I’ve been seeing some back and forth concerning the ‘Christians’. I understand mainstream Christianity has left a sour taste in your mouth, as it has for many of us. But, please, I implore you put aside all prejudices you may have, having to do with mainstream Christianity. We are not that, nor do we believe their rhetoric. I’ve written this to hopefully bring some sort of historical clarification and possible further enlightenment. Please read, and let’s cuss and discuss.

Historically speaking, Gnosticism has its roots in Christianity. For centuries, Gnosticism had been dismissed as heresy, according to the church, as we’ve come to know it. The word gnosis has greek root, meaning “knowledge”, or “to know.”

The first person we have a historically written account of being called a ‘Gnostic’ was Simon Magus, who was a follower of Jesus. His followers were called the Simonians. Although Simon and his followers, as well as many other ‘gnostics’ and various sects, flourished in the 1st century CE, it wasn’t until in the 2nd century CE when Irenaeus referred to Simon as the “father of all heresies.” The only written documentation we had of this alternative group of Christians was the writings of Irenaeus and only a few others. Ironically, the so-called gnostics never referred to themselves as such. They were simply Christians. Irenaeus coined the word and used it a negative light. The ‘gnostics’ were ‘heretics’. Plain and simple.

It is my belief, through my studies, that there was some sort of schism somewhere between the mid 1st and early 2nd centuries. The church and its theology, as we currently understand it, came from this split, with, you guessed it, Irenaeus as one of the churches founding fathers. From that time until the nineteenth century, there is almost unanimous testimony that Simon was the first individual to be called a Gnostic, as written by Irenaeus.

Up until the 1940s, with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library, the only actual historical documentation we had was the writings of the church fathers, and the like. So, we knew of this group of Christians that were around but were only getting the one side of the story. Until the discovery of the scrolls, texts, and codices in the mid1940s, they were pretty much erased from history. At least, that was the effort.

Knowing what we know now about information control and censorship, we know exactly why the Gnostics were dismissed and ultimately muted and mostly eradicated. The control of information has been going on for longer and on a deeper level than we could ever imagine. The codices found at Nag Hammadi and also the Dead Sea Scrolls, also in Egypt, offer many writings that do not contradict canon at all but rather compliment it. And even verify it, in some cases. I encourage anyone to at least read ‘The Gospel of Thomas’. This writing is also known as ‘The Secret Teachings of Jesus.’ It’s also important to understand the significance of Thomas, himself. Who was he? It’s a very intriguing study.

In conclusion, Gnosticism began with the early Christian believers and were silenced due to the “church founders” wanting power and control over the people for themselves. Not for the people to have power and control over themselves. This has been the story of governing bodies since the beginning of time.

We gotta let language be the bridge and not the divide, it’s sad the “Christian’s” or more accurately bad Christians hear a different word than they use and instead of using language as a bridge of understanding, try to commit moral violence and force you to use the words they like. Then they’ll bitch and moan about pro nouns?

You’ll find hypocrisy everywhere especially at church, take it from someone who still goes. But I go for the feeling I get from the Holy Spirit or what have you. Some might laugh but hey it’s for me not you. But as far as talking I would rather talk to you guys, if I told them my story of gnosis I’d get told to check my meds. Idk I hate the fact that church CAN be a sewing circle. But I go in I sing throw a buck in the collection say peace and go and I read the Bible enough that it’s interesting for me, outside of the communication with others. But some times it’s just special.

You hear something you connect with and feel the spirit move, I love it. But it’s only because it’s on my terms now. And it took alot of emotional healing to get to a place where I could even walk back into that church after growing up as an altar boy there, need I say more.