Is gnossis a religion or a philosophy?
824078
it is an older form of pure Christianity that is more like what jesus taught than the prechristian jewish bible. It is based upon knowledge and experience more than faith. it was superceded by the present day verison of christianity when Constantine, as new emporer of Rome, declared the council of Nicea meet and then they obliterated all other forms of Christianity they did not approve. The later Christians called these older christians Gnostic, because they claimed to KNOW rather than believe. regular Christians are called Pistic, being based upon faith. the so-called gnostic christians just called themselves christians, not gnostic christians. that name was made up for them by their enemies who destroyed them. some of their old writings have survived and there is a lot of interest in their teachings now as being better form of true christianity. They have a different tale than the adam and eve tale, which is actually a jewish tale.\n look up NAG HAMADI library on net and you will get a boatload of info.
695677
no, there are many paths to God, just as there are many types of peoples,,,, cant see why you included Eskimos in that list,,, that is not a religion
686916
Every other answer so far is wrong.  To answer this question you have to know the source:\n\nThe term 'agnostic' was coined by Thomas Huxley and it refers quite simply to a person who holds the view that it is wrong to assert the truth of a proposition without logically satisfactory evidence. \n\nSo, an agnostic would say that it's wrong to say "God exists" or "No gods exist" without the argument or evidence to back it up.  Moreover, the agnostic would say that it's immoral for a person to tell someone else that they *ought* to believe in the existence of a god or gods without providing logically satisfactory evidence.\n\nA 'theist' is defined as someone who believes in the existence of a god or gods, so an atheist is anyone who is not a theist.\n\nNote that you can be agnostic and also an atheist, or agnostic and a theist, or not agnostic and an atheist, or not agnostic and a theist.\n\nHope this helps...  :-)
105424
I believe religion is man made and spirituality is God made.\nToo many man made religious beliefs and rules, spirituality is the relationships between man and God.
422269
The word gnoso in Greek means "knowledge". The gnostics beleived they had "hidden knowledge" regarding Christ. You can tell present day gnostics by their use of extra-biblical text. Yes, the Bible is all well and good, but THIS book or THIS magazine will give you the REAL truth.\n\nThis is also seen in the DaVinci code (fiction supposedly based on fact), L. Ron Hubbard (science fiction taken as fact) and the gospel according to Judas (ancient text accepted as viable).
1090273
The nature of religion means that everyone thinks that their belief is correct. So all of the different cultures and religions which claim Isreal as their own do so with a conviction based on their own beliefs - it is an unending circle!
994554
My faith, I do not claim religion, is in Jesus Christ and His teachings in God's Holy Word... the Bible.\n\nGnostic Gospels: \nA one-sentence description of Gnosticism: a religion that differentiates the evil god of this world (who is identified with the god of the Old Testament) from a higher more abstract God revealed by Jesus Christ, a religion that regards this world as the creation of a series of evil archons/powers who wish to keep the human soul trapped in an evil physical body, a religion that preaches a hidden wisdom or knowledge only to a select group as necessary for salvation or escape from this world. \n\nThe term "gnostic" derives from "gnosis," which means "knowledge" in Greek. The Gnostics believed that they were privy to a secret knowledge about the divine, hence the name. (Huxley coined "agnosticism" on the basis that all knowledge must be based on reason. We cannot rationally claim to have access to knowledge that is beyond the powers of the intellect.)
326605
Nope. Home recovering from surgery. I just wanted to say, I really liked your take on spirituality! So many people turn away from God (or whatever you prefer to call it) when what they should be questioning are the religions created by man. God does not equal religion. When it comes to teachings, take what rings true to you! I'd love to see more people understand the difference!
1063611
Rational, sane, thinking, inquisitive, ...\n\nAgnostic is the term you seek.\n\nFor a better appreciation of the evolution of the term, you\nmay want to read more on "gnosticism."  \n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism\n\nI note that several posters already answered your question, and a link has been furnished for agnosticism.\n\nI felt you may gain insight through reading on the topic of gnosticism.\n\nHope it all helps.  \n\nThirst for knowledge.
