Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt01430)

I think that your position that there is a God, but that it is 
unknowable, is not so much agnostic as it is gnostic--particularly in 
line with the Valentinian and the Sethian schools.  You might look at 
the Apocryphon of John, for instance.   Also, the idea of an unknowable 
god was already well established in classical Greek culture, 
particularly  in the neo-Platonist schools. If Paul's speech to the 
Athenians is historical, and there was a monument to "to a god unknown" 
atop the Hill of Mars, it was probably, in truth, to this unknowable god. 
Best
Jerry






Vincent wrote:

> Jerry-
>
> Harder-core agnostics tend to go well beyond saying that they don't 
> know if there's a GOD or not, as opposed to softer-core agnostics.  
> Harder-core agnostics such as myself actually say that GOD is 
> unknowable by anyone involved in any creed or religion, despite the 
> professions of religious people to know GOD, whether it be in nature 
> or personal relationship.  
> Vince
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Jerry Hejka-Ekins <jjhe@...> 
> wrote:
>  
> > Dear Chuck, Vince,
> >
> > Agnostic is a word coined by Thomas Huxley in the nineteenth 
> >    
> century.  
>  
> > He was playing on the word "gnostic", meaning, "to know."   
> >    
> The "a" is a 
>  
> > negation.  So one who is agnostic is one who doesn't know.
> >
> > Best
> > Jerry
> >
> >
> >
> > Drpsionic@... wrote:
> >
> >    
> > > In a message dated 3/23/2006 10:49:21 AM Central Standard Time,  
> > > vblaz2004@... writes:
> > >
> > > So the  basis of agnosticism is gnosticism, according to your 
> > > interpretation of  the First Theosophical Statement?
> > >
> > > Vince
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Not at all, at least not as the term agnostic, which really 
> > >      
> means  apatheitic 
>  
> > > in modern speech, is used now.
> > >
> > > Not that it matters.
> > >
> > > Chuck the Heretic
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >      
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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