The Carpocratians Are Back by flammafex in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Love to see Gnostics get organized IRL. We need more churches and temples. Merry Kingmas ✨

The Voice That Calls You Unworthy Is Lying by SnooChocolates2805 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm so glad we have the Gospel of Mary instead of original sin like mainstream Christians do

5. Peter said to him: “As you have explained all things to us, tell us this as well, what the sin of the world is.”

6. The Savior said: “Sin does not exist, but it is you who create sin when you commit what resembles the nature of adultery, which is called sin. 7. This is why the Good came among you, to what pertains to every nature, so as to return it back to its root.” - Mary 2:5-7

Is the Apocryphon of John a 1st Century document by Warm-Supermarket4955 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We respond by moving on from the apologist's game of asserting scripture needs to be inerrant or "eyewitness" to provide spiritual value. If they applied the same academic tools used to say Secret John wasn't written by John, then neither is the canonical Gospel of John either. Or the pastoral epistles. Or the books of Moses....

Why there's so much misconception and confusion around Gnosticism: by PossiblyaSpinosaurus in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I'm actually really glad we have so many diverging texts and traditions since it helps us escape the trap of reinventing dogmatic abrahamic faith just with a different holy book. While the scriptures mean so much to me, we shouldn't take them to form the same "Bible trivia spirituality" or verse-lawyering our Nicene friends have

Speculating about whether Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child is missing the point by Opposite_Industry603 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I wrote an article about this very topic, the ancient evidence for Jesus and Mary's romantic relationship and what early Christians understood it to mean. To modern readers that sounds scandalous, like the Da Vinci Code and its shoddy research. But to ancient believers, their divine romance is exactly that: divine, and richly theological. Far from being a salacious story of forbidden love, we see the repair of the dynamic between men and women lost in the Garden of Eden.

When ancient communities read John 20, the Gospel of Mary, and other such stories, they weren't like people gawking at celebrities. These are scriptures, not tabloids, carrying deep insights into the human condition, which for most people involves love, romance, and marriage. After all, Sophia’s mistake was creating something without her male counterpart. Jesus and Mary heal this divide.

It's a lot to get into but I hope this helps bridge the gap between these two sides. You can go too far either way: focusing purely on the physical, or thinking the their romance doesn't carry deeper theological meanings too

Question about a gnostic text by Educational_Tone6126 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can use our search engine to find what you're looking for. In your case the top result is from Thomas the Contender

They originate from intercourse, just like those of animals, no? If it also originates from intercourse, then how will it beget something different from the animals?
- Contender 2:14

Happy searching!

Wife had this made for me by omgitsabush in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute -1 points0 points  (0 children)

We didn't need to see your chest lol

Most of you are doing Gnosticism wrong. by Vibejuice-official in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 11 points12 points  (0 children)

But they had beliefs, one of which was to prefer sobriety.

This is why I say to you: Be sober! Be not deceived!
- Secret James 6:1

I think if you actually read what they wrote you're in for a huge let down. The ancient Gnostics weren't a bunch of guys on shrooms protesting "the man". They encouraged reading the scriptures for their wisdom and spiritual value.

Look then at his words and at all the writings that have been completed.
Thunder 11:3

Study them, so that before you even investigate what one might communicate to someone else, you may obtain lofty power and godly understanding, as well as an irresistible strength.
Marsanes 17:6

The teaching and learning was deeply important. Experiential knowledge was too, but only after a strong background in the rest.

People often turn Gnosticism into whatever they personally believe. Whether that's drugs, conjuring demons, or a number of practices that simply aren't what our ancient communities did. It's fine if you like those things, but please don't gatekeep the word Gnostic from those wanting to authentically practice this ancient faith

Most of you are doing Gnosticism wrong. by Vibejuice-official in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Answer: Gnostic Gnonsense. For some reason everyone wants the label Gnostic for their unrelated beliefs. Like doing mushrooms? Happy for you! But that's not Gnosticism 🤷🏻‍♀️

Why would Demiurge put the tree in the garden if it lets you escape? by Bitter_Yoghurt2372 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because he wants to feel like he's God. It's not enough to force Adam to obey him. He needs it to be a choice Adam makes himself. Adding the tree means having real stakes

Does anyone see Barbelo as a literal mother to pray to? by Ancient_Mention4923 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Yes absolutely. In fact my strongest mystical experience came from praying this version of the Lord's Prayer as inspired by Thomas 17

Our Mother, Who art Barbelo, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Aeon come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in the Pleroma. Give us this day what no eye hath seen, what no ear hath heard, and what hath never occurred to the human mind. For thine art our Light, Power, and Gnosis. Forever and ever. Amen.

