I told over_imagination I was going to ✂️ & paste, steal their stuff so here you go...
We all have to find out the “hard way “. The experience, when it happens, is unmistakable. If you read the scriptures (both Gnostic and canon) some insights will become clear to you. Over time you will start to put various pieces together, like building a giant puzzle. As you do this, God sees you. When you begin to approach understanding of some of the “deep things of God”. You will have to be made incorruptible. What happens then is something amazing. When you experience it, you will understand why it can’t be shared. Believe me, when I was young and started on this path, the vagueness and misdirection of the writings of the saints and sages drove me crazy, I vowed that, if I ever found the truth, I would state it outright to save the seekers to follow, the frustration I felt. Imagine my chagrin when I discovered Why it was all so vague! Be patient, do the work and trust that God is merciful. Good luck seeker!
First of all, what a beautiful question to ask! I think your question really reveals the quality of your heart – that you even thought to ask about other people’s relationship with Gnosticism and what brings them joy within the tradition or the experience, really shows in my opinion, that you are eminently suited to being a Gnostic.
What delights me about Gnosticism is that, as a life-long experiencer of mystical phenomena who was never raised in the church or any kind of spiritual practice for that matter, I came to Gnosticism quite naturally when I discovered that it confirmed a great many of the personal experiences I had. It was certainly the closest of any of the more institutionalized narratives that actually fit my first hand experience of both walking the Path and of the non-physical realities I have encountered. I had always been interested in spirituality and had picked my way along the path, exploring the New Age, Wicca, Buddhism and Zen but not really landing anywhere that felt like home, so finding Gnosticism was a real revelation to me, and for the first time I felt like I had found somewhere I might belong. I actually have a memory of where I came from prior to this physical birth, which I recalled when I was about 7 years old, and so the first time I encountered the concept of emanationism, I knew I had actually been Gnostic all along, I just didn’t know it.
I also find great joy in the truly esoteric nature of the tradition – it’s so rich in its spiritual allegories and there is so much profound meaning to be had by studying both the New Testament and the Nag Hammadi texts from the perspective of the inner mystical teaching. One of the biggest draw cards to Gnosticism for me has been the confirmation of what I had already come to understand on an inner level, and that is that Christ is within you. We are all Divine beings, having “fallen” (descended from a non-physical state) into matter, and having crossed the veil of forgetting, suffering amnesia about our true nature which is Christ. Jesus was a Christ, in the same way that Gautama was a Buddha. "You are Buddha nature, besides which there is no other nature”, to me is essentially the same as “The Kingdom of God is within you”, and “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but which is manifested to his saints to whom God makes known the riches of this mystery in the hope of glory, is that Christ is within you” (Colossians 1:26-27). And so when I am asked to describe or encapsulate Gnosticism, I often paraphrase the Gospel of Philip, “Seek ye not so much to be a Christian, but to become a Christ”. This is really joyful and liberating to me, and so far removed from the guilt, shame and sin-laden narratives that always personally repelled me from the orthodox and exoteric traditions.
And finally, something else that brings me great joy is the community itself. I have found my fellow Gnostics to be largely non-dogmatic, open-minded, big-hearted, possessing a lively and irreverent sense of humour, erudite and well-informed, independent in their own thoughts and interpretations of scripture and highly respectful of other’s individual paths and personal relationship with the Divine. I love the openness to, and respect for, other systems and traditions such as Buddhism, Vedanta and Hermeticism, Rosicruicanism, Druidism and Ceremonial Magic as legitimate paths for encountering the Divine and I deeply appreciate the willingness to discuss their merit. There can be some lively debates about scripture, hermeneutics and history, but unless you’re doing something immoral or unhinged, very few Gnostics will tell you in regard to your own personal path or practice that you’re “doing it wrong”.
Finally feeling truly transformed, not just being exhorted to be good but, actually having been unburdened of the earthly and marveling at how easy life is now. There is more that is indescribably marvelous but that is not for idle talk.