737213
Atheist versus agnostic?\n\nFrom the American Heritage Dictionary:\n\nAgnos·tic - One who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God but does not deny the possibility that God exists.\n\nAtheism 1.a. Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods. b. The doctrine that there is no God or gods. 2. Godlessness; immorality.\n\nIn other words,\nthe agnostic doubts that God exists but leaves the finding of God open as a possibility ("gnosis" knowing, seeing; "a" not)\n\nThe atheist denies that God exists ("a" not; "theo" God).\n\nThis raises the question, "How could we prove God?" \n\nGod has no image, says the Bible. That is, with scientific means as practiced nowadays in a materialistic way, we will not be able to prove God!\n\nHowever, advanced logic may lead us to realize that their must a God, Creator of all things and in all things, as the Bible states.\n\nGood question. Thanks.\nCordially, India.Magica
1173212
I remember reading this somewhere.  It was/is a Native American religion but, I don't remember the name.  I think it starts with an S though.  Anyway,  homosexuals were considered less than gods but more than human.  Sorry I don't have more information on it.
708944
religion maybe......but not spiritual thinking.
1158161
Beliefs (religion) are philosophies.  Philosophies are made into religions.
526311
"Religion is commonly defined as a group of beliefs concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief." \n\nScience can be your religion if you want it to be. Not all religions believe in a God, it is more about a life style. Religion is something you hold great truth to. It is the most important thing in your life. It is what you live for. That is the way I understand it anyway.
553912
I'll check out the book you mentioned in the other thread but sounds a little too fundie for me. And sorry that you didn't like all the "mights" in my previous answer :)\n\nMonotheistic God = all knowing + all powerful\nIn some monotheist traditions the one God is all knowing/all powerful but not all. So Monotheistic God = all knowning +all powerful isn't always true and would be the first "might" in your own logic chain, might be all powerful might not.\n\nall knowing = knowledge of what you will do\nThe very fact that your using the word "will" implies that this one God who might be all powerful/knowing exists inside time. Our own studies have shown that the farther you are from a center of gravity, like the earth for instance, the slower time passes relative to someone nearer the center. So would this monotheistic god know what we "will" do or merely what we did? That is the second "might" in your logic chain.\n\nknowing what you will do = 0 choices\nThat is one way of looking at it, IF god exists inside time and IF he is really all knowning which isn't a must outside of the Judeo-Christian tradition (and isn't true across all groups within the tradition). Another way of looking at it is that knowing what you will do equates to already knowing what you chose to do. \n\n0 choices = 0 power\nThe power to choose? I'm not even sure what you mean here, the truth of the statement would seem to hinge on your definition of "power". Since power is a relative term it might be true if alot of other mights are met earlier in the process your laying out.\n\nomniscience = impotence\nWhat? Omniscience = knowledge of all things, whether real or apparent knowledge. = absolute power, not impotence. Or do you mean we're impotent? Impotent being the lack of strength to do anything?\n\nAre you a programmer by chance?\nHave you ever thought about the universe being one big program that is being compiled? The code was entered and is now being put together into a set form that was determined by the code? It sounds like what your describing, in which case we are all part of the program. Which means we dont' really need free will, we're doing exactly what we were meant to do. The reason there is a stigma attached to that kind of philosophy is that it justifies horrendous acts which are anti-social. Hitler for instance was doing just what he was supposed to, and so were Churchill and Roosevelt when they put him down. \n\nThat was a fun one to work through, I hope you got a little out of my answer. I honestly tried to answer it as best I could in the time taken.\n\nTake it easy,\nArmus
1110902
Yes, but be careful.  There were many, MANY branches of belief (the very philosophies of gnosticism made that a foregone conclussion) and it is deeper and richer than some of the stuff you'll see on line.\n\nMay I suggest a source to you?
686481
Oh Dark One. \n\nI normally wouldn't answer the question this way, but with with a name like Philosophy I can't help it.\nLet's try some lateral thinking.\n\nb/bc/nb\nBeing, Becoming, Non-Being.\n\nWhat if I suggested that God is [in]a "state" of constant being.\n\nAnd Man, as a created being, is in a state of becoming.\n\nAnd nothing, Non-Being  ...well we know where that the question of "what is nothing" leads.  ...nowhere\n\n\nMan was created perfect. Fell into sin and became imperfect. If one accepts Gods plan of salvation is made in the constant state of becoming like Christ(Being).\n\nChrist(God) the only true Being.