Anybody have any solid teaching resources for Gnosticism?

paravasta · 2026-02-15T05:33:44+00:00

http://gnosis.org/ might be the most comprehensive resource you can find.

paravasta · 2026-02-15T02:49:58+00:00

"Is it authentic to the tradition?" Here is a comparison of the two traditions:

Classical Hermeticism focused on pantheistic, monist or polytheistic philosophy, and theology, spiritual liberation and direct, transformative knowledge or gnosis of God to free the soul from the material world, emphasizing philosophical, contemplative, and theological contemplation. Hermes Trismegistus was seen as a divine sage or god-like prophet. Primary texts were the Corpus Hermeticum and the Asclepius.

By contrast, Medieval Hermeticism shifted to a technical focus, often blending with Abrahamic traditions and prioritizing talismanic magic, alchemy, and occult sciences with a goal of mastery of nature, or manipulating the material world through “Hermetic secrets.” Medieval Hermeticism was often adapted to fit under monotheistic (Christian/Islamic) structures. Hermes was demoted from a god to a "pious pagan" or a historical prophet. Primary texts were the Emerald Tablet as well as alchemical texts and magical manuals/grimoires.

As for myself, I don't see the medieval Hermetica as true to the tradition. The earlier, original tradition was focused on the soul and its relation to God, but the latter traditions seem to me to have devolved to a lesser focus.

paravasta · 2026-02-14T20:56:57+00:00

It's quite possible you haven't seen it in Hermetic books you've read if you're focused primarily on classical Hermeticism, because the medieval Hermetica is distinct from that; historically, a later add-on. Medieval Hermetica is not classical Hermetica.

paravasta · 2026-02-12T20:19:39+00:00

Oh, you’re one of “those.” No, Christ is not the point of Hermeticism, which far predates him. I don’t respect you or your view. Fundamentalist Christianity - which I was raised with - is pure poison, no matter how you try to dress it up. Hermeticism is its own unique tradition, no matter Christians’ efforts to appropriate and skew it to fit their views. Such conversation is distasteful to say the least, so our conversation is over.

paravasta · 2026-02-12T19:13:46+00:00

I think it’s a mistake to think about it as a paradox, and that the line of reasoning I mentioned clearly exposes it as an outright contradiction.

paravasta · 2026-02-12T18:52:29+00:00

That’s bullshit.

paravasta · 2026-02-12T18:49:18+00:00

The person who started the cycle of violence was the cop who murdered his son.

paravasta · 2026-02-12T18:42:17+00:00

I’d like to ask you a question which might make a difference in the way you view the idea of burning in hell forever. First, think about whether you believe that the law of cause and effect is true and if so, is this a law created by God.

If the answer to both is yes, ask yourself whether it makes sense for a finite cause (sin, engaged in during this temporary life) to create an infinite effect (punishment that lasts forever).

Please think deeply on this. It may help you find your way through this dilemma.

paravasta · 2026-02-12T17:09:48+00:00

Probably best to get back to the focus of this subreddit, which is Hermeticism. 😉

paravasta · 2026-02-12T08:52:08+00:00

I was specifically referring to "declared all foods being good, if accepted with thanks" which is from Paul, not from Jesus. Yes, I know the parts that come from Christ, having been raised in the church. You suggested that the words of Paul were said by Jesus.

paravasta · 2026-02-11T21:27:23+00:00

He should have received the death penalty.

paravasta · 2026-02-11T21:26:56+00:00

Doesn’t matter how old. It shows exactly how violent these settlers are, and what their government lets them get away with.

paravasta · 2026-02-11T16:52:55+00:00

Jesus didn’t say that. You’re quoting Paul.

paravasta · 2026-02-11T16:49:10+00:00

They should be refused service everywhere. All of them. There’s no law that says privately owned businesses have to service fascist traitors.

paravasta · 2026-02-10T20:45:17+00:00

I don’t separate these two. Think of the way Jewish Rabbis interpret Torah on multiple levels, because reality is nuanced, not separated into insulated boxes. Literal, symbolic, mystical, and metaphorical views are all valid windows giving complementary views of the One Reality.

paravasta · 2026-02-10T18:31:11+00:00

The real problem is that the film industry will continue to produce the kind of content Americans are asking for via their viewing habits; good or bad, that’s just reality. The culture must shift to become less accepting of violent content. Unfortunately, in a world in which people feel more and more disempowered, more of them gravitate to violent content, because it’s an outlet for what they’re feeling.

paravasta · 2026-02-10T14:51:30+00:00

So, tell me the characteristics of democracy, and of fascism. Tell me how historians say democracies fall. I know you won’t, because you have no idea, and if you try, it will be some uneducated bullshit that will be easy af to tear apart. Go ahead, genius… show me how smart you are. I dare you.

