#jewish gnosticism

[nogetron]

King Solomon, the greatest of the ancient biblical kings. As the son of the slayer of Goliath, David, Solomon inherited the throne of Israel. One night in his youth Solomon prayed to God, appearing in his dream God asked him what he wanted and Solomon asked God for the wisdom to rule his people justly and fairly. Moved by his earnest and selfless wish, God granted his wish and more, granting him great knowledge, the ability to talk to animals and awakening his magical abilities. To thank the god that granted him such wisdom, Solomon began construction of the first temple. However its construction was constantly hindered and destroyed by demons, so Solomon once again asked God for guidance. In response the archangel Michael descended to Solomon and bestowed upon him a ring that could capture and control demons, with it he imprisoned the demons and forced them to complete the temple dedicated to their eternal enemy. Solomon’s archenemy was Asmodeus, a demon of lust who constantly troubled Solomon. One story details that after casting Solomon’s ring into a river, Asmodeus threw Solomon across the world, causing the king to lose the throne and his riches. Despite this Solomon was able to recover his ring and defeat Asmodeus, reclaiming his spot on the throne. Solomon held many wives as king, with some stating over 700. Many of his wives were the queens and princesses of other kingdoms, such as the Queen of Sheba and the pharaoh’s daughter. After his death his son Rehoboam took over the throne, however under his rule the kingdom of Israel suffered and ultimately fractured.

King Solomon is a greatly revered monarch among the Abrahamic faiths, especially among the more mystic branches of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Gnosticism. Though the practice of sorcery in the Abrahamic faiths can be traced back to the beginning of the Jewish faith, Solomon has still been an important figure throughout mysticism. The book that really sparked demonology was the Testament of Solomon, an extra biblical book that detailed the many demons who Solomon captured, this book was used as reference for the Key of Solomon, which laid out the framework for demon classification. Solomon also appears frequently in the One Thousand and One Nights, mostly mentioned off hand, however in one story he imprisoned a jinn within a bottle thrown into the sea, this story is thought to have evolved from the story Solomon’s combat against Asmodeus. The royal family of Ethiopia claimed to be descendants of Solomon as well as holding the ark of the covenant, similarly Ethiopia was the first country to officially adopt Christianity as a religion. The historicity of Solomon is debated among researchers, however the consensus is that he most likely did exist, but the splendor of his kingdom was most likely exaggerated.

[gnosticism3]

your religions wont exist in the future

The true god will no longer be unknown. Gnosis.org

[from-the-notebooks]

Writing a paper on Gnosticism and I'm just wondering

[hellhoundmaggie]

OC Associations: Samael Scarlet

Making his Tumblr debut is my new Scarlet Hollow fankid, Samael "Sam" Scarlet. Sam is the son of Wayne and my "canon" MC Emily (not her real name). A Well Boy with a spooky streak, Sam is fiercely loyal to his mother -- much like his mystical father. Emily can't help but worry about her son's bizarre behavior, but she loves him and supports him as best she can as a single mom.

Animal: Raven ("People think they're scary and bad, but they're an important part of nature.")

Colours: Black/Yellow/Gray/Red

Month: October

Song: Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie

Number: 2 ("It's the smallest prime. And it's me and my mother. That's all I need.")

Day or Night: Night

Plant: Chrysanthemum

Smells: Cotton, soap, ozone

Gemstone: Ruby

Season: Fall

Places: School, the public library, the duck pond and the walking path at the park, the window seat in the living room

Food: Buttered noodles, dry toast, plain yogurt

Astrological sign: Leo

Element: Air

Drink: Milk

Thank you for tagging me @cymatile! Thanks for your patience.

Tagging @/anxiouskaneekaforsyth, @clementinescarlet, and @voiceofthesilly. No pressure - really!

PS: here is the Picrew I used to make mother and child:

[inbabylontheywept]

I have never read anything like this before. I liked it, but I'm throwing it out here because I honestly just need to have someone else to sit with and go "what the actual fuck was that?"

[gnomestic]

As a fan of theology and someone who learns about religions and spirituality for fun, I particularly really enjoy learning about the gnostic beliefs and practices of early Jews and Christians.

One thing I really find really fascinating is the significance of spiritual knowledge, which can especially seem like a contrast compared to the blind, unquestioning faith we see in many modern Christian denominations.

If you’re not familiar with Gnosticism, it’s best summarized as a collection of beliefs, practices, and systems that came about from Jewish and early Christian sects in the late first century (AD).

(To paint a picture for you, 1st century AD is also considered part of the Classical Era. At this time, the Roman Empire, Han China, and Parthian Persia were the dominating powers. Christianity originated from Palestine in this century, along with the crucifixion of Jesus. This is also the century in which Mount Vesuvius erupted and famously wiped out Pompeii and Herculaneum. This was the world from which gnostic beliefs were born.)