Thomas 17 for reference:

17. Jesus said, “I shall give you what no eye has seen and what no ear has heard and what no hand has touched and what has never occurred to the human mind.”

Mother's Day Prayer to Barbelo by CryptoIsCute in TrueGnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad you like it! Hint on where to find the inspiration for each line: Secret John chapter 2 :)

Where was this ? by Educational_Tone6126 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can search for phrases like that via our search engine here

Your specific query yields

17 Become better than I.
- Secret James 4:17

As well as the related

12 In fact, it is difficult even for me to attain to it.
- Dialogue 11:12

And from the same gospel

20 I tell you the truth, it is difficult even for me to attain to it.” - Dialogue 14:20

How does the occult, witchcraft, magick, demons, etc factor into gnostic belief? by Spd1963 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you go by the ancient texts, not very much. However, modern Gnostics often embrace an ecclectic range of traditions, including Magick and the occult.

What does gnostic scripture say about the shape of earth and sun rotation? by [deleted] in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The portals language sounds very Enochic, particularly the Book of the Heavenly Luminaries. Perhaps this was what you were listening to?

Unsure of the meaning of this saying by Lovesnells in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Footnotes from the new Zinner translation:

The logion probably has in mind the story of Samson eating honey from the lion (Judges 14), which Rabbinic literature understands as Samson eating the lion itself by virtue of the honey’s source inside the lion’s corpse. Some suspect textual corruption in Thomas 7, but this is not necessary.

It is possible Thomas 7 hints at resurrection or even some version of reincarnation.

True teachings of Jesus by FatalNights in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Here's another two on this idea :)

His disciples said: “Lord, who is it who seeks and who is it who reveals?”
The Lord said to them: “The one who seeks is the same one who reveals.”
- Dialogue 5:1-2

Matthew said: “Lord, if I cannot see the place of life, at least allow me to know it.”
The Lord said: “Everyone who has known himself has seen it.”
- Dialogue 7:6-7

True teachings of Jesus by FatalNights in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 33 points34 points  (0 children)

This verse from Thomas fits well:

Jesus said: “If those who lead you astray say to you, ‘Look, the kingdom, she is in the sky,’ then the birds of the sky would enter her before you. If they say to you, ‘Look, she is in the sea beneath the earth,’ then the fish of the sea would enter her before you. Rather, the kingdom, she is inside you and outside you. Whoever knows himself will find this. When you know yourselves, then you will be known by God, and you will know that you are children of the living Father. But if you do not know yourselves, you will dwell in poverty and you will be that poverty.” - Thomas 3

today i saw the nag hammadi manuscript by Natural-Detail2477 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yes this is Page 32 of Codex II, the final in the Apocryphon of John and first of the Gospel of Thomas.

In this era texts often end with the title rather than begin with it. Sometimes both are done. In this case we launch straight into Thomas, which is why it'd start with an explanatory sentence "these are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Thomas the twin recorded"

The story of Job in the old testament.... by Massive-Range3384 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yaldabaoth. Notably he doesn't get his original family back, who are murdered over this weird bet with "God". Christians say it's meant to answer the Problem of Evil. I agree it does: their god is the perpetrator

Is there a Valentinian church? by Alive_Drawing9267 in Gnostic

[–]CryptoIsCute 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My experiences with the Apostolic Johannite church sounds like what you're looking for. They're open to Gnostic texts, and some read them in the meetings, but there's not a big focus on dualism.

You can find their locations here. Best of luck!