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The relationship between Gnosticism and Eastern Religions

Yoo Seung-jong 1

1대진대학교

ABSTRACT

The early Christian community was actually made up of a whole spectrum of different groups. These can be broadly categorized into two different schools. On the hand there were 'Literalists', they take the Jesus story as a literal account of historical events. On the other hand, there was also radically different Christians known as 'Gnostics'. The Gnostics truly were 'psychonauts' who boldly explored the final frontiers of inner space, searching for the origins and meaning of life. These people were mystics and creative free-thinkers. If Christianity were to relinquish its dogmatism, it could reawaken the ancient sense of wonder that united science and mysticism in one human advanture of discovery. Gnosticism is sometimes called 'the perennial philosophy' because it has been found in all cultures and all times. It is not that Gnostics all say exactly the same thing. It is rather that their teaching are like fingers pointing from different perspectives to the same experience of gnosis. Unfortunately, most people focus on the finger and miss the point. This is literalism. Literalist religions are club for people who want to worship in finger of their founder as the One true Finger, but who have no understanding of the experience of awakening towards which it points. Gnostics understand that life itself is a process of awakening.

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