What
is Gnosticism? According to Webster, it is "an occult salvational
system . . . stressing [knowledge of spiritual things] as essential
. . . combining ideas derived especially from mythology, ancient Greek
philosophy, ancient religions, and eventually, from Christianity".
[Webster's New World Dictionary, Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1988,
p.577].
The word "Gnostic" is derived from the greek word gnostiko
or gnosis (inner mystic knowledge). The Gnostics believe that "gnosis"
is subjective (internally perceived by the mind or feelings) knowledge
of the devine element or spark in every man that needs to be discovered
to be known. They believe the divine spark originally came from the
"realm of light" (totally alientated from the world and
the flesh), and is resident in the soul of man and is held there in
captivity by the flesh (a product of demons). The only way to release
the divine spark is through divine "revelation knowledge",
experienced within in the spirit. Also they believe that only when
the unconscious spirit in man is awakened by revelation from the "realm
of light" can he come to know his real self - the god within.
Explained in a nutshell:
God is within, waiting to be revealed. Any external influence (matter)
is evil. Finding the god within comes only via your mind or feelings.
There are no external checks or balances, only those which your inner
spirit appropriates as you progress in your revelation.
Characteristics of Gnosticism
1. Man is Co-Substantial with God
As soon as man by "gnosis" (self knowledge) discovers and
releases the imprisoned divine spark (spirit), he then starts on a
mystic ascent to divine substance and on into the "realm of light".
Through divine revelation knowledge experienced in self, man becomes
conscious of his origin with God, his essence as God and his transcendent
destiny - all God. The unconscious self of man (the unawakened inner
spirit) is co-substantial with the Godhead, i.e. having the same substance
or essential nature. This is the kernel Gnostic thought that has led
to the creature being deified, worshipped and served more than the
Creator.
2. Elitism
The mystic "gnosis" (or knowledge) is only taught to the
elite - those who have a special capacity beyond the force of reason
and the flesh. According to Gnostic writings, this special capacity
was imparted by a messenger bearing a "spark" of light from
the "realm of light" even before the creation of the world.
The goal of the Gnostic is the release of the inner man by virtue
of gnosis (inner knowing) and his return to his native "realm
of light". There seems to be a special "place" for
a special "people" who are called out or chosen. That is
how the spiritual elitism comes forth. It is this Gnostic thought
that is behind many of the aberrant teachings of the Latter Rain Movement.
(This will be discussed at length in Chapter 3).
3. Intuitive
The Gnostic concept of God is determined by the depth of illumination
and revelation subjectively (by mind or feeling) experienced "about
God". The concept rejects external faith in God the Person. The
reference point for goodhood is in self. Gnostic revelation must be
distinguished from Christian revelation because it is not rooted in
history and transmitted by Scripture. It is rather the intuition of
the mystery of self. The dark cloud of mysticism that overshadows
the Church can readily be traced to the Gnostic's "intuition
of the mystery of self".
4. Self-Knowledge
The Gnostic believes that gnosis (selfe knowledge) is redemptive and
as such needs to be discovered and known. As a result of gnosis, man
subjectively discovers as a creature, the reality of his lasting unity
with the transcendent God. He discovers that his life is immortal
and that he is an ongoing manifestation of the light and the god that
dwells in his inner self. This knowledge, it is believed, has a redemptive
quality that takes the spirit in man to the ultimate realm of light
such as the fulness of God.
5. Redefinition of the New Birth
Love and salvation are reckoned obvious consequences of "gnosis".
Pure knowledge without subjective reality provides intellectual enlightenment
that comes from force of reason and must be avoided because it suppresses
the gnosis of Divine Reality. The only substantial evidence of Divine
Salvation comes from within the self-consciousness of man. It is in
the experience of the inner gnosis that the Gnostic is "born-again".
The redemptive quality in man must not be sought in the incarnation
of God in Christ through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Holy Scriptures
or in faith through grace, but rather in the self-conscious seat of
his own divinity. In other words, the fullness of divine self-consciousness
is the source and evidence of the Gnostic's "New Birth".
6. Divinity
To the Gnostic the mystery of God was already unveiled (at least in
secret) long before the birth of Jesus Christ and even before the
Scriptures were written. In fact, they say it was revealed and buried
in man before the creation of the world. Therefore, the only way for
man to know about God is through gnosis (self knowledge). As a result,
he will experience and know the Divine Spark within himself and know
he is a member of the Elite - a "Manifest Son of God".
He who exalts and prizes above everything else, the Divine Spark within
himself and sincerely believes that eternal life is found only in
the Divine Element will be certain to come into harmony with all of
life and thereby bring into consciousness the Spark of Divinity and
so immortalize his soul . . . by obedience to the Divine Law, man
attains unto Christhood, become the Son of God. [Jacques Lacarriere,
The Gnostics, Peter Owen, London, 1977, p.43]
The Gnostic strives to find God in the creation, i.e., in "self"
rather than in the Person, Christ, who is the Creator! This pursuit
winds up in pantheism.
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