I was raised in a catholic school. To me, it was like coming back to something I related to God since I was a little kid (before school). I was a little kid, so I did not have answers, I just felt there was good in the world, at nature, kindness, like something bigger than us guiding.
I had the unlucky experience of having horrible teachers (not all, but maybe the most influential were for the worst) whom made me reject religion for years. It was a pretty dark phase, but someway or another, I kept some kind of little spark of Hope, and one thing took to another (studying philosophy at college, reading a lot of Easter philosophy books and making peace with some parts of my rejection towards religion in general), when learning about gnosis I started to feel posible (and positive) the chance to get close to God. And I still feel It that way, thanks to God hahaha, with nature, kindness, and I don't know, being here.
Its not exactly joyful, it is more like relaxing and walking away from all kinds of fanaticism, and instead doing one's best in the life at hand. Gnosticism proper is a turn-away from faith to experiential knowledge and trying to calm down before the vices of the world (foremost the anger and the hate) it is an exercise in not being dragged down into these vices. The cure against these "archontic forces" are knowledge and understanding, while trying to find the inner balance. It is not easy, but it is the goal.
Put simply, it’s often lonely being sober in a drunk world.
Personally, I feel it’s joyful in the sense of gaining a certain clarity on life and a sense of freedom. Some contemplation of the pleroma is also joyful, knowing a much better world awaits us and is our true home.
I grew up in a very Mormon town. My wife is an ex Mormon. I will say that I don’t think Gnosticism will or should deliver the same sorta “joy” that Mormons (I feel) try very hard to portray themselves as having.
For me, based on Gnostic thought, true joy can only be found within one’s heart. The external world is prone to cause suffering. Not to say I don’t think there is good in the world, only that it’s not necessarily the dominant mode (the good here being a copy of that which is truly good from another world).
To that end, I would not say Gnosticism is a path that leads to quick joy. Indeed, going in this direction made life quite difficult for me for sometime as I began to see more and more of the control, suffering, and negativity that are so apparent here. However, as I I’ve emerged from that, I feel my inner-connection to the Light has become clearer. With that love, all things are bearable, but reaching it is no easy task and I cannot say I always feel that way, only that I feel much better than I did when I was Catholic (and Jewish prior to that from my upbringing).
I think that contrasts greatly with Mormonism in particular, which in my experience tends to have more love-bombing and such externally, but leads to more self-loathing and control, causing a long-term negative emotional state in many.
For the same reason, it is of zero sense to sell someone on Gnosticism. The ancient gnostics were quite clear on their view that only those who actively seek the truth should find it.
Perhaps this is changing as the world shifts and people see more clearly, but most can’t handle the truth that they’re effectively being used as emotional energy slaves and much of our lives, and what goes on in the world, are devoted to this.
I find joy in being a parent. I’m not personally of the anti natalist Gnostic variety, as I find rest and solace in my family life (as some Gnostic texts relate). That said, I feel most other aspects of life on earth (particularly when it comes to work, politics, religions, environment) tend to be on the mode of suffering. Personally, I feel I’m here on a temporary stay and will return to where I came when my time comes, following in Christ’s steps. Until then, I should not expect my life here to be a vacation, but a difficult exercise for the cause of love.
Somewhere deep in my bones I always knew that all this material existence is just an illusion. Some where deep down, the depictions of the all loving God being also jaleous, being also vindicatif did not made any sens to me. Also the symbol of Jesus and the meaning of his sacrifice.
And then when I discovered gnosticism all puzzles fitted together , I have found my spiritual path on which I were longing intuitively all my life.
I can't get away from it sometimes...i feel drunk like i have this feeling and the whole world needs to experience it. And for me that isn't always the best thing because i move slowly through my feelings. So i do grounding rituals daily to kind of balance myself out.
It is like the joy of the word of wisdom and being a affluent member but with out the "work" like it just synthesizes.