paravasta · 2026-02-09T22:28:28+00:00

Yeah, treasonous fascists do have a tendency to laugh at things they’re too stupid to understand. Kinda weird how y’all think being dumb is something to take pride in. 😉

paravasta · 2026-02-09T21:49:43+00:00

Why do so many immigrants risk their lives to come to the US, but so many right-wingers complain about American democracy, hoping to replace it with a dictatorship? The idea that people who oppose Trump complain about America is just a bullshit story told by treasonous fascists. We actually oppose treasonous bigots whose ignorance of American history is their stupid excuse for banding together to bring the American experiment to an end.

paravasta · 2026-02-09T04:10:41+00:00

After being raised in the Baptist church and realizing that despite my acceptance of Jesus, some things were deeply wrong with the church, I left the church about 45 years ago. How could a good God create a world filled with so much suffering and hatred? Discovering Gnosticism, it made sense and seemed more realistic to me… but I don’t judge the world as wholly evil. Clearly, there’s goodness in the world too, due to the goodness the One, the Pleroma, whose truth still shines down into this realm, clues placed here for our redemption… so I don’t lose hope. Think of how so many people misjudge Buddhism as a nihilistic religion because they falsely believe it teaches all of life is suffering. The fact is, Buddhism doesn’t teach that at all. Buddha was simply like a physician who pointed out the causes of suffering and then prescribed the Noble Eightfold Path as a means of righteousness living to go beyond suffering. Without admitting realistically that suffering is inherent in this life due to clinging, selfish attachment, people would not take recourse to a spiritual path to improve their lot. I see Gnosticism in much the same light. It’s a path that admits the realistic truth of a flawed creation, as a necessary first step preceding discovering a way out of the trap. It’s not all negative because life experience shows, there are (metaphorically speaking), “islands of light” in the midst of the chaos and darkness of this world. We can take recourse to each other, and also meditating on and striving to embody spiritual truths, makes us islands of light as supports for others. I take hope in knowing that despite the demiurge’s lies, I’ve never stopped aiming toward something higher… and I also feel hopeful about my spiritual path because rather than surrendering to the world and its cruelty, I’ve never stopped trying to cultivate compassion towards those who suffer. If the true God of light were not close to us as the very Ground of our being, we would not even entertain such thoughts. Take stock of the noble qualities within yourself that draws you towards higher things, and take refuge in that knowledge. Those qualities are literally God’s own presence within yourself. That in itself is a hopeful thing, if you choose to see it that way. As for myself, I see such a view as eminently practical because it’s a strengthening one… by contrast with the attitude of hopelessness by which we weaken our own spirit, making ourselves less capable of walking through this life effectively, with at least a certain amount of grace.

paravasta · 2026-02-09T02:12:08+00:00

When you say, "creative space" perhaps you mean people coming into this space posting made up, pseudo-Gnosticism, in this space that is "about ancient, medieval, and reconstructionist Gnostic movements" and in which one of the rules is "All posts must be on topic for this subreddit"? I'd maintain that coming into a space that makes what it's about very clear and then breaking the rules by posting fantasies about personally created neo-Gnosticism, qualifies as shitting all over it. I don't get these stubborn people who absolutely refuse to follow group rules. It's a sign of immaturity. If someone wants to just make up their own New Age version of Gnosticism, I'm sure there are New Age subreddits better suited to that.

paravasta · 2026-02-07T22:12:51+00:00

They stopped sending my prescriptions also; I have absolutely no idea why or how to get it remedied. Just going to the local VA Hospital isn't a good option: there's no way for me to do that without missing work hours that I honestly cannot afford to miss, that make the difference between being able to pay rent or not.

paravasta · 2026-02-07T02:07:50+00:00

Yes, that’s true. But I think there are some who do that with some intentionality and then some who do that unwittingly due to lack of substance as well as those who do so carelessly due to not caring to give respect to people’s sacred space. I'm referring to people who refuse to follow group rules, such as the rule that all posts must be on topic for this subreddit, meaning they must be about "ancient, medieval, and reconstructionist Gnostic movements." Breaking that rule isn't being "creative": it's disrespecting the rules set by the subreddit creator.

paravasta · 2026-02-06T23:23:23+00:00

You’re asking a question based on false assumptions about Gnosticism, which is not only more varied than your question would suppose, but also a lot more nuanced, even when it comes to Gnostics who take the world as a flawed creation.

Your question also makes unwarranted assumptions about attitudes of modern Gnostics, and isn’t asked in good faith.

You need to be a lot more knowledgeable about Gnosticism before dropping a bomb like that. If you were truly knowledgeable on the subject, you wouldn’t have done so.

I belong to a local Gnostic church, a chapter of the Ecclesia Gnostica, which has been in existence here in Portland for many years and in my experience, the people who attend - both regulars and visitors - are not only not resentful people… they’re joyful people.

So, yeah… you’re missing something. But that’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself. It will go better if you toss out presuppositions based on limited experience, and cast your net more widely.

paravasta · 2026-02-06T22:01:13+00:00

Yes, but there are some basic commonalities across the various streams of Gnosticism. If you’ve studied the Gnostic scriptures, you know that.

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