Comments on: Six Criticisms of the Gnostic Renascence http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/ Gnosticism, Forteana, fun and more from a modern Gnostic Minister. Formerly "Fantastic Planet." The opinions expressed hereon are solely those of the author, and do not represent the opinions of The Palm Tree Garden Gnostic Community. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:19:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: James Russell http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-293 James Russell Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:02:58 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-293 As a longish-term reader of Fantastic Planet/Summer Harvest and distant observer of the modern Gnostic scene, I have to say all of the above is well said, particularly your first point. What continues to put me off about quite a few of the Gnostic writers I see on the Net is a certain smugness that emerges every now and again, a sort of "ha ha, I've found the right way and you haven't" type of attitude. It puts those who exhibit that attitude on a similar level to, for example, your Ann Coulters, who treat their religious beliefs and affiliations as a sort of stick to wield against unbelievers and prove they're better than other people. Who's promoting shapeshifting reptiles as the way to gnosis, though? I know David Icke's the originator of the idea but I haven't seen it connected with Gnosticism before... As a longish-term reader of Fantastic Planet/Summer Harvest and distant observer of the modern Gnostic scene, I have to say all of the above is well said, particularly your first point. What continues to put me off about quite a few of the Gnostic writers I see on the Net is a certain smugness that emerges every now and again, a sort of “ha ha, I’ve found the right way and you haven’t” type of attitude. It puts those who exhibit that attitude on a similar level to, for example, your Ann Coulters, who treat their religious beliefs and affiliations as a sort of stick to wield against unbelievers and prove they’re better than other people.

Who’s promoting shapeshifting reptiles as the way to gnosis, though? I know David Icke’s the originator of the idea but I haven’t seen it connected with Gnosticism before…

]]> By: Philip Moore http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-294 Philip Moore Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:23:31 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-294 Jeremy, We must be feeding off the same current. To have addressed a primary concern --the emphasis on the direct experiences of gnosis and the challenge of "bringing them forth" into the everday world and letting the chips fall where they may, seems in my humble opinion,a major challenge and the essence (or cornerstone) not only of the gnostic tradition but of each one of us as individuals who have been blessed (or sometimes cursed with the "awful grace") of gnosis. More than ever. I look forward to the meeting on the 24th. ;-) Phil Jeremy,
We must be feeding off the same current. To have addressed a primary concern –the emphasis on the direct experiences of gnosis and the challenge of “bringing them forth” into the everday world and letting the chips fall where they may, seems in my humble opinion,a major challenge and the essence (or cornerstone) not only of the gnostic tradition but of each one of us as individuals who have been blessed (or sometimes cursed with the “awful grace”) of gnosis. More than ever. I look forward to the meeting on the 24th. ;-) Phil

]]> By: Sophia Sadek http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-298 Sophia Sadek Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:32:09 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-298 Thanks for the posting. I must admit to being guilty of all of the charges, though not at the same time. One of the things I get the most negative feedback on is the way that I ridicule certain types of behavior. I view this vice as being somewhat less than the behavior that I ridicule. After all, it is one thing to defraud people of their rights, and something else to ridicule them for so doing. One of the greatest failures that any group can encounter is what we call "the inability to fledge." It is characterized by a clinging attachment to a parental environment. Gnostics can fall into the same trap when escaping one parental environment and adopting a different one. As for the shape-shifting aliens, I believe I may have run into a pair of them over at the Garden. ;-) Keep up the good work! Thanks for the posting.

I must admit to being guilty of all of the charges, though not at the same time. One of the things I get the most negative feedback on is the way that I ridicule certain types of behavior. I view this vice as being somewhat less than the behavior that I ridicule. After all, it is one thing to defraud people of their rights, and something else to ridicule them for so doing.

One of the greatest failures that any group can encounter is what we call “the inability to fledge.” It is characterized by a clinging attachment to a parental environment. Gnostics can fall into the same trap when escaping one parental environment and adopting a different one.

As for the shape-shifting aliens, I believe I may have run into a pair of them over at the Garden. ;-)

Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Donald Donato http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-299 Donald Donato Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:23:11 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-299 I gave this some thought and will post something soon on point number 6. I gave this some thought and will post something soon on point number 6.

]]> By: JP http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-300 JP Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:53:18 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-300 Excellent, DD-- I look forward to it. Excellent, DD– I look forward to it.

]]> By: Andrea http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-301 Andrea Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:42:17 +0000 http://www.palmtreegarden.org/fp/2007/10/15/six-criticisms-of-the-gnostic-renascence/#comment-301 Great post. Too much priest, not enough pastor was of interest to me. I think as a whole, espeically me, we can do better for our community. I just came back from Santa Barbara and the Preysbeterian Church down there is a great example of taking care of the community. I honestly think we can learn so much from other traditions out there. In Serenity and Joy Andrea Great post. Too much priest, not enough pastor was of interest to me. I think as a whole, espeically me, we can do better for our community. I just came back from Santa Barbara and the Preysbeterian Church down there is a great example of taking care of the community. I honestly think we can learn so much from other traditions out there.

In Serenity and Joy
Andrea

]]>