Subjects:
[14/Sep/2004:22:40:47] <Father Phillip> Identity: Hello. I was wondering if you could tell me the Catolic
Church's view on Gnosis. Thanks.
[14/Sep/2004:22:40:49] <Father Phillip> hello
[14/Sep/2004:22:41:04] <Father Phillip> what kind of Gnosis, specifically,
are you asking about?
[14/Sep/2004:22:42:54] <Father Phillip> Identity: From the initial research
I have done, apparently in its true form its been around for 2,000+ years. I
believe their is a man named Samuel Weir that brought it back in the 50's.
[14/Sep/2004:22:43:15] <Father Phillip> i would certainly say that you're
right: various forms of gnosis have been around for more than 2000 years
[14/Sep/2004:22:44:40] <Father Phillip> Catholicism recognizes a certain
kind of gnosis -- small "g" -- as the knowledge God gives to the fully
iniitiated Christian
[14/Sep/2004:22:44:56] <Father Phillip> but Gnosis as a system is not
something the Church has ever endorsed
[14/Sep/2004:22:46:16] <Father Phillip> probably the most 'famous' forms
of gnositicism were the Marionites and Valentinians -- both broadly speaking
"Christian" sects -- of the first three centuries or so
[14/Sep/2004:22:47:02] <Father Phillip> the Marcionites were mostly a
kind of dualistic sect
[14/Sep/2004:22:47:18] <Father Phillip> and they were primarily known
for their founder's version of the Bible
[14/Sep/2004:22:47:52] <Father Phillip> which included most of St Paul's
letters, the Johanine writings of the NT...and not much else -- practically
nothing from the Hebrew Bible
[14/Sep/2004:22:48:35] <Father Phillip> the Valentinians were an almost
multi-theistic sect which recognized Christ but had a whole variety of demi-gods
and emanations from the one God
[14/Sep/2004:22:49:28] <Father Phillip> Identity: That's interesting,
haven't heard that before. Alot of the Dead Sea and Egyptian scrolls were gnostic.
From what I've read they claim alot of the various off shoots of gnosis were
created to perpetuate its teachings during the "Dark Age" of man.
I've heard that some of the apostles or their followers wrote against the gnostics
also.
[14/Sep/2004:22:50:08] <Father Phillip> yes, all gnostic sects that i
know anything about tend to use the "light" and "dark" metphors
[14/Sep/2004:22:50:38] <Father Phillip> but of course, Jesus used that
language too in John's Gospel -- and i don't think He would be a 'gnostic' in
the technical sense of the word!
[14/Sep/2004:22:54:15] <Father Phillip> Identity: I think I heard that
Samuel Weir was imprisoned by the Roman Catolic Church. I have absolutly no
idea about the accuracy of this, but was wondering if you knew anything about
it.
[14/Sep/2004:22:55:41] <Father Phillip> well, the truth is that i have
never heard of Samuel Weir -- maybe i should have or maybe my mind is just not
working too well this evening -- but his name doesn't ring a bell
[14/Sep/2004:22:55:41] <Father Phillip> but
[14/Sep/2004:22:56:06] <Father Phillip> if he lived in the 1950s, i cannot
imagine tha the RCC would have -- even COULD have imprisoned him
[14/Sep/2004:22:56:31] <Father Phillip> the Church hasn't had the wherewithal
to imprison anybody since 1871 as far as i know
[14/Sep/2004:22:57:38] <Father Phillip> Identity: Thanks for the information.
I'll look into some of the stuff you mentioned. Peace.
[14/Sep/2004:22:57:45] <Father Phillip> My pleasure
[14/Sep/2004:22:57:49] <Father Phillip> thanks for dropping by
[14/Sep/2004:22:57:58] <Father Phillip> be well!
[14/Sep/2004:22:58:13] <Father Phillip> Identity: You too.
[14/Sep/2004:22:58:16] <Father Phillip> God willing!