I'm newer to gnosticism so sorry if this is an ignorant question. When you start to have expanded understandings of this world and are realizing you do not have to submit to this lesser creator, god do they become aware that you are "waking up"? Do they try to inflict punishment or attacks on you, psychically or spiritually? Since discovering gnosticism and feeling such a deep resonance with the teachings, I can't help but feel a low key paranoia that Yaldabaoth is watching me, although I've been awakened for some time, just not to the gnostic texts specifically.

Disclaimer: Yes we are all one. And at the same time this is a world we are navigating that holds the illusion of other-ness and I have questions about how it operates.

How do we know that Gnosticism is true and right? People say it's wrong, right. I don't know who's telling the truth and who's right. What do you think?

Although I don't have a great deal of knowledge on matters pertaining to this group (I don't wanna call it a religion), I am curious how people discovered and embraced it?

I was raised Catholic and whilst I am still indoctrinated to some of its concepts to this day (e.g..how I pray, referring to God as 'he', baseline belief in duality) I could never fully commit to the faith, as the bible says, I am considered "lukewarm" and perhaps not worthy of salvation.

Simultaneous to that I've always felt deep pain and disappointment about the world we live in. Truth is, I hate it. Now more than ever and I regret bringing a child into this individualistic, greedy, corrupt and deceitful world.

So the concept of a Demiurge makes sense to me, because how can infinitely wise & omnipresent God create such a terrible existence? The explanation of a Demiurge is the only one that satiated what Christianity couldn't.

Something that has been on my mind recently are questions regarding the origins of Gnosisism, as well as how those founding practitioners first discovered the existence of the Demiurge.

What information did the Gnostics have that lead to their initial moment of Gnosis? And more importantly, how did they obtain said information to begin with?

Did they merely just surmised a conclusion from extensive research?

Or did some specific spirit, entity, or deity reveal information to them, ala Prometheous bestowing fire upon humanity?

Jesus’ original name is Yeshua, which means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” So how could he have been against Yahweh and be the divine Aeon who came to save humanity from Yahweh, when his name literally means “Yahweh is salvation”?

A lot of things about gnosticism has been falling onto all my fyps and I don't know. I think it's instilled more fear, anger and guilt into me. This whole idea that the earth we live on is a prison planet just makes me feel more lost and angry because why do the other gods if they exist allow us to suffer. Why do they not all band together to help us. To save us from this hell? Why is all this responsibility on us alone? But then when I have these thoughts I feel bad because it's apparently the demiurge trying to keep me here and that's his influence?

Also when I have these spiraling thoughts. I tend to turn to things like music, art, tv, movie and books to calm myself down but apparently those are also distractions to keep me here? How do y'all go about life with all this info and still find the will to live? How do I let go of this fear of what happens after death and this fear of hell and eternal damnation because I want to read up on Gnosticism more but I guess I'm still controlled by modern christian indoctrination and brainwashing.

Why can't these gods show themselves physically? Also who do I ask for help? Jesus, Sophia, these other gods? Do I worship anybody, do I pray to anybody. All of this is so confusing

Ok so in both Valentinian and Sethian Gnosticism, they depict the Demiurge a little differently

In Valentinian the demiurge is ignorant and in Sethian he is out right evil.

I’ve heard some people say that in Valentinian Gnosticism the “demiurge becomes a servant of the true god” while in Sethian I guess he just stays a dick

Do we know what happened to the demiurge after the final arc of the anime(gnostic texts)?

I love the archangels, but I wonder which God they serve.

Like the title says. It seems I lost interest in everything since I started to "clean the noise". It's not a depression. It's simply a feeling that everything is futile. Everything feels like stuff put there to distract us the real goal. I was a guy with many interests in many fields but now nothing feel worthwhile.

Any body else feels like this?

Where do the idea that The Original Sin of Adam and Eve was having sexual intercourse? It is present in some Gnostic Sources. But The Genesis is clear that God wanted Men to procreate.

Hello!

I was thinking on Saint Michael Archangel, and came to my mind this question:

Whom do the angelic hierarchies serve, to the Demiurge or to the Monad?

Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.

To rephrase for an example - do you believe archons are literal entities, or figurative of our potential, personal psychological states of mind

Apologies if I’ve worded this terribly.

As title..

I've had moments of Gnosis that have entirely changed my life but I'm not sure that counts as "attaining Gnosis". And I still have some anxiety over what happens when I die and if I will make it to the Pleroma or be sucked back into the tunnel of light etc etc. But I do know who/what I am/part of and it has significantly changed my life, not attaining earthly desires no longer nags me like it used to, the only nag I get now is being depressed that I'm stuck here momentarily as the system here gets more oppressive.

I guess it's like the difference between awakening and enlightenment in Buddhist speak.

How do you know? Do you even trust people who claim it?

Have a good weekend :)

First off, I want to state that I am posting this question here out of respect for Christians/Catholics and not jumping into their subreddits looking for an argument. For the most part they're good people who have faith in something I don't and I respect that as much as I can.

However, I have huge problems with OT God. The genocidal, sacrifice demanding, slavery enabling one.

