Discussion of all things Gnostic:

Mostly we are Gnostics who are more interested in discussing our own Gnosis and related experiences than we are in recreating the ancient Gnostic rituals.

The essence of the ancient Gnostic beliefs were not their myths and rituals but was their belief that spiritual knowledge can only be attained through direct personal contact with that thing we call the divine. Thus while discussions about ancient Gnostics are helpful, they are not essential. What is essential is that each of us make direct contact for ourselves.

The essence of modern Gnostic thought is:
“Throw blind faith out the window,
think for yourself,
and only keep what you experience to have value. -Tom Ragland”

What is Gnosis?
Gnosis (Greek), root of: "to know" 1: knowledge by "direct perception" a:
primary, personal intuitive or inspirational experience. b: also:
empirical, though not necessarily social, verification.

What is Gnostic thought:
Aside from anything you may have heard or read about Gnostic "doctrine", Gnostic thought is not, catagorically a doctrine. It is, rather, an epistimology. This teaching stands in sharp contrast to the standard epistimology of both orthodox churches and cults,

Gnostic thought is, in fact, the opposite of a cult. It needs no strong charismatic leader. It imposes no dogma. It demands no obedience to an authority outside oneself. Traditional Christian religions are distinguishable from cults, only by their age and size.

This list is not about scholarly consensus or dogmatic assertions. Gnosis on this list is a broad eclectic definition, one that embraces ideas labeled as Gnostic in both ancient and modern texts, as well as ideas from other related spiritualities.

The purpose of this list is to discover what we can take from the ideas of Gnosis in applying them to our own modern lives and outlooks. As such we are a diversity that doesn't agree about everything, nor should we.

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