Comments for Gnostica http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog The Official Weblog of the Palm Tree Garden Gnostic Community Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:36:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on Gnostics Need to Be Real by Brother Spark http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnostics-need-to-be-real/#comment-262 Brother Spark Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:40:26 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=90#comment-262 The anti-dogma, anti-doctrine crowd. They firmly believe dogma is stupid. And they teach their students that doctrines are for jerks. If you're confused, YOU SHOULD BE. This crap is confoosin'. The anti-dogma, anti-doctrine crowd. They firmly believe dogma is stupid. And they teach their students that doctrines are for jerks. If you’re confused, YOU SHOULD BE. This crap is confoosin’.

]]> Comment on Gnostics Need to Be Real by Daniel http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnostics-need-to-be-real/#comment-261 Daniel Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:19:17 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=90#comment-261 [i]The anti-dogma and doctrine crowd is hands-down the most worthless and ineffective religious force in the world.[/i] Confusing. Anti-dogma and anti-doctrin-[al]? Or, anti-dogma and [pro]-doctrine? Who is the, "most worthless and ineffective religious force in the world"? [i]The anti-dogma and doctrine crowd is hands-down the most worthless and ineffective religious force in the world.[/i]

Confusing. Anti-dogma and anti-doctrin-[al]? Or, anti-dogma and [pro]-doctrine?

Who is the, “most worthless and ineffective religious force in the world”?

]]> Comment on Gnostics Need to Be Real by Brother Spark http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnostics-need-to-be-real/#comment-260 Brother Spark Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:33:53 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=90#comment-260 There is sooooo much irony in teaching and lecturing about the evils of doctrines and indoctrination. "Ok children, have a seat. Pick up your pencils. Today we're going to learn all about objectivist religions and the evils of doctrines. It is our firm belief that dogmas are bad. Please pay attention, you will be quizzed." The anti-dogma and doctrine crowd is hands-down the most worthless and ineffective religious force in the world. There is sooooo much irony in teaching and lecturing about the evils of doctrines and indoctrination.

“Ok children, have a seat. Pick up your pencils. Today we’re going to learn all about objectivist religions and the evils of doctrines. It is our firm belief that dogmas are bad. Please pay attention, you will be quizzed.”

The anti-dogma and doctrine crowd is hands-down the most worthless and ineffective religious force in the world.

]]> Comment on Gnostics Need to Be Real by Bob North http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnostics-need-to-be-real/#comment-241 Bob North Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:32:50 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=90#comment-241 What is the purpose of Gnosticism, then. What do you mean by "thanks for playing" bob What is the purpose of Gnosticism, then. What do you mean by “thanks for playing” bob

]]> Comment on Gnostics Need to Be Real by Bro. Jeremy http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnostics-need-to-be-real/#comment-239 Bro. Jeremy Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:52:27 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=90#comment-239 <blockquote>Do you agree? Do you also agree that is the purpose of Gnosticism?</blockquote> No. Thanks for playing, though!

Do you agree? Do you also agree that is the purpose of Gnosticism?

No.

Thanks for playing, though!

]]> Comment on Gnostics Need to Be Real by Bob North http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnostics-need-to-be-real/#comment-238 Bob North Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:40:09 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=90#comment-238 Jeremy: No one to my satisfaction can explain what Gnosticism is. On the Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio show next weekend, I propose a definition based on my recent studies and book on GoT. In summary, I think it is a way of empowering an individual to know and grow on his own. It differs from what I call objective indoctrination, which is a way of manipulating people to think and act according to so-called official, absolute truths. I argue in my book that Jesus in GoT attacked political, social and religious indoctrination. His goal was to free people from their unconscious doctrine so that they might grow into conscious lovers of all. Was Jesus a Gnostic? I think so. He didn't leave a creed, he didn't list a list of rules. He was a therapist, teaching people how to grow. He had no interest in objective theology as did Paul and Christianity and other objectivist religions. I also show the roots of that approach to "saving" mankind in the OT. When so-called Gnostics indoctrinate others with absolute truths, I don't think that they are Gnostics; although, they think that they are. I don't think they had a common understanding of Gnosticism; thus, we see in the texts objectivist religion and personal development courses, which is what I think GoT is. We all pronounce what for us are absolute truths. If we do that to control the thinking and behavior of others, we become the enemies of Jesus and of mankind. Jesus was teaching a way for an individual to listen to his own wisdom that is hidden behind his unconscious indoctrination and to grow into an independent, loving, conscious individual. Do you agree? Do you also agree that is the purpose of Gnosticism? That is the message of the Gospel of Thomas, I think. We need to see scholarship about Gnosticism as an interesting but unimportant hobby. What is important is growth in love. Let us talk about how to do that daily. What is the process? Jesus tells us his process in the GoT. We may disagree, but we need to put forth another way. If Gnosticism isn't about helping each other become full human beings, let us bury it. We don't need another system of doctrinal enslavement. That is what Jesus calls "death" in GoT. Gnostics and everyone else needs to be real. And they do that by primarily focusing on growing and secondary on scholarship. We can speculate and study forever and waste our lives. Bob North www.7771.org Jeremy: No one to my satisfaction can explain what Gnosticism is. On the Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio show next weekend, I propose a definition based on my recent studies and book on GoT.

