just an idea

[Pel]

(I took this from another post I made on another forum. I was told that it might make a decent topic with which to start.)

A lot of people believe Christianity is a monotheistic religion, but it's not. It's best described as monolatric. God is a jealous god! The whole thing about the ten commandments is that people think they say something like, "you shall have no other gods" or that there are no other gods. That's not quite true. It actually says something along the lines of (depending on the exact translation) "you shall have no other gods before me." I, personally, don't see anything that says there are no other gods. I see that God is the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords" ... to quote some familiar phrases. Most religions/traditions/ways of life have some type of being that is the highest of the high--a deity that is above others or that isn't really personified so that deity is something like "spirit," "akasha," supreme force, or divine will. For Christianity, this is God.

Of course, I'm speaking of my own beliefs, but I think it might represent more Christians than one might expect. It just takes a while for most to begin to understand the difference between believing in one god and worshipping one god (even though the separation of Father/Son/Holy Spirit could be considered by some people to be worshipping 3 deities instead of different facets of one god).

[moonwind333]

pel said:

(I took this from another post I made on another forum. I was told that it might make a decent topic with which to start.)

A lot of people believe Christianity is a monotheistic religion, but it's not. It's best described as monolatric. God is a jealous god! The whole thing about the ten commandments is that people think they say something like, "you shall have no other gods" or that there are no other gods. That's not quite true. It actually says something along the lines of (depending on the exact translation) "you shall have no other gods before me." I, personally, don't see anything that says there are no other gods. I see that God is the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords" ... to quote some familiar phrases. Most religions/traditions/ways of life have some type of being that is the highest of the high--a deity that is above others or that isn't really personified so that deity is something like "spirit," "akasha," supreme force, or divine will. For Christianity, this is God.

Of course, I'm speaking of my own beliefs, but I think it might represent more Christians than one might expect. It just takes a while for most to begin to understand the difference between believing in one god and worshipping one god (even though the separation of Father/Son/Holy Spirit could be considered by some people to be worshipping 3 deities instead of different facets of one god).

This is such an interesting aspect of Christianity that many don't consider. Do you also think there might be mystical aspects of Christianity that have been brought over from the Judiac mistical aspects of "God"?

[Senbecc]

pel said:

(I took this from another post I made on another forum. I was told that it might make a decent topic with which to start.)

A lot of people believe Christianity is a monotheistic religion, but it's not. It's best described as monolatric. God is a jealous god! The whole thing about the ten commandments is that people think they say something like, "you shall have no other gods" or that there are no other gods. That's not quite true. It actually says something along the lines of (depending on the exact translation) "you shall have no other gods before me." I, personally, don't see anything that says there are no other gods. I see that God is the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords" ... to quote some familiar phrases. Most religions/traditions/ways of life have some type of being that is the highest of the high--a deity that is above others or that isn't really personified so that deity is something like "spirit," "akasha," supreme force, or divine will. For Christianity, this is God.

Of course, I'm speaking of my own beliefs, but I think it might represent more Christians than one might expect. It just takes a while for most to begin to understand the difference between believing in one god and worshipping one god (even though the separation of Father/Son/Holy Spirit could be considered by some people to be worshipping 3 deities instead of different facets of one god).

I don't have any problems with a Christian board, I just wonder who made it for you? Did you make it yourself?...If so I've done something wrong somewhere lol.

[Senbecc]

admin said:

pel said:

(I took this from another post I made on another forum. I was told that it might make a decent topic with which to start.)

A lot of people believe Christianity is a monotheistic religion, but it's not. It's best described as monolatric. God is a jealous god! The whole thing about the ten commandments is that people think they say something like, "you shall have no other gods" or that there are no other gods. That's not quite true. It actually says something along the lines of (depending on the exact translation) "you shall have no other gods before me." I, personally, don't see anything that says there are no other gods. I see that God is the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords" ... to quote some familiar phrases. Most religions/traditions/ways of life have some type of being that is the highest of the high--a deity that is above others or that isn't really personified so that deity is something like "spirit," "akasha," supreme force, or divine will. For Christianity, this is God.

Of course, I'm speaking of my own beliefs, but I think it might represent more Christians than one might expect. It just takes a while for most to begin to understand the difference between believing in one god and worshipping one god (even though the separation of Father/Son/Holy Spirit could be considered by some people to be worshipping 3 deities instead of different facets of one god).

I don't have any problems with a Christian board, I just wonder who made it for you? Did you make it yourself?...If so I've done something wrong somewhere lol.

OHHH, Moonwind did...OK WHEW! I thought I screwed something up...K. Reading the post now lol...Carry on.

