Contemporary Gnosticism

Recently, I've seen a few posts (here, here, here, and here) on Modern Gnosticism. While trying to stay in the same variety of thought, I think I'll take a different approach and try to comment on some of the posts here.

I think that some of the grievances with contemporary Gnosticism that I've seen in the last few days have come from clergy who are frustrated with the pace and direction of the movement. I can offer nothing to these people but my own opinions, so please try to take my responses in with a grain of salt.

Point 1 - Online Gnosticism

It's easy to look at all the negatives this can cause, but what about the positives? The community of online seekers are embracing a forum that can help illuminiate their spiritual path so much easier than our ancestors ever could. We are able to communicate, share ideas and revelations, announce goals and interpretations, reach out to those seeking...we are able to speak for ourselves.

Of course we can announce all the negatives of the online community. For instance, it's easy to say you're a Gnostic and not actually do anything. I can announce it and someone can form an opinion based off my humble internet ramblings, but there is no proof that I do anything at all (by "anything" I mean charitable works, good will towards men, enlightened practices or actions, etc.) However, what does the action of one have to do with the needs of the many? I am not out to start a religion - only help those seeking find refuge in a path that I have found comforting. Is it wrong to use the easiest form of communication for such a task at my disposal? "Online Gnosticism" can prove very useful to those reaching for answers, because it announces to those seeking that there is a place where the truth resides. As many point out, Gnostic churches are not just around the corner.

Point 2 - Gnostic Churches

Which brings me to my next point. The churches that do claim to be Gnostic (and actually ARE) are few and far between. Sometimes, the internet is the only way the seekers find out about these churches. This, to me, is the biggest grievance that I have with contemporary Gnosticism. There is a lack of structure within the community as a whole. There are good frameworks to work on, but the structure itself is absent. Individual church organizations bicker amongst themselves and create gaps in the group. The North American College of Gnostic Bishops was originally founded as a way to reach out to these churches so that we may unite under one banner, to further spread Gnosticism to those seeking this route and end the bickering between two or more egos. There is much, much room for Gnosticism to spread, so why make it even harder to communicate by not working together?

Bringing the Gnostic movement together would be like rounding everyone in the house up into one room. It's a valuable opportunity to discuss and spread the movement. As it is currently, we're each in separate rooms, trying to communicate through a wall.

Point 3 - Individual Gnostics

While we're trying to speak through a wall, the individual seekers can't even get into the house. The individuals are left outside of the whole, to basically "guess" at what the tradition is supposed to be. When this happens, we have various "movements" claiming to be gnostic, and others that might truly BE gnostic but have no room for legitamacy. Let's face it, if it doesn't seem real, no one is going to accept it. So not only do the churches fail, but the individuals do as well. Individuals need teachers, instructors, and priests. They need someone who has walked the path, not to tell them that they're wrong or right, but to show them the BEST WAY. The clergy is not there to command, but only to aide. Together, we might actually be able to break the stereotypes that some of these individuals have about churches to begin with. When they see all the in-fighting, it not only proves their theories about organized religion, but encourages them to seek elsewhere.

If the movement is united, we will be able to communicate easier and focus more on spreading the "good news."

Point 4 - Funding

Of course, the current format seems to offer nothing BUT online discussions. While I know there are those clergy members who are out every day practicing exactly what they preach, there is no united group effort in our communities to assist those seekers who would wish to do the same. We have no funds, no way to reach to seekers other than our computers.

Few churches actually have permanent buildings, and those that do are almost never heard about. We have Protestant and Catholic churches that are as big as football fields, yet we - the Gnostic movement - cannot seem to get it together long enough to devise a form of fund-raising for our own parishes. Surely there's something that can be done about this. Most of the groups today can't even pay their clergy, which is another problem in itself simply because the clergy are forced to have full-time jobs in order to provide for their practice.

Modern Gnosticism is growing at a rapid pace. I see it, and I'm sure everyone else can see it. This is the time we much act. Putting off today will affect the effectiveness of the movement tomorrow. We still have a lot of work to do for the Gnostic movement, and a lot of catching up to do with other religious movements. But we still have something on our side - the pursuit of gnosis.