"Gnostic Christians believed that questioning ones faith
was always important. To know (gnosis) Christ was to seek
deeper and honest meaning for ones life. This
gnosis led to wholeness in ones relationship to God
and the world. Christ's way was a spiritual journey, not a system
of right beliefs. The Orthodox Church, however, supported
by the Emperor Constantine primarily for political reasons,
was able to define what the true Christian was to believe.
Tertullian and Irenaeus were early Church Fathers (Bishops).
They declared those who questioned the Church's beliefs were
"heretics." Over the voices of those called Gnostics, Orthodox
Christianity not only prevailed, but has continued ever since
to define Christianity as a belief system. The Gnostic scriptures
show that there was and is a more refreshing, honest, open,
spiritual, loving and exciting way to be a Christian."
- Larry Angus
The gnostic style of faith is free, open and creative; one does not have to be told how to act and particularly what to believe. You can and should use your brain and modern knowledge. You have the ability to think for yourself. The gnostic style believes seeking God is more important than finding God by a certain dogma or belief. This web site therefore isn't about accepting Gnosticism or their beliefs (yes, some strange), but to share an early and widespread style of Christian faith that can deepen, transform and affirm the way many of us are Christian today.
Until the discovery of other Gospels, the way to be Christian was simply "to believe." This Orthodox or Fundamentalist interpretation of Christ made Christianity another religion to oppose others. "Believe in Christ or go to hell," "believe literally in their chosen books for the Bible," and "obey the rule of their authoritarian church," and you would have salvation. This was the Orthodox message from Jesus, to be a "believer."
In contrast, the Gnostics were "seekers." It was far more important to seek God through all kinds of knowledge rather "just believe." They were believers of Christ, but they heard a different message from Jesus. They had beliefs, as we all do, but they did not insist they had the corner on or final truth in interpreting the world or God. Christ's message was more spiritual than religious. The place to find God was within oneself, not in externals like belief, dogma or dictates of the church. Their interpretation was that we could experience the living Christ and God, not by a set of correct beliefs or creeds, but by seeking, not finalizing God. Your faith is not what you believe about Christ but your relationship with Him. Therefore, it is essential to know yourself and be touched by what the Gospel of Philip calls the transforming power of love and light. Seeking God, because of Christ and his message, was the true act of faith. That is the gnostic style and spirit found in the exciting materials often called The Gnostic Gospels!
Introduction to Gnostic Christianity
Gnosticschristians.Com is a web site for those who are interested in learning about a way different from the traditional approach to be Christian. This new way is inspired by those we now know as GNOSTICS (pronounced "nostics"). Though members of churches, the Gnostics were not an organized denomination or even church, but a fairly diverse group of the earliest Christians, who by the emerging Orthodox Church,were called "HERETICS."
The Gnostic scriptures, written at the same time as the New Testament, were known to exist primarily by negative attacks in the writings of early Orthodox Bishops. These Bishops boldly declared that those who disagreed with them were "false teachers." So, Gnostic works of heresy were ordered destroyed, and they almost were!
Without the primary sources, those named Gnostics were portrayed as not being true disciples, to some as not even being Christians. Throughout history they were slandered for denying "reality," as being absolute "dualist" and" idealist." The elimination of their writings was almost successful, but thanks to some monks who hid the forbidden works in a cave in Egypt, near a village called Nag Hammadi, the Gnostic Gospels and writings can now speak for themselves.
In l945, fifty two texts (including such titles as The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Mary, The Gospel of Philip) were found in a mountain having at least 150 caves. Interestingly, a farmer named Muhammad Ali (al-Samman) looking for softer soil for fertilizer in one of the caves, found an earthen jar filled with thirteen books written on papyrus, bound in leather. Muhammad's mother actually burned some pages to kindle a fire, but thankfully, he decided to take them to an antiquities dealer. As had long been rumored, we now know indeed other Gospels were written as well as other very early Christian writings. Careful research has declared them authentic. Finally, after 50 years of study and translation by scholars, they are available to the general public. They raise questions, which have the potential to free Christianity from centuries of simple answers, and for many, unacceptable positions.
- Are you a person who thinks, in the witness to Christ, other Gospels and writings than the 27 books chosen by the Orthodox Bishops ought to be heard?
- Are you one who questions certain articles in the Apostles' Creed?
- Are you one who thinks religions other
than Christianity may have validity?
- Do you believe women have enough worth and right to be clergy?
- Are you one who thinks your own relationship with God and Christ is more important than what the church tells you is "right belief?"
- Is your style of faith honestly seeking what is true about the world and God rather than blind belief?
If you answered "yes" to the questions, you could be interested in learning more about these powerful early Christian resources that were suppressed until l945. (These manuscripts now can be purchased for $21 in paperback in a collection called, The Nag Hammadi Library, edited by James M. Robinson.)
To register yourself as one who believes, seeking God , is more important than finding God by a certain dogma or belief, go to the contact us page.
"Christ's Way Was A Spiritual Journey"