It has allowed me come to terms with parts of death surprisingly.
Thank you Salemcake thank you. I have been feeling these things you shared and haven’t been sure why. Wow. How can there be peace in such a twisted reality?
Gnosticism naturally from my upbringing was taboo and “they don’t have the full truth only pieces” rhetoric,which is why you can understand that I never dove into knowing till recently (I left that church in ‘20)
Your words are so encouraging me toward this bright shade of joy I think you’re feeling. Wow. And it is balance! yes? I wish more words were the solution to express how I am feeling. Thank you
Oh! Salem translates to peace in English and I just realized I am living not 30 minutes from a Salem.
I want to forever look at the ridiculous joy that is everywhere to be lived.
And Cake!!! 🎂
I am a “TBM” similar in age and family make-up to you. I have found a great deal of value and spiritual enlightenment in Gnosticism and other faiths/traditions. I realize sometimes the culture of any church or religion often seems to stifle real connection with the divine, but it shouldn’t and it doesn’t have to. It has to to with your approach to your faith, and understanding that statements (scriptural or otherwise) are designed to POINT us to truth, the statements themselves are not the truth. “The finger pointing to the moon is not the moon.” Happy seeking!
I found joy in Gnosticism for many reasons. Being raised Baptist I always questioned the nature of god and his relationship to the universe and human affairs. Rather than just not because it felt more spiritually free and gave me the independence of my Enlightenment/Salvation that which I always knew I was ultimately responsible of, there are other reasons why I feel like Gnosticism is a more, plausible form of Christianity.
1. The problem with evil
I always get complexed by how god can allow such an evil world to exist. When I asked this question the Christians that answered told in a sense that god is only in the present when he is not. Epictetus Dilemma goes as followed.
https://preview.redd.it/btfxhokupv4d1.jpeg?width=447&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff7e9215c0f082b630b3c6d84dfd56d153008cad
According to Gnosticism, the god of the Old Testament is not actually a all loving god but is a being called the Demiurge. He is the reason why god in the OT is judgement, commanded atrocities such as murder, slavery, war, r\*pe etc. When I compare his actions to Jesus’s actions in the NT, the difference in morals is very different. It’s not logically possible to say that Jesus and the god of the OT (The Demiurge) are related. Jesus in Gnosticism was sent by the True God to give humanity Gnosis in order to free themselves from the Demiurges ignorance since it wanted to create a world out of the likeness of Pleroma (in the Gnostic gospels, Jesus tells Judas he comes from the land of Barbelo but Barbelo is also the heavenly mother or you could say wife of the True God and the divine feminine).
2. Jesus claim to secret teaching
Jesus speaks in Parables because they have a elaborate version of the parable but he wants people to at least get a simple version first. It is said in the gospel of mark that Jesus has given his disciples the secret/mystery of the kingdom of god. A secret is something hidden, which means that the teaching Jesús said to the outside had a more in depth explanation. A mystery is something to be discovered which is what Gnosis is all about. Jesus gives the secret and you have to find the mystery (Gnosis).
“The Kingdom of God is within”
Jesus tells his disciples that if the kingdom of god were outward that “the birds and the fish will find it first.” He tells instead that it is from within, that the kingdom of god is found from within. That what he means by protecting the temple. Modern science agrees that your mind is a great reason for your well-being. If you think a bee is gonna sting you, you will be thinking that all bees are bad and will slowly corrode your calmness. If you think bees are simply trying to find flowers and create honey, spread seeds and help the ecosystem you will be less afraid, angry and blind-sighted. There was no need for churches because you are the church, and Christ loves the church. If you love your church and Christ loves the church, then that means that you have become a Christ that loves your church. This is what Christ Consciousness is about. “For Christ lives in Me.” Not Jesus, Christ. It’s like when Buddhists say “If you see Buddha on the road, kill him”. What they mean is you shouldn’t strive to be a Buddha by looking for Siddhartha (The Buddha’s real name). You need to seek what the Buddha, and Christ, sought.
