Essay - Gnosticism to Write About a Specific Historical Event Such as...

Gnosticism

***** write about a specific historical event such as the Battle of the Bulge presents little difficulty considering the wealth of documentation. In fact, one of ***** greatest problems is narrowing the topic, sorting through an abundance of written and anecdotal materials, and deciding which is the most pertinent. Nearly ***** opposite holds true when researching the topic of Gnosticism. Until ***** late as the 1940s not only was information about this wide-reaching system scant, but ***** biased opposition wrote the majority ***** the materials. Throughout history, those who buck the system do ***** have an easy time of it. Such was ***** case with Gnosticism. Church leaders such as the Bishop of Lyons Irenaeus viewed this other faith's belief that the divine can be found within as a world-view ********** to Christianity. Although in many respects ***** tried to objectively clarify the teachings ***** Gnosticism, he was unable to refrain from attacking this radical approach. For nearly 2000 years, *****refore, Gnosticism was seen primarily in this negative light.

The confusion about Gnosticism not only exists about its history. Even the terms ***** describe this dogma are inconsistent. Therefore, before discussing the ***** of ***** ***** the Christian Church, it is important to briefly cover terminology so no m*****understandings occur in how this comprehensive expression is being applied. The Greek word "Gnosis" translates into "to know" or "to be acquainted." From a religious standpoint, Gnosis refers to ***** acquainted with God and the fullness of ***** true spiritual realms through direct personal experience. A "Gnostic" is some***** ***** has had such an ***** ***** personal revelation.

***** is not simply a synonym for mysticism, p*****ranormal, occult, metaphysics, esoteric or knowledge. Rather, it is a whole mystical doctrine. ***** th***** paper,

Gnosis will have this broader meaning. "Gnosticism" consists of a Gnostic religious-philosophical movement that flourished during the first several centuries ***** ***** current era. Although *****ism is normally associated with Chr*****tianity and this paper ***** *****s such a connection, the Gnostic religious and spiritual practice is known to have impacted Islamic, Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, pagan ***** other belief systems.

Possible *****ism Origins

After W.W. II, scholars discovered a treasure trove of Gnostic writings. Due to a variety of world *****s, it took considerable time to translate these materials and ***** over the past couple of decades have religious his*****rians been able to shed ***** ***** on the beginnings of ***** set of beliefs. Prior to this find, many individuals sided w*****h ***** likes of Irenaeus that Gnosticism ***** an outgrowth of the *****. ***** named possible Gnostic originator Simon Magus "the father ***** all heretics" in the Preface of his "Against Heresies, *****I." The other Church fathers followed suit.

Was ***** Magus the first Gnostic? Although some ***** the early *************** writers give him this label, no one knows for sure. According to ***** testimony of St. Justin ***** the Acts of Apostles, Simon came from Samaria and was called "Magus" because of his magical teachings. Announcing himself as