Gnosticism And Jesus' "Destroy This Temple"

The controversy over Jesus and the Gnostics began in 325AD at the Council of Nicea when competing sects such as the Gnostics were outlawed, branded as hell-bound by the "martyr" or Orthodox groups and were put to death by the Orthodox if they didn't convert; we live with the same centralized authority today that was set up in 325AD albeit with the complicit "Protestant" sects in tow.

As we all instinctively know, education is the key to stopping creeping chaos in the world and it is key to defeating the radical Christians and Islamists:  they hate education.  The people of the world must embrace education to defeat the totalitarian ideology of these "christian" groups who utilize hate, fear, and guilt to achieve their wicked ends.

Knowledge, or "gnosis," is the only force able to defeat fascism masked as religion IMO.  Jesus knew this and that's why he attacked the money-changers at the Temple in his most famous act seen and explained right in the Bible!

I beleive he was publicly espousing gnosis.

The Constitution's First Amendment which protects our freedom of religious expression is beautiful and serves as the foundation of our democracy, which apparently religious fundementalists hate per their post-9/11 attacks on Jeffersonian democracy.  Let's reread what democracy is:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Hey religious fundamentalists!  Yeah you!  This doesn't mean freedom to persecute, torment, and impose your "religion" on others.  No more sly paramilitary campaigns such as the Holy Drug Inquisition and no more careless imperialistic wars and adventures around the world.  NO MORE!

It is fair to attack Al Qaeda in Afghanistan after they attacked us, but Iraq?  Hell no, that was lies for oil.

The First Amendment means that you have freedom to practice your religion free from persecution, with or without your drug of choice.  Period.  God gave us that right.  It says so right in Genesis 1:29:  

"God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.

(Other basic rights should be amended to the Constitution in my opinion, such as the rights of food and shelter for citizens living in the richest country in the world especially if you can provide the means for them to help themselves per greenhouses, solar/ wind technology, other sustainable technologies that don't require fossil fuels but rather sustainable technology, equipment and know-how.)

So, one other disclaimer: the atomic plane and the laws of physics ironically shows Jesus was indeed God. It just so happens that the rest of us are as well, and we have the ability to achieve what the Gnostics called Christhood, which is similar to nirvana.

Now, the radical Christians and the radical Muslims, to take the top two most effective fascist religious groups, are almost identical in their virulence and tactics as they use religion to dominate in politics and war.  

They attempt to dumb down the world population so that they can get at the public's money:  THAT is their primary objective after which they can impose themselves on the populace using fear and guilt for all other money-related issues.

If they can't get the money in "church" they go to their political cronies, i.e. Bush and Bin Laden, to get them their dirty money so that they can further their filthy crusade of Hell on earth for maximum profits.

The only good thing "christians" have done is to allow the story of Jesus, as heavily edited as it is, to survive their fascism across two millenia so that the words "Destroy this temple..." can be put in a context that is in fact critical of mega-churches or churches in general.

Only gnosis or knowledge can defeat these forces of evil that are insulated from criticism within "churches" and "mosques" and "temples," using the tried and true techniques of fear, superstition, guilt, and violence.

Again, Jesus railed against these forces in his most famous act when he declared "Destroy this temple..."  More on that but first, let me introduce St. Stephen for those who missed his downplayed message:

St. Stephen, lauded in the famous Grateful Dead song, is known as the first Christian deacon and then, unfortunately, as the first martyr after Jesus' rebellion was unceremoniously put down by the Roman and Jewish religious authorities 70 years prior to Stephen's own rebellion.  

Here my take on Stephen's story:  

Stephen was stoned to death by rabid church-for-money freaks, by a Paul-inspired (then Saul) mob.  

Stephen's story sums up my message here today, my little manifesto against organized religion and Stephen's story is right in the Bible!  Let the words spread the knowledge, the gnosis, and remember that Moses REALLY DIDN'T like idols per 1st Commandment (and churches and crosses and statues qualify as idols IMO).