The gnostics prioritized personal spiritual knowledge over the proto-orthodox teachings, traditions, and systems of authority within religious institutions of the time. (Proto-orthodoxy is just the precursor to orthodox Christianity.)

A lot of gnostic texts tend to emphasize concepts of illusion and enlightenment over sin and repentance. This is because gnostic cosmology (or the gnostic model concerning the origin of the universe) distinguishes between a hidden God that reigns supreme, and a lesser divinity responsible for the material universe.

Due to this distinction, the gnostics believed that material existence in itself is flawed or evil, and that salvation was simply the direct knowledge of the hidden divinity or God.

It’s important to note that Gnosticism is not a single, standardized system. The emphasis on personal experience allowed for a wide variety of teachings.

The second century AD saw a flourishing of gnostic literature among Christian groups in the Mediterranean world. The early church denounced them as heresy, though, and unfortunately efforts to destroy these texts were mostly successful. Very few writings from gnostic theologians survive to this day.

We do know that gnostic christians saw Christ as a divine being who took the human form in order to guide humanity back to the recognition of its own divine nature. We also know that gnostic beliefs, despite the mass erasure of related literature, managed to spread as far as China in the Persian Empire. Remember, as belief systems are shared and spread, they tend to change to suit the people adopting these beliefs, so what some gnostic christians may have believed, may not have aligned with what another would have believed in a different part of the world.

The only surviving gnostic religion from antiquity is Mandaeism, which is a monotheistic ethnic religion found in Iraq, Iran, and diaspora comminuties. The religion originated in 1st century AD in Judaeah, which was a Roman province.

[non-conventionnel]

“In its mythology, Mithra, the Persian god of light and wisdom, was born of a virgin in a cave on the 25th December and later, as an adult, undertook long voyages for the purposes of illuminating mankind. His disciples were twelve; he was betrayed, sentenced to death, and after his death, he was buried in a tomb from which he rose from the dead. The Mithrian religion also states that at the end of all time, Mithra will come again to judge the living and the dead.

In this religious cult, Mithra was called the Saviour and he was sometimes illustrated as a lamb. Its doctrine included baptism, the sacramental meal (the Eucharist), and the belief in a saviour god that died and rose from the dead to be the mediator between God and mankind. The adherents of this religion believed in the resurrection of the body, universal judgement, and therefore in heaven and hell.”

― Anton Sammut, The Secret Gospel Of Jesus AD 0-78

[daz4i]

i likely won't get into genshin but it's probably for the best. bc from what i know abt the lore and world etc i will become the most annoying person in the world if i did

[chicagognosis]

Kabbalah: The Doctrine of Soul and Spirit

Sept. 26, 2023 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

This lecture builds on Kabbalah: The Yoga of the West, outlining the cultural, psychological, and spiritual contexts of Jewish mystical traditions. Kabbalah possesses a rich corpus embodying multiple levels of meaning and practice, codified within introductory, intermediate, and advanced knowledge. Discover these three tiers of instruction through the writings of Gershom Scholem, Arthur Green, Manly P. Hall, Dion Fortune, Samael Aun Weor, and the Zohar.
Join Zoom Meeting

[santmat]

For the Sake of the God-conscious Beings Heaven and Earth Came Into Being - Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts

"Whenever feeling downcast, each person should vitally remember, 'For my sake, the entire world was created.'" (Baal Shem Tov)

Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcast - For the Sake of the God-conscious Beings Heaven and Earth Came Into Being @ the Podcast Website: 

https://SpiritualAwakeningRadio.libsyn.com/for-the-sake-of-the-god-conscious-beings-heaven-and-earth-came-into-being

@ Apple Podcasts:  

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-awakening-radio/id1477577384

@ Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/5kqOaSDrj630h5ou65JSjE

& @ Wherever You Subscribe and Follow Podcasts (Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Audible, Stitcher, PodBean, Overcast, Jio Saavan, i Heart Radio, Podcast Addict, Gaana, CastBox, etc...): 

https://linktr.ee/SpiritualAwakeningRadio

The Baal Shem Tov is sort of the "Rumi" or "Kabir" of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), an example of a towering figure and great mystic of one of the schools of spirituality. The ending part, "For my sake, the entire world was created", is a variation of an ancient axiom of wisdom about how a certain number of saints being present keeps the world alive, tilts the balance toward the Light. A version of it even turns up in saying twelve of the Gospel of THOMAS: "The students said to Yeshua, 'We know you will leave us. Who will be our leader?' Yeshua said to them, 'Wherever you are, seek out Yaakov the Just [James the Just]. For his sake heaven and earth came into being.'"

Martin Buber elaborates and expands on this axiom in a way that includes us all: "Every person should know and consider the fact that you, in the particular way that you are made, are unique in the world, and no one like you has ever been. For if someone like you had already been, there would be no reason for you to be in this world." (Ten Rings: Hasidic Sayings, Martin Buber)

Here's a big picture view from the Sikh scriptures of India, the Adi Granth, Peace Lagoon translation: "It was for the sake of the God-conscious beings that our True Lord created this earth, and began this play of death and birth".

