully real; rather, they are to live in it as foreign visitors, respecting the local laws but remaining attached to the home country. No amount of knowledge is ultimately effective without faith - pick any recent church scandal where a theology PhD is caught in some obviously immoral act. And the world can't be said to be inherently evil any more than mankind itself, as God created it good and not 100% of it was replaced by the Fall.

However, a healthy dose of divine inscrutability, active searching for truth, and dedication to study can do much good. Try dredging up a copy of The Cloud of Unknowing.

Agnosticism is pretty much the exact opposite of Gnosticism, so it's really off-topic here. However noble it may be in theory, I find that most agnostics are just atheists who don't want to admit it to themselves.

 

[BurnoutPriest]

I'm actually atheist but I'd like to chime in. My understanding is gnosticism was declared a heresy quite a while ago. (At least by the Catholic church. I can't remember if that was before or after the Schism) Anyway, my personal view on it is that it is an extreme devaluing of nature and humanity. This declaration that "everything of the flesh" is evil puts off most Christians due to some of the self-inflicted torture and hate of family that arise from it.

You need to not do that.

You can't call Catholics "Christians" when referring to the entire Christian faith. Before I get heat, they ARE Christians, but there are really two sects in the Christian faith. Catholics and Protestants. Most of the time, and yes MOST of the time Catholics and protestants won't agree on many subjects.

I don't believe I called Catholics Christians despite the fact it would be perfectly reasonable to do; they are a subsection of Christianity after all. Christianity is a term used to reference many more subsections than just Catholic and Protestant; it also applies equally to all denominations.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

I think if the average Christian bothered to go beyond what one person has told them or a wikipedia article and actually research the Gnostic faith they'd find a lot of rich and fulfilling metaphors that would expand their relationship with God.

For s***'s sake, the Gospel of Thomas is less than a hundred pages and most libraries have a copy. Give it a read and stop letting other people tell you what to believe.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I actually find the gnostics a fascinating study subject. As well, I feel they were very unfairly persecuted by a controlling church who wanted a singular dogma.

 

[DrunkenKitty]

I think if the average Christian bothered to go beyond what one person has told them or a wikipedia article and actually research the Gnostic faith they'd find a lot of rich and fulfilling metaphors that would expand their relationship with God.

For s***'s sake, the Gospel of Thomas is less than a hundred pages and most libraries have a copy. Give it a read and stop letting other people tell you what to believe.

I totally agree. The Gospel of Thomas is way shorter than 100 pages. It's actually just over 100 passages, most of which are just a single quote from Jesus.

I remember reading the first time and stoked on what Jesus had to say:
"Yeah."
"Tell it like it is, Jesus."
"My brother speaks the truth."

... And then I got to the last passage:
"WTF? Mary can't go to heaven until she becomes a dude?! Jesus is performing a sex change? Watchoo talkin' 'bout, Jesus???"

(I realize that Jesus was more likely speaking of a transformation of spirit. I just like to portray myself as a dipshit once in a while.)

Here's a link for those of you whose curiosity didn't quite overcome their laziness:
http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html

 

[mark_n_b]

OK, seriously, let's keep the religious threads off the forums and at post service coffees. There is so much tension that results from these threads, use the dialogue in this thread as an example.

The fact that it always leads to fighting and ignorance / disrespect paired with the fact that without these religious threads it would likely never ever come up, just makes me not want to come here.

I find that most agnostics are just atheists who don't want to admit it to themselves.

Here's an example: that's more than a bit disrespectful. While I will agree that most of society claims religious belief based on little actual thought on the subject, professed agnostics are usually inherently more aware of religious philosophy by virtue of being professed-ly agnostic.