Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt01436)

Please define 'gnosticism' then as you interpret it to be.  
Gnosticism comes from the Greek word 'gnosis' found in the New 
Testament, meaning to 'know' God.  If one claims that the existence 
and nature of a 'GOD' is unknowable, then how can such a one be 
termed a 'gnostic' (to know)?  When I make references to a 'GOD', I 
am actually referring to the psyche-originated god concepts of 
others, rather than something generated on my own.

Vince

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Jerry Hejka-Ekins <jjhe@...> 
wrote:
>
> Dear Vince,
> 
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> > 
> >
> >
> >
> >  
> >
>