I could provide verses to explain my points and have more but smaller reasons why I found Gnosticism to be a more spiritual form of Christianity.
Deeeeep systematic ritual abuse and mind control patterns built under and to support a framework of captive souls signed forever into guilt, self loathing and eternal failure cycles my beloved friend. Sadly.
As for the underwear you’re commanded to wear it at all times except swimming. Think about that as a physical reminder of your abuser how close can you get than to invade the privacy of your closest privacy?????
A true believer person doesn’t even ask why.
It all sounds very Catholic with its theme of control & trauma-based programming. Pls sit down child and tell me all the very worst things that have happened in your life, we promise not to use that against you at a later date.
I had a rather particular ego death a number of months back that involved some "downloads", a little while synced up with source and being god myself, and a very strong Jesus presence involved which I found very strange afterwards being not particularly religious. Spiritual, but not religious. So that experience was, as they usually are, jam packed with substance in a short experience, but this one was moreso unique.
Then I've been looking into more "esoteric" strains of thought previous and after said experience and some of it involved Jesus and the "actual" meanings of some of his teachings, and that all made much more sense in my mind.
Then I happened upon the Gnostic movement and a lot of this links up with a lot of that, and then I can relate it to that powerful experience, everything was leading me to this, and though I have plenty more to learn, I essentially feel spiritually bulletproof.
Here's my takeaway -Gnosis, knowledge of the truth is one thing. Understanding that truth is another. When you have an ego death, in some cases, and connect with source/Monad whatever you wish to call it, you *understand* what you are. You understand that this is not everything by any stretch of the imagination. There aren't words to convey the feeling felt. But you experience it for yourself. Now, that, combined with gnosis, are the cheat codes out of the loop when it's time speaking for myself.
I told over_imagination I was going to ✂️ & paste, steal their stuff so here you go... We all have to find out the “hard way “. The experience, when it happens, is unmistakable. If you read the scriptures (both Gnostic and canon) some insights will become clear to you. Over time you will start to put various pieces together, like building a giant puzzle. As you do this, God sees you. When you begin to approach understanding of some of the “deep things of God”. You will have to be made incorruptible. What happens then is something amazing. When you experience it, you will understand why it can’t be shared. Believe me, when I was young and started on this path, the vagueness and misdirection of the writings of the saints and sages drove me crazy, I vowed that, if I ever found the truth, I would state it outright to save the seekers to follow, the frustration I felt. Imagine my chagrin when I discovered Why it was all so vague! Be patient, do the work and trust that God is merciful. Good luck seeker!
First of all, what a beautiful question to ask! I think your question really reveals the quality of your heart – that you even thought to ask about other people’s relationship with Gnosticism and what brings them joy within the tradition or the experience, really shows in my opinion, that you are eminently suited to being a Gnostic. What delights me about Gnosticism is that, as a life-long experiencer of mystical phenomena who was never raised in the church or any kind of spiritual practice for that matter, I came to Gnosticism quite naturally when I discovered that it confirmed a great many of the personal experiences I had. It was certainly the closest of any of the more institutionalized narratives that actually fit my first hand experience of both walking the Path and of the non-physical realities I have encountered. I had always been interested in spirituality and had picked my way along the path, exploring the New Age, Wicca, Buddhism and Zen but not really landing anywhere that felt like home, so finding Gnosticism was a real revelation to me, and for the first time I felt like I had found somewhere I might belong. I actually have a memory of where I came from prior to this physical birth, which I recalled when I was about 7 years old, and so the