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Re: Theos-World Jerry- Agnostics defined

Mar 24, 2006 10:57 AM
by Jerry Hejka-Ekins


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]




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