[Senbecc]

pel said:

(I took this from another post I made on another forum. I was told that it might make a decent topic with which to start.)

A lot of people believe Christianity is a monotheistic religion, but it's not. It's best described as monolatric. God is a jealous god! The whole thing about the ten commandments is that people think they say something like, "you shall have no other gods" or that there are no other gods. That's not quite true. It actually says something along the lines of (depending on the exact translation) "you shall have no other gods before me." I, personally, don't see anything that says there are no other gods. I see that God is the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords" ... to quote some familiar phrases. Most religions/traditions/ways of life have some type of being that is the highest of the high--a deity that is above others or that isn't really personified so that deity is something like "spirit," "akasha," supreme force, or divine will. For Christianity, this is God.

Of course, I'm speaking of my own beliefs, but I think it might represent more Christians than one might expect. It just takes a while for most to begin to understand the difference between believing in one god and worshipping one god (even though the separation of Father/Son/Holy Spirit could be considered by some people to be worshipping 3 deities instead of different facets of one god).

See Twinkle? They're not all like those fundies you encountered.

I liked it. I agree whole-heartedly!

[Sojrn]

pel said:

(I took this from another post I made on another forum. I was told that it might make a decent topic with which to start.)

A lot of people believe Christianity is a monotheistic religion, but it's not. It's best described as monolatric. God is a jealous god! The whole thing about the ten commandments is that people think they say something like, "you shall have no other gods" or that there are no other gods. That's not quite true. It actually says something along the lines of (depending on the exact translation) "you shall have no other gods before me." I, personally, don't see anything that says there are no other gods. I see that God is the "King of kings" and "Lord of lords" ... to quote some familiar phrases. Most religions/traditions/ways of life have some type of being that is the highest of the high--a deity that is above others or that isn't really personified so that deity is something like "spirit," "akasha," supreme force, or divine will. For Christianity, this is God.

Of course, I'm speaking of my own beliefs, but I think it might represent more Christians than one might expect. It just takes a while for most to begin to understand the difference between believing in one god and worshipping one god (even though the separation of Father/Son/Holy Spirit could be considered by some people to be worshipping 3 deities instead of different facets of one god).

I grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools, so I understand alot about where your coming from Pel.
Are you familiar with Christian Mysticism?

[Pel]

sojrn said:

I grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools, so I understand alot about where your coming from Pel.
Are you familiar with Christian Mysticism?

very vaguely. I've glanced through a couple gnostic gospels and apocrypha, but didn't go into much depth on the subject. Most of the time I merely glean information from other's opinions and subsequent knowledge. If the ideas feel right, I tend to incorporate them into my own personal philosophy.

[Senbecc]

pel said:

sojrn said:

I grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools, so I understand alot about where your coming from Pel.
Are you familiar with Christian Mysticism?

very vaguely. I've glanced through a couple gnostic gospels and apocrypha, but didn't go into much depth on the subject. Most of the time I merely glean information from other's opinions and subsequent knowledge. If the ideas feel right, I tend to incorporate them into my own personal philosophy.

Jesus said, "It is I who am the light that presides over all. It is I who am the entirety, it is from me that the entirety has come, and to me that the entirety goes. Split a piece of wood, I am there. Lift a stone, and you will find me.

If your kings/leaders say to you "Look! The Kingdom is in the sky!" then the birds will be there before you are. If they say that the Kingdom is in the sea, then the fish will be there before you are. The kingdom of god is not in a mansion of wood and/or stone made by men, rather the Kingdom is within you and it is all around (outside of) you."

-St. Thomas

It also seems interesting to note that many of the characters that appear "Gnostic" in these Gospels are also seen in John's work, and in Paul's.

"Moreover, that all men are not without communion with God, is taught in the Gospel thus, by the Saviour's words: "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation; neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! but the kingdom of God is within you.

But they assert that not only is there in favor of their doctrine, testimony to be drawn from the mysteries of the Assyrians, but also from those of the Phrygians concerning the happy nature-concealed, and yet at the same time disclosed-of things that have been, and are coming into existence, and moreover will be,-(a happy nature) which says, is the kingdom of heaven to be sought for within a man."

Luke 17:20-21

I wonder if the reason the Gospels of Thomas were deemed heresy, was because it denoted the church, and because it sounds like "animism"? Even though the words of Thomas are some of the oldest that refer to the living Jesus of Nazareth?

[Newlyn]

I have read one Gnostic Gospel - Sayings. I just started on the Book of Enoch.

