Gnostica

“All the comparisons that (Jesus) makes tend to show that the disciples of Jesus are necessarily few in number with little power. The leaven in the dough. The salt in the soup. The sheep in the middle of wolves, and how many other images. Jesus seems to have never had the vision of a triumphant and triumphing Church encircling the globe. He always presents a secret power which changes things on the inside, which works spiritually…” — Jacques Ellul, The Subversion of Christianity
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I’d like to issue a challenge to you. In the face of what will likely be a rather contentious political season, I’d like to challenge you to consider your involvement in the Political Machine very carefully. Are Gnosticism and politics reconcilable? Does the Gnostic have a political duty? Can the Gnostic depend upon political activism to further social change? Although we don’t have any solid answers– and nor should we– there are some considerations which merit discussion, and although the eyes of the world are on this election cycle, it presents the Gnostic with an excellent opportunity to investigate the idea of power, both worldly and otherwise, and scrutinize one’s own decision to become involved with both or either.

To me, the ultimate exemplar of the relationship between the Gnostic and the powers of the world is Jesus himself. Now, Jesus obviously understood the value of direct action. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers. He healed the sick and lame (a wonderful example of the power of direct action if ever there was one!). He speechified on the Mount (or Plain, depending). he was most certainly a radical, very much concerned with social issues.

But, when we really take a look at the life of Jesus, what kind of activist was he? Every single clue we find when we investigate this question seems to indicate that Jesus was, in essence, unconcerned with matters of the State. One of the more important components of the mesage of Christ is undeniably a seperation between the powers of the world and the power of God. Remember, he denied the Kingdoms of the World when they were offered to him by the Archon. As Jacques Ellul has noted, he counseled us to “render unto Caesar” the coinage that bears his sign, but to God the things that bear his. Most significantly, he counseled his companions, again and again, through both word and deed, to avoid exercising power over others, no matter whether the opportunity presented itself. In fact, he very clearly states that the possession of power is a hinderance for the Gnostic, and implores his listeners to give it up:

“I say to you, let him who possesses power renounce it and repent.” — The Dialogue of the Saviour

“…[L]et him who possesses power renounce it.” — The Gospel of Thomas

We know from pretty much every single Gnostic tradition that the Archons are responsible for worldly power. This is an essential part of the Gnostic message. Obviously, it’s a fool’s game to try to pin the Archon label on actual individuals; no person is an Archon. Instead, the mechanisms of worldly power– including (and perhaps even most significantly, political power)– are manifestations of the Archonic essence, both macro- and microcosmically. Jesus rebels not against the power of the State, or even against the power of Organized Religion, but against the Will to Power behind these things.

Playing with the Political Machine can become a dangerous addiction (something I know from experience). Freedom of Speech is far overrated; Freedom of Thought is more valuable by a wide margin. Becoming embroiled in the gears and wheels of Political Machine leads to empassioned involvement with the systems of the world, and when this happens, our thoughts are no longer our own. We become convinced that those with different views are “others,” who have less inherent value. We compromise our positions based on the propaganda employed by all agents of Politics (be they Left or Right, all politicians and those in their employ are propagandists). We concede our right to protest to those who establish “Protest Zones” (when you need to apply for a permit to protest, you’ve entered into a contract with the Archons).

The ultimate goal of the Political Machine– any political system, be it Democracy, Socialism, Communism, Authoritarianism, etc.– is the domination of opposing Political Viewpoints via the exercise of power. I refer to the “Political Machine” because this system is indeed mechanical; like a wretched robot, it churns and smokes as it moves ever forward towards its own goals. Even those political systems which are generally understood as “benign” are intended and designed to expand as far as possible through the exercise of power. Power does not need violent expression; power can be the enforcement of law, the granting of social necessities, Even the State that provides health care to all of its citizens does so through the exercise of power, as long as the possibility remains that they can deny that health care “for the good of the State.” Any State that maintains the potential for the violent exercise of power, either offensive or defensive– any state that has weapons– is part of the Political Machine, and inherently Archonic. The State inexorably trends towards Totalitarianism, and rebellion against the state invariably results in the establishment of another Totalitarianism.

The modern Western State, and the Archonic powers at its root, have assimilated and humiliated the concept of “Freedom of Speech,” and created a society in which one is truly free to say whatever one wants to say, provided it is said within the limited semiotic circle the State provides. It has realized that when one’s thoughts are under its power, and when it controls the words, it doesn’t matter what one says. The Gnostic, however, understands that Wisdom is equally important to Word, and that freedom to exercise Wisdom is only possible when one has emerged from the blanket of the Political Machine and its propagandists.

The Political Machine also requires one to compromise one’s own self-knowledge– to pick the “lesser evil,” for example. Whenever you are forced to compromise your self-knowledge, the ideals to which you ascribe, you are not exercising Freedom of Thought. This may be an acceptable bargain in certain cases, but this decision needs to be made with full awareness that one is making a deal with the Archons, so to speak, and that when one makes a Political decision based on a compromise of one’s position, one is truly compromising one’s own freedom to decide.

That said, there is absolutely great value in opposing the powers of this world via social activism. The Palm Tree Garden’s own Brother Thomas Langley is a wonderful exemplar of someone who has chosen the Gnostic path and confronts the Archons on the ground (often with someone’s boot on his face!). This also isn’t to say the Gnostic shouldn’t be involved in social issues, or should abstain from voting if one is so inclined. If one believes one can initiate positive change through the Political Machine, then one should obviously feel free to do so. And, there are politicians who are good, honest people, who desire a better world. An individual Gnostic may choose to support a politician or a political party, or to engage in activism, without fear of straying from the Gnostic path, provided that their involvement in the Political Machine results from the intimate self-knowledge that is the mandate of anyone who identifies as a Gnostic. Thomas has undoubtedly based his activism on his knowledge of self which has resulted in an innate compassion for others, and for this should be commended.

Nonetheless, for the Gnostic, true change– radical change– can only come about outside of the political sphere. It can only come about through developing an intimate self-knowledge– gnosis. The Gnostic who desires social change must be able to penetrate the illusions of the Political Machine. He or she must understand the language of propaganda and advertising, and the difference between Free Speech and Free Thought. He or she must act based on self-knowledge, as a Secret Missionary, and avoid at all costs becoming embroiled in the cesspool of partisanship. He or she must understand the difference between activism and sentimentalism, and must learn when the Archons are attempting to manipulate the emotions. His or he only allegiance must be to the Christos and Sophia, and those in need of compassion. Only if these preconditions are met can the Gnostic truly produce any kind of radical change, inside the Machine or out.

So, when deciding the extent to which you will participate in this election cycle, I challenge you to learn about propaganda, to study the control systems behind your favored candidate. But mostly, I challenge you to gnosis, to understand completely why you are involved and with whom because you know yourself, through yourself, that your thoughts are Free no matter what you choose to say.