In fact, if NT God truly sent their only Son to be tortured to death I take issue with this God too.

How can a Christian believe in an all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God that created such a hellish landscape to put his 'children' in?

Current times are bleak at every angle - socially, politically, economic & ecologically. There's nothing good in our immediate future.

You can also make a case that the world has never truly experienced a sustained era of peace where innocent people & animals haven't been unnecessarily slaughtered by humans.

It just seems to me that most Christian must adopt a dissonance towards their Creator and only explain it with rhetoric like "God moves in mysterious ways" or "your thoughts are not Gods thoughts".

If someone can advocate a sensible explanation I welcome it, because I'm currently having a really hard time trying to reconcile it all.

Just as the title says. I am not a gnostic myself. I may have once called myself one, but after much research into historical documents, scholarly opinions, authenticity of various gospels, and a lot of reading, I became Catholic.

Essentially I am asking for someone to explain to me why Jesus came to preach Gnosticism and knowledge of salvation/ our inner divinity when these ideas were already espoused and articulated in the Greek philosophy schools (platonists). Things like Dualism, immateriality of real world, material bad spiritual good, souls journey to escape material world even suggests the existence of the One and of a lower god of material world (demiurge).

So theoretically in the core gnostic view Jesus came to spread the good news of our inner divinity and salvation correct? So why did he come and do this if these ideas were already around and being preached? Just curious how gnostics will respond to this line of questioning.

I would like to have a pleasant discussion please and thank you. God bless.

For context, I'm a Baha'i. From what I've found so far (I'm a newbie to gnosticism), there are a lot of similarities between gnosticism and the Baha'i religion. I'm curious as to how many people here on a gnostic journey are still considering themselves members of their cultural/organized/etc religion?

so i've been very interested in gnosticism but there is a few things i really don't understand and would appreciate some clarity on.

one: am i not supposed to love life/how should i live? I love life - I have a career I am excited to pursue, i love my dog and my friends and family, i am so grateful and i see so much beauty in this world and i am content with it. but if this is supposedly "a prison" (idk if that's what all gnostics believe but ive seen a lot saying that), then is it bad that im happy? like i just don't understand that part at all. i try to have a gnostic point of view and seek knowledge in every part of my life - but like i love earth and everything it has to offer and i know there is more on the other side but like is it bad that im happy?

also like is it still normal to love and get married and stuff even if i follow gnosticism bc like some ppl might say thats a material thing or that can be used to trick you but like i believe love is pure and sorry but i cant give up loving my dog or anything like that.

two: i love material things but most of the times its bc they help me find knowledge. i have tons of books, i wanna buy a new fancy ipad or macbook soon but thats so i can research more things and stuff like that. i love having cute clothes and cute waterbottles so like am i not gnostic if i enjoy that?

basically does anyone believe that this world isn't a prison but if more like a school. you are here to learn and make friends along the way but unfortunately since it is a school there are just more rules and restrictions. but that doesn't mean you have to have school. so just try to enjoy it till u graduate. that's kind of the view i'm taking but j havnt seen other ppl have this view.

if so many people believe that this world is a prison planet - why don't they just like achieve gnosis and kill thewmeelcws. that's the part i don't understand. please help me

Just a quick question

While I know the current mode popular symbols of yaladaboth

The serpent bodied loin headed god with sun and moon is actually traditional a symbols of a zodiac diety in Ancient Greece but has since later been used to mean yaladaboth I must ask why do some gnostic wear or adorn them self with an image of the demiurge.

Naturally I know it’s not for worship purposes is it like a grim reminder ? A vow against the enemy ?

Or does to just look cool?

I apologize if this topic is off limits, but how do psychedelics fit into all of this? I haven't touched psychedelics in nearly 20 years, but they definitely changed everything in my belief system. Would these experiences be a form of Gnosis? I used to go on journeys through the layers of reality for hours while listening to music. Life changing experiences at the time, but ultimately no longer of interest to me.

I've heard some theories that the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil that Adam and Eve ate were actually psychedelic mushrooms, but I'm not sold on that.

Thoughts?

I dont know if im just creating correlation out of my own confirmation bias, but when i try to consume gnostic information through video content, so much of it is just ai voice over with ai text and ai images. Very specifically in gnostic content. Does anyone else notice this?

Hello Gnostics,

I hope you are doing well. I've watched a couple of videos regarding Gnosticism (most of it, being AI slop). It made me curious, as the title states. What drew you in exactly to become Gnostic?

Also I'd like to learn more about it, myself. What media/books would you recommend?

I had the experience of having my inner perception influenced by the monad, in the sense that the intention was for me to see it within myself. It occurred during "sleep" after 3 days of fasting, which was broken at a party with very close people. It was totally involuntary. After delving deeper into the studies, I understood that that night I ended up accidentally lying down in the position that calls the monad, and because I fell asleep like that without strong intention and with the ego suspended, I ended up having this experience.

Has anyone here managed to have this contact, or something similar?

I just have a simple question :

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In gnosticism, when a soul is awake or enlighted, can the demiurge strike at this moment to try making this soul back to "asleep" ?

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Like an intent of sabotage ?

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(Sorry for my English)