Information and Remarks about the Gnostics

      In the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene), Mary asks Jesus how does one see the vision, through the soul or spirit?  The Gospel then says, "The Savior answered and said, He does not see through the soul or spirit, but the mind which is between the two."  In other words, if we are to know the truth of ourselves, the world and God, we must use our God given brain and incorporate revelations from science.  In religion, as in science, they kept the door of truth "ajar."  The Gnostics were seekers of truth!

                                                                                                                          "Rebirth" (c) Scott Angus

            A.  THE NAG HAMMADI LIBRARY could have been called, The Gnostic Scriptures. They were probably not named so because it might imply they are an alternative to the New Testament  books. They do not negate the N.T. books, but certainly these books should be use to expand our knowledge of Christ and the early Christians.  Today all the texts should be studied seriously and not easily dismissed simply because they are not part of the "official" Canon.    

                B.  The Jewish Canon was set; so it made sense to set the Christian Canon as well. This canonization process gave authority and power for certain books over other books.  In the case of the N.T., it is clear Jesus did not suggest that such a Canon be established.  Those with theological power did!  Studies into how the N.T. Canon evolved suggest books like Revelation, Hebrews and even the Gospel of John were fortunate to make the Canon. So why not the Gospel of Thomas?

               C.  Elaine Pagels in her book Beyond Belief has a profound chapter on how The Gospel of John's emphasis on "Jesus alone" helped to exclude The Gospel of Thomas.  Thomas' theology taught that God's Spirit was not just in Jesus, but available as Jesus promised,  to all of us. The Gospel of John interestingly, being rather philosophical,  was considered "Gnostic" by some. But Elaine argues that though written at the same time, the Orthodox who chose the Canon preferred the theology of "Jesus alone" or as "the only way to the Father." It made Jesus exclusive as were the Orthodox themselves.  Isn't it sad, that throughout history, so many churches, groups, etc. have declared they alone have the "real" truth, causing countless divisions, conflicts and wars!  The Gnostics were inclusive, not believing everyone had to believe the same.  The Gospel of Thomas did not support the exclusive theology and this Gospel, which must be read, was excluded from the Orthodox canon!

              D.  Yet, the Orthodox, who claimed the corner on all truth, charged the Gnostics as the ones who were exclusive.  By their "gnosis," the Orthodox charged they had "secret" and "special" knowledge about God.  In other words, it was a different teaching than the Orthodox. Yes, the Gnostics claimed it was a deeper understanding of Christ but never did they say it was exclusive. For the Gnostics, the "gnosis" was something for which one strived much like the Buddhist "nirvana."  It didn't make one better than others!   It was something that Christ taught that opened one to experience moments of oneness with God..  "Gnosis" gave them deeper insight, not an easy answer.  The gnostic style supports those who have a more Eastern approach to understanding the depth of Christianity as not so much belief in an event but as a faith flowing with Christ.

              E.   Gnosis is a Greek word meaning " knowledge."   Lets face it, there are many kinds of knowledge: fact, intuition, logic, myth, reality, imagination, insight, and so on.  Part of the mystery is what knowledge (gnosis) meant to the Gnostics because it is clear that it had more than one definition.  One beautiful teaching was that the road to gnosis was opened with the mind which led to the spirit and the soul.  Thus the gnostic style says it is important to use ones mind (whole brain) as well as ones heart (emotion).  Gnosis isn't an answer but an element that should be used in our search for God.

              F.   The Gnostics were often charged as not believing there was a physical world.  Indeed, those who like to say we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a physical experience, love this intriguing thought.  The Gnostics heavily stress the spiritual, but when they report Jesus kissed Mary Magdalene on the lips "many times," it is clear, for them, Jesus was a real person and not just a figment of the imagination.

             G.    Some of the Gnostic views of cosmology were different than both Jewish and Christian traditional interpretations.  Like Paul Tillich, they asked the question is there a "God beyond God"?  So in their attempt to define or explain evil , they said there was a more perfect God than the one who created and observes all the evil on earth.  Is our God too small?  Maybe as Tillich questioned there is a God beyond the God we create.  (Certainly we got beyond "the old man upstairs--well lets hope!)   Even in today's scientific cosmology, serious questions are asked about more than one universe.  Today's science admits it doesn't have all the answers, and quite frankly, neither did the Orthodox with their three story universe, nor the Gnostics with several "wild" ideas--but they are interesting and certainly questionable!   