In summary, I think it is a way of empowering an individual to know and grow on his own. It differs from what I call objective indoctrination, which is a way of manipulating people to think and act according to so-called official, absolute truths. I argue in my book that Jesus in GoT attacked political, social and religious indoctrination. His goal was to free people from their unconscious doctrine so that they might grow into conscious lovers of all.

Was Jesus a Gnostic? I think so. He didn’t leave a creed, he didn’t list a list of rules. He was a therapist, teaching people how to grow. He had no interest in objective theology as did Paul and Christianity and other objectivist religions.

I also show the roots of that approach to “saving” mankind in the OT.

When so-called Gnostics indoctrinate others with absolute truths, I don’t think that they are Gnostics; although, they think that they are. I don’t think they had a common understanding of Gnosticism; thus, we see in the texts objectivist religion and personal development courses, which is what I think GoT is.

We all pronounce what for us are absolute truths. If we do that to control the thinking and behavior of others, we become the enemies of Jesus and of mankind. Jesus was teaching a way for an individual to listen to his own wisdom that is hidden behind his unconscious indoctrination and to grow into an independent, loving, conscious individual. Do you agree? Do you also agree that is the purpose of Gnosticism? That is the message of the Gospel of Thomas, I think.

We need to see scholarship about Gnosticism as an interesting but unimportant hobby. What is important is growth in love. Let us talk about how to do that daily. What is the process? Jesus tells us his process in the GoT. We may disagree, but we need to put forth another way.

If Gnosticism isn’t about helping each other become full human beings, let us bury it. We don’t need another system of doctrinal enslavement. That is what Jesus calls “death” in GoT.

Gnostics and everyone else needs to be real. And they do that by primarily focusing on growing and secondary on scholarship. We can speculate and study forever and waste our lives.

Bob North
http://www.7771.org

]]> Comment on Gnosis = Awakening (Word + Wisdom) by Bro. Jeremy http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnosis-awakening-word-wisdom/#comment-214 Bro. Jeremy Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:50:27 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=98#comment-214 No, thank you, Dan-- I always enjoy reading your work! Which reminds me, I keep forgetting to add you to the blogroll-- consider it done! No, thank you, Dan– I always enjoy reading your work! Which reminds me, I keep forgetting to add you to the blogroll– consider it done!

]]> Comment on Gnosis = Awakening (Word + Wisdom) by Dan Bartlett http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnosis-awakening-word-wisdom/#comment-213 Dan Bartlett Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:53:21 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=98#comment-213 It was actually Gurdjieff's elucidation and emphasis on the same formula (he talks of Knowledge and Being) that triggered my "rebirth" earlier this year, although he talks about these concepts on a broader scale of awakening. I wrote about this and related it to the Gnostic conceptions of Logos/Sophia <a href="http://www.danbartlett.co.uk/transformation1.htm#knowandbe" rel="nofollow">here</a>, quoting from one of your earlier articles. (thanks!) It was actually Gurdjieff’s elucidation and emphasis on the same formula (he talks of Knowledge and Being) that triggered my “rebirth” earlier this year, although he talks about these concepts on a broader scale of awakening. I wrote about this and related it to the Gnostic conceptions of Logos/Sophia here, quoting from one of your earlier articles. (thanks!)

]]> Comment on Gnostics Need to Be Real by Bro. Jeremy http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnostics-need-to-be-real/#comment-207 Bro. Jeremy Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:29:06 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=90#comment-207 I'd love to see any examples you can provide. I’d love to see any examples you can provide.

]]> Comment on Gnostics Need to Be Real by Msgr. Scott Rassbach http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/2008/10/gnostics-need-to-be-real/#comment-206 Msgr. Scott Rassbach Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:03:52 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/blog/?p=90#comment-206 <i>- There is virtually no solid evidence for a pre-Christian Gnosticism.</i> Karen King's "What is Gnosticism" talks about the Mandeans and the fact that they predate Christianity. I'll be doing more research into this topic as time goes on. But, there is research in non-American journals about this very topic, some of it quite recent. - There is virtually no solid evidence for a pre-Christian Gnosticism.

Karen King’s “What is Gnosticism” talks about the Mandeans and the fact that they predate Christianity. I’ll be doing more research into this topic as time goes on. But, there is research in non-American journals about this very topic, some of it quite recent.

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