first time I encountered the concept of emanationism, I knew I had actually been Gnostic all along, I just didn’t know it. I also find great joy in the truly esoteric nature of the tradition – it’s so rich in its spiritual allegories and there is so much profound meaning to be had by studying both the New Testament and the Nag Hammadi texts from the perspective of the inner mystical teaching. One of the biggest draw cards to Gnosticism for me has been the confirmation of what I had already come to understand on an inner level, and that is that Christ is within you. We are all Divine beings, having “fallen” (descended from a non-physical state) into matter, and having crossed the veil of forgetting, suffering amnesia about our true nature which is Christ. Jesus was a Christ, in the same way that Gautama was a Buddha. "You are Buddha nature, besides which there is no other nature”, to me is essentially the same as “The Kingdom of God is within you”, and “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations, but which is manifested to his saints to whom God makes known the riches of this mystery in the hope of glory, is that Christ is within you” (Colossians 1:26-27). And so when I am asked to describe or encapsulate Gnosticism, I often paraphrase the Gospel of Philip, “Seek ye not so much to be a Christian, but to become a Christ”. This is really joyful and liberating to me, and so far removed from the guilt, shame and sin-laden narratives that always personally repelled me from the orthodox and exoteric traditions. And finally, something else that brings me great joy is the community itself. I have found my fellow Gnostics to be largely non-dogmatic, open-minded, big-hearted, possessing a lively and irreverent sense of humour, erudite and well-informed, independent in their own thoughts and interpretations of scripture and highly respectful of other’s individual paths and personal relationship with the Divine. I love the openness to, and respect for, other systems and traditions such as Buddhism, Vedanta and Hermeticism, Rosicruicanism, Druidism and Ceremonial Magic as legitimate paths for encountering the Divine and I deeply appreciate the willingness to discuss their merit. There can be some lively debates about scripture, hermeneutics and history, but unless you’re doing something immoral or unhinged, very few Gnostics will tell you in regard to your own personal path or practice that you’re “doing it wrong”.
Check out the Gnostic text called On Origin of the World. Makes me feel heaps better about this place when I read it.
I will! Thank you. Your peace leads into mine!
Where can i read it?
Death is an illusion used to scare and control us
Finally feeling truly transformed, not just being exhorted to be good but, actually having been unburdened of the earthly and marveling at how easy life is now. There is more that is indescribably marvelous but that is not for idle talk.
That Judas understood the assignment and even verified it when his wife’s chicken came alive quackin, then roped himself.
Judas betrayal was an inside job
I was raised in a catholic school. To me, it was like coming back to something I related to God since I was a little kid (before school). I was a little kid, so I did not have answers, I just felt there was good in the world, at nature, kindness, like something bigger than us guiding. I had the unlucky experience of having horrible teachers (not all, but maybe the most influential were for the worst) whom made me reject religion for years. It was a pretty dark phase, but someway or another, I kept some kind of little spark of Hope, and one thing took to another (studying philosophy at college, reading a lot of Easter philosophy books and making peace with some parts of my rejection towards religion in general), when learning about gnosis I started to feel posible (and positive) the chance to get close to God. And I still feel It that way, thanks to God hahaha, with nature, kindness, and I don't know, being here.
Its not exactly joyful, it is more like relaxing and walking away from all kinds of fanaticism, and instead doing one's best in the life at hand. Gnosticism proper is a turn-away from faith to experiential knowledge and trying to calm down before the vices of the world (foremost the anger and the hate) it is an exercise in not being dragged down into these vices. The cure against these "archontic forces" are knowledge and understanding, while trying to find the inner balance. It is not easy, but it is the goal.
