An Introduction to Gnosticism
David Jones
http://www.newdawnmagazine.com
An Introduction to Gnosticism
By S.M. ROMANOV
Jesus said, 'Blessed are the solitary and elect, for you will find the
kingdom. For you are from it, and to it you will return.'
— Gospel of Thomas
The term Gnosticism comes from the Greek word gnosis meaning “ultimate
knowledge”. Joseph Campbell tells us Gnosis refers to a knowledge that
transcends “that derived either empirically from the senses or
rationally by way of the categories of thought. Such ineffable
knowledge transcends, as well, the terms and images by which it is
metaphorically suggested.”
Gnosticism is not a religion, nor is it a philosophical dogma, but a
particular body of knowledge obtained by direct personal experience of
the divine. Perhaps it cannot find a better definition than that
offered by one of the 2nd century communities specifically calling
themselves Gnostic: “The beginning of perfection is the knowledge of
Man, but absolute perfection is the knowledge of God.”
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