             H.   One of the papers that needs to be developed  is on the Gospel of Philip's view of  evil.  Of course, the antagonist wrote that the Gnostics were all bad, evil and immoral--a  tradition that continues for describing many people's "enemies" today.   Instead of the Western view of there being a cosmic battle between good and evil, Philip's Gospel declares there is good and evil in all of us.  So it is extremely important we know ourselves.  We need to know what causes grief for ourselves and others, and to know what promotes love and wholeness.  Instead of the good guys versus the bad guys, the challenge and key for ethics becomes focusing on what one loves.  What we love may become who we are!  No one is all good or all bad; no one is beyond good or evil.  Wow!  For those of us who don't believe in "the devil" and that evil is either/or, this is a refreshingly modern and  helpful view.  (Philip also does not believe in the virgin birth, so that also is another paper to develop as well!)

             I.  A popular charge against the Gnostics is that they believed human beings and the material world were all evil.  Yet, just as not all today believe in Augustine"s theory of orginal sin which says even children are born evil, some Gnostics, but not all, believed everything was simply evil.  In the Gospel of Thomas, even Jesus says, "That which you have will save you, if you bring it forth from yourselves." So the question has to be asked, if one place we find God is within ourselves, how can all be evil.  Further, some Gnosics believed God is also outside in the material creation as well.  Again, in Thomas, Jesus says, "Split a piece of wood, and I am there.  Lift up the stone and you will find me there."  Like the "why" question of today's cosmology, the why, but not the existence of evil, remains, at least, mysterious and quite frankly, unsolved.

             J. They did not see God as male or female, but as androgynous, and even beyond, as Spirit.  God is portrayed beyond our limited knowledge.  In a very paradoxical hymn "The Thunder:Perfect Mind," a feminine voice from God declares, "I am the silence that is incomprehensible."  The Gnostics were very supportive of women and saw them as equals.

             K.  They did not see things as simply being black or white, or either/or.  In the Gospel of Philip an interesting teaching says, "Light and darkness, life and death, right and left, are brothers of one another.  They are inseparable.  Because of this neither are the good good, nor the evil evil, nor is life life, death death."  For sure, not all is simple!

             L.  Science doesn't have all the answers either.  But science must be allowed to inform and deepen our Christian knowledge of ourselves or God. 

            M.  The Gnostic scriptures do not negate the books of the Bible but extend the story and our knowledge of early responses to the Christ.

             N.  Certainly the charge will be made that gnostic Christians just believe "anything."   Gnostic Christians don't believe many of the traditional beliefs, but they do believe even that which they believe, should be questioned.  Gnostic beliefs should not be set in stone and made absolute.  So, importantly, Christ's intention was a more spiritual path or quest.  There are different paths to "the way" of Christ, not just "one."  Gnostic Christians believe deeply in Christ and believe God will judge by our love, not our beliefs.  Belonging to a church may be helpful but not essential for God's grace--acceptance!  Indeed, having faith is essential with all the unanswerable questions of life, but faith must be question as well!  

             O.  The Gospel of Thomas declares, "Jesus said, the kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is outside of you."  And then immediately, "When you come to know yourself, then you will be known."  Finding God was not limited to a book or words but was a search for truth for oneself and the world.  Faith was a personal responsibility, a trust and experience with God, not simply a belief in God or not.

             P.  It is exciting that I can be a Christian , think differently, but still know God accepts and loves me.  The gnostic style of Christianity allows me to admit I don't have all the answers.  Yet, there is something within me that allows me to search for and love God, honestly and deeply.  It is great to be inspired by the imagination and the free spirit of the Gnostics, these early Christians, who heard Jesus say and preach, to be followers of Me, be "seekers."

          (See "seekers of God.org." or the contact us page as well)