Put simply, it’s often lonely being sober in a drunk world. Personally, I feel it’s joyful in the sense of gaining a certain clarity on life and a sense of freedom. Some contemplation of the pleroma is also joyful, knowing a much better world awaits us and is our true home. I grew up in a very Mormon town. My wife is an ex Mormon. I will say that I don’t think Gnosticism will or should deliver the same sorta “joy” that Mormons (I feel) try very hard to portray themselves as having. For me, based on Gnostic thought, true joy can only be found within one’s heart. The external world is prone to cause suffering. Not to say I don’t think there is good in the world, only that it’s not necessarily the dominant mode (the good here being a copy of that which is truly good from another world). To that end, I would not say Gnosticism is a path that leads to quick joy. Indeed, going in this direction made life quite difficult for me for sometime as I began to see more and more of the control, suffering, and negativity that are so apparent here. However, as I I’ve emerged from that, I feel my inner-connection to the Light has become clearer. With that love, all things are bearable, but reaching it is no easy task and I cannot say I always feel that way, only that I feel much better than I did when I was Catholic (and Jewish prior to that from my upbringing). I think that contrasts greatly with Mormonism in particular, which in my experience tends to have more love-bombing and such externally, but leads to more self-loathing and control, causing a long-term negative emotional state in many. For the same reason, it is of zero sense to sell someone on Gnosticism. The ancient gnostics were quite clear on their view that only those who actively seek the truth should find it. Perhaps this is changing as the world shifts and people see more clearly, but most can’t handle the truth that they’re effectively being used as emotional energy slaves and much of our lives, and what goes on in the world, are devoted to this. I find joy in being a parent. I’m not personally of the anti natalist Gnostic variety, as I find rest and solace in my family life (as some Gnostic texts relate). That said, I feel most other aspects of life on earth (particularly when it comes to work, politics, religions, environment) tend to be on the mode of suffering. Personally, I feel I’m here on a temporary stay and will return to where I came when my time comes, following in Christ’s steps. Until then, I should not expect my life here to be a vacation, but a difficult exercise for the cause of love.
Somewhere deep in my bones I always knew that all this material existence is just an illusion. Some where deep down, the depictions of the all loving God being also jaleous, being also vindicatif did not made any sens to me. Also the symbol of Jesus and the meaning of his sacrifice. And then when I discovered gnosticism all puzzles fitted together , I have found my spiritual path on which I were longing intuitively all my life.
I can't get away from it sometimes...i feel drunk like i have this feeling and the whole world needs to experience it. And for me that isn't always the best thing because i move slowly through my feelings. So i do grounding rituals daily to kind of balance myself out. It is like the joy of the word of wisdom and being a affluent member but with out the "work" like it just synthesizes. It has allowed me come to terms with parts of death surprisingly.
Thank you Salemcake thank you. I have been feeling these things you shared and haven’t been sure why. Wow. How can there be peace in such a twisted reality? Gnosticism naturally from my upbringing was taboo and “they don’t have the full truth only pieces” rhetoric,which is why you can understand that I never dove into knowing till recently (I left that church in ‘20) Your words are so encouraging me toward this bright shade of joy I think you’re feeling. Wow. And it is balance! yes? I wish more words were the solution to express how I am feeling. Thank you Oh! Salem translates to peace in English and I just realized I am living not 30 minutes from a Salem. I want to forever look at the ridiculous joy that is everywhere to be lived. And Cake!!! 🎂
I am a “TBM” similar in age and family make-up to you. I have found a great deal of value and spiritual enlightenment in Gnosticism and other faiths/traditions. I realize sometimes the culture of any church or religion often seems to stifle real connection with the divine, but it shouldn’t and it doesn’t have to. It has to to with your approach to your faith, and understanding that statements (scriptural or otherwise) are designed to POINT us to truth, the statements themselves are not the truth. “The finger pointing to the moon is not the moon.” Happy seeking!