Gnostic Christianity is fascinating. The teachings of Jesus are basically the same, as is the message. The only difference that I can see at this point is that Gnostics believe that the Divine can be found within us - a concept frowned upon by most Christians.

Also in the Gnostic Texts Jesus is decidedly more human. He laughs! Can't catch him doing that in the New Testament.

The Gnostics also believed that Jesus had already transcended when he was placed upon the Cross. All that died was an empty shell. So, the whole three days and rise again thing is not something they believe.

Mary Magdalene also played a much bigger role than many Christians believe. She was his special disciple, and he loved her. Most gnostics don't believe that they had a sexual relationship, but that he shared with her much more knowledge than the other apostles.

There is some question that the Book of John in the New Testament was actually written by her. The Gnostic texts do have a book of Mary's writings.

Fascinating stuff.

[Sojrn]

pel said:

sojrn said:

I grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools, so I understand alot about where your coming from Pel.
Are you familiar with Christian Mysticism?

very vaguely. I've glanced through a couple gnostic gospels and apocrypha, but didn't go into much depth on the subject. Most of the time I merely glean information from other's opinions and subsequent knowledge. If the ideas feel right, I tend to incorporate them into my own personal philosophy.

Pel, Have you looked at www.gnosiscentral.com/

They have many free books available in .pdf.

Just click the link "Gnosis Books Online"

[Pel]

yay! I'm glad moonwind created this board.

As for Gnostic Christianity, or Christian Gnosticism, or however it's technically named, I seem to remember something about what is sometimes called Satan. Bear with me because I'm pulling this from a very fuzzy memory, but in a certain sect of gnosticism I think there was an entity called Sophia, she was an Aeon. The Aeons were like fragmentations of God or the Divine. It was like God radiated power or parts and aspects of himself outward. The Aeons were beings created from these parts but not really separate. I forget how many there were, but there were a lot. The two Aeons farthest away were Sophia and Christ (I think this is how it goes). Somehow they got together and created another being called the Demiurge. My memory gets really fuzzy here, but the Demiurge was kind of isolated from this divine kingdom in which the Aeons existed. Since he was alone, he saw himself as God and went about creating the world man now inhabits.

I can't remember if the Demiurge had no real knowledge of the divine kingdom or knew of it and rebelled against it when creating man's world. Either way, the Demiurge proclaimed himself to be God. There are a few other random facts I seem to recall about Sophia being related to chaos, and maybe the Demiurge stole part of her power when he left the divine kingdom.


I've got a few gnostic gospels somewhere in my old room at my parents' house. I'm going to browse through them soon. And Sojrn, thanks for the site. I'm checking it out later today.

[moonwind333]

pel said:

yay! I'm glad moonwind created this board.

As for Gnostic Christianity, or Christian Gnosticism, or however it's technically named, I seem to remember something about what is sometimes called Satan. Bear with me because I'm pulling this from a very fuzzy memory, but in a certain sect of gnosticism I think there was an entity called Sophia, she was an Aeon. The Aeons were like fragmentations of God or the Divine. It was like God radiated power or parts and aspects of himself outward. The Aeons were beings created from these parts but not really separate. I forget how many there were, but there were a lot. The two Aeons farthest away were Sophia and Christ (I think this is how it goes). Somehow they got together and created another being called the Demiurge. My memory gets really fuzzy here, but the Demiurge was kind of isolated from this divine kingdom in which the Aeons existed. Since he was alone, he saw himself as God and went about creating the world man now inhabits.

I can't remember if the Demiurge had no real knowledge of the divine kingdom or knew of it and rebelled against it when creating man's world. Either way, the Demiurge proclaimed himself to be God. There are a few other random facts I seem to recall about Sophia being related to chaos, and maybe the Demiurge stole part of her power when he left the divine kingdom.


I've got a few gnostic gospels somewhere in my old room at my parents' house. I'm going to browse through them soon. And Sojrn, thanks for the site. I'm checking it out later today.

At your service, sir!

I have heard of Sophia ... she has been known as the 'great feminine' and the 'first feminine'. (Also as a 'forgotten female goddess' in Judiasm.) But I have never heard of the Demiurge. That is one I am going to have to go do some research on!

YES! I LOVE THIS FORUM! LEARNING, LEARNING, LEARNING!

[Senbecc]

All religion is valid here, as it is our diversity that makes us a community, even if the name is one of Paganism. I've ALWAYS felt that Christianity is a valid, and very interesting topic. And I look forward to any threads and or posts you'd like to make Pel.

[Pel]

what is this strange feeling?? is it .... acceptance?? wow lol

[Senbecc]

pel said:

what is this strange feeling?? is it .... acceptance?? wow lol

Well get used to it!