In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters, Radhaswami,

James Bean

Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts

Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts

Sant Mat Radhasoami

https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com

#SpiritualAwakeningRadio #Gnostic #Gnosticism #Mystics #Mysticism #Spirituality #Meditation #Kabbalah #SantMat #Sant_Mat #Radha_Soami #Radhasoami #Radhasoamiji #Radhaswami #Satsang #GospelOfThomas #BaalShemTov #Hasidic #AdiGranth #MartinBuber #God #SpiritualAwakening #GodConscious #TreeOfLife #SantMatSatsangPodcasts #WellBeing #LifeOnEarth #Earth #Consciousness #GodConsciousness #Wordpress #Podcasts #ApplePodcasts #GooglePodcasts #Spotify

[jeanatartheartist]

Egyptian Culture and Religion's Influence on Other Beliefs

Did you know that the worship of Isis and Osiris may have contributed to the early Christianity? IN THIS ARTICLE, read about religions & systems influenced by Ancient Egypt. #EgyptianCulture #ReligiousInfluence #IsisAndOsiris #AncientHistory 🏛️

Egyptian culture and religion had a profound influence on many other religions and cultures throughout history. From as early as predynastic times, Nubia was influenced by Egyptian culture and religion, while Syria was impacted in the 3rd millennium BCE. The New Kingdom of Egypt was very receptive to Middle Eastern cults, and Egyptian medical and magical expertise was highly regarded by the…

[nogetron]

Adam, the first man, was created toward the end of creation. God sculpted Adam’s form from dust or mud, and personally breathed life into him. As the first human, Adam named the various animals that walked throughout Eden. Though his life was luxurious it wasn’t without sadness, as Adam felt he was alone. So in his sleep, God took one of his ribs and used it to create Eve, the first woman. As Eve was his other half the two almost instantly fell in love. However, one day the two conversed with a snake within Eden, the snake tricked them into eating a forbidden fruit that contained the knowledge of all things evil. God punished the two lovers by kicking them out of heaven for disobeying the word of God as well as punishing the snake who tricked them, forcing him to crawl upon his stomach for all eternity.

The story of Adam in genesis is one of the most prolific stories told among abrahamic religions. A version of the garden of Eden exists across all Abrahamic denominations, in Gnosticism the garden of Eden is put into a positive light as an attempt by God to liberate Adam and Eve’s spirits from the cage of the physical put on them by the tyrannical spirit Yaldabaoth. In Islam the pair are forgiven by God once they apologize for their actions, God as thanks sent down the black stone and had heaven’s angels bow down to the first humans. In some non-canonical traditions, Adam’s first wife was Lilith, after forcing herself onto Adam she was banished from Eden, ultimately turning into a demon. In some traditions the original Adam was thought to be intersex, possessing traits of both males and females, but was later split into the Adam and Eve known today. The actual historicity of the events in Eden is still a highly debated subject among believers. Some contest it actually happened physically, some say it happened spiritually not actually taking place on earth, and some say that the story is a metaphor for mankind’s inherit hubris.

[ouroqoros]

"More than any other text of ancient Jewish mysticism, Sefer Yetzirah presented an elaborate cosmology which is grounded in the assumption that the way of creating the let­ters and arranging them in various ways is considered to be the clue to creation.

The more obvious technique of combining the letters is the use of one wheel, or possibly two (...) The forward movement was considered to be the positive process, namely the combinations of letters extracted in this manner being the creative permuta­tions, whereas the backward movement produced the negative combinations, which were considered as noxious, or destructive combinations."

—Moshe Idel

[knoxvillerose-blog]

Dead Sea Scrolls, Teacher of Righteousness = Jesus? Rare Book

This is a very rare book on Dead Sea Scrolls & the 'Teacher of Righteousness references compared to Jesus One & the same?

One of the theories:

Michael O. Wise posits that the Teacher of Righteousness was the "first messiah", a figure predating Jesus by roughly 100 years. This figure, who Wise believes was named Judah, rose to prominence during the reign of Alexander Jannaeus, and had been a priest and confidant to the king. However, he became dissatisfied with the religious sects in Jerusalem and, in reaction, founded a "crisis cult". 

[littlestarprincess]

Every time I see something about Supernatural, I wonder how much of the current atheist attitude towards Christianity is rooted in people mistaking Supernatural for being well researched and intelligent.

[preacherpollard]

Secrets!

Gary Pollard The greatest secret in the universe has been revealed to humanity: Jesus himself (Col 2.2-3). This is perhaps a hint that the groups harassing the believers at Colossae were Gnostic as well as Jewish. Gnostics were all about secret knowledge and asceticism (at least in this group, cf. 2.18). Paul addressed the Jewish elements in this section too. I’m certainly not dogmatic about…