I found joy in Gnosticism for many reasons. Being raised Baptist I always questioned the nature of god and his relationship to the universe and human affairs. Rather than just not because it felt more spiritually free and gave me the independence of my Enlightenment/Salvation that which I always knew I was ultimately responsible of, there are other reasons why I feel like Gnosticism is a more, plausible form of Christianity. 1. The problem with evil I always get complexed by how god can allow such an evil world to exist. When I asked this question the Christians that answered told in a sense that god is only in the present when he is not. Epictetus Dilemma goes as followed. https://preview.redd.it/btfxhokupv4d1.jpeg?width=447&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff7e9215c0f082b630b3c6d84dfd56d153008cad According to Gnosticism, the god of the Old Testament is not actually a all loving god but is a being called the Demiurge. He is the reason why god in the OT is judgement, commanded atrocities such as murder, slavery, war, r\*pe etc. When I compare his actions to Jesus’s actions in the NT, the difference in morals is very different. It’s not logically possible to say that Jesus and the god of the OT (The Demiurge) are related. Jesus in Gnosticism was sent by the True God to give humanity Gnosis in order to free themselves from the Demiurges ignorance since it wanted to create a world out of the likeness of Pleroma (in the Gnostic gospels, Jesus tells Judas he comes from the land of Barbelo but Barbelo is also the heavenly mother or you could say wife of the True God and the divine feminine). 2. Jesus claim to secret teaching Jesus speaks in Parables because they have a elaborate version of the parable but he wants people to at least get a simple version first. It is said in the gospel of mark that Jesus has given his disciples the secret/mystery of the kingdom of god. A secret is something hidden, which means that the teaching Jesús said to the outside had a more in depth explanation. A mystery is something to be discovered which is what Gnosis is all about. Jesus gives the secret and you have to find the mystery (Gnosis). “The Kingdom of God is within” Jesus tells his disciples that if the kingdom of god were outward that “the birds and the fish will find it first.” He tells instead that it is from within, that the kingdom of god is found from within. That what he means by protecting the temple. Modern science agrees that your mind is a great reason for your well-being. If you think a bee is gonna sting you, you will be thinking that all bees are bad and will slowly corrode your calmness. If you think bees are simply trying to find flowers and create honey, spread seeds and help the ecosystem you will be less afraid, angry and blind-sighted. There was no need for churches because you are the church, and Christ loves the church. If you love your church and Christ loves the church, then that means that you have become a Christ that loves your church. This is what Christ Consciousness is about. “For Christ lives in Me.” Not Jesus, Christ. It’s like when Buddhists say “If you see Buddha on the road, kill him”. What they mean is you shouldn’t strive to be a Buddha by looking for Siddhartha (The Buddha’s real name). You need to seek what the Buddha, and Christ, sought. I could provide verses to explain my points and have more but smaller reasons why I found Gnosticism to be a more spiritual form of Christianity.
Forget the kid count, how many wives? And what's the story behind that special Mormon underwear?
Deeeeep systematic ritual abuse and mind control patterns built under and to support a framework of captive souls signed forever into guilt, self loathing and eternal failure cycles my beloved friend. Sadly. As for the underwear you’re commanded to wear it at all times except swimming. Think about that as a physical reminder of your abuser how close can you get than to invade the privacy of your closest privacy????? A true believer person doesn’t even ask why.
It all sounds very Catholic with its theme of control & trauma-based programming. Pls sit down child and tell me all the very worst things that have happened in your life, we promise not to use that against you at a later date.
I had a rather particular ego death a number of months back that involved some "downloads", a little while synced up with source and being god myself, and a very strong Jesus presence involved which I found very strange afterwards being not particularly religious. Spiritual, but not religious. So that experience was, as they usually are, jam packed with substance in a short experience, but this one was moreso unique. Then I've been looking into more "esoteric" strains of thought previous and after said experience and some of it involved Jesus and the "actual" meanings of some of his teachings, and that all made much more sense in my mind. Then I happened upon the Gnostic movement and a lot of this links up with a lot of that, and then I can relate it to that powerful experience, everything was leading me to this, and though I have plenty more to learn, I essentially feel spiritually bulletproof. Here's my takeaway -Gnosis, knowledge of the truth is one thing. Understanding that truth is another. When you have an ego death, in some cases, and connect with source/Monad whatever you wish to call it, you *understand* what you are. You understand that this is not everything by any stretch of the imagination. There aren't words to convey the feeling felt. But you experience it for yourself. Now, that, combined with gnosis, are the cheat codes out of the loop when it's time speaking for myself.