Context:  Stephen is accused by a planted witness who said that Stephen was claiming that...

"11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.(Acts, vi, 12 14).

To which Stephen replied:

44  "Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the desert. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. 45  Having received the tabernacle, our fathers under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, 46 who enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.  47 But it was Solomon who built the house for him.

48  "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet (Isaiah) says:

49" 'Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord.

Or where will my resting place be?

50 Has not my hand made all these things?'

51  "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!  52  Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- 53  you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

54  When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55  But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56  "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57  At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him,  58  dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. (Acts, vi, 44-58).

Paul (Saul) later started the adulterated version of Christianity.  I bet your bible study person didn't highlight those verses in the Bible...

Jesus had something to say to people like Saul.  He told them to "Destroy this temple" and to stop making mega-money with their mega-churches while abusing God's good name in the process:

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will consume me." 18 The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing this?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he spoke of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he  was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 23 Now  when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; 24 but Jesus did not trust himself to them, 25 because he knew all men and needed no one to

bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man. -- John 2:13-25

His "body" doesn't mean start up a mega-church and make money on Jesus; the mega-church is what he was calling an abomination for what they do to the poor and the meek of the world, and he was right.

As to the Gnostics, I don't know about the modern Gnostics with the "magic" component and all, and so I can't comment on its validity, but I know from my studies on the ancient Gnostics that they put a lot of emphasis on women, per the Gospel of Philip , and the "Bridal Chamber," and I know that the Gnostics of old deserve MUCH more critical study and historical attention in general.

Here's a sample of the Gospel of Thomas, which I have heard had objectionable portions added later, but which has many elements of gnostic teachings including discussion of women and the holy "bridal chamber" and most of all, discussion of Christhood which is attainable by all and not an exclusive concept just for Jesus, kind of like the Buddhist concept of nirvana, see Gospel of Philip for more as well:

Christhood, per Gospel of Thomas:

108. Jesus said, "Whoever drinks from my mouth will become like me; I myself shall become that person, and the hidden things will be revealed to him."

Jesus' promise of eternal life through knowledge or gnosis:

1 "And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."

Always remember that these teachings were outlawed by the "church" in 325 AD at the Council of Nicea and the Gnostics were put to death along with any other religious sect within their vicious reach.  

In other words, the real history of Christianity has yet to be understood by the people of the world:  the "christian church," born in 325 AD, was born out of mass violence while forsaking and ignoring Jesus' real teachings with its edited, adulterated version of his rebellious teachings and rants against organized religion.

One day, academics will not be able to ignore the true story of Jesus and when that true story gets out, the political landscape will be forever changed... for the better:

Humankind just needs to get over the hump... the interactive online 4th century Bible will arrive soon and will help with that hump in a couple of years.

•  Is Thomas the one who went to India

  for a long time?

  by doorguy on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:48:56 PM PDT

  •  There Is

    some thought that Jesus spent time in India as well, studying with the Masters.

    it's more than a bit odd that the "record" of Jesus's life has a rather large gap in it-- basically from the time he challenged the elders when he was a child to his ministry at what? age 32-33.. his ministry being quite short-- and apparently radical which is why he "had" to be executed.

    so there's a 25 or so year gap-- where was Jesus and what was he up to? I'm inclined he was with the rishis and the masters in India who were quite advanced spiritually at that time.. the operative word being spiritual, not religious.

    by Superpole on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:58:00 PM PDT

  •  A couple of books I've read..

    ..say that Thomas was Jesus' best friend and that he sent him to India (remember the 12 apostles were sent to different places supposedly) because Jesus was planning to go to India himself.

    Some books claim that Jesus did in fact survive the crucifixion and that he lived to be an old man in India.

    There is a book by Fida Hassnain, a sufi muslim (so he might have an agenda) who was once India's top librarian or such, that claims that Jesus, Magdalene, and Mother Mary's tombs are in Kashmir.  His book has some pictures of these alleged tombs.  There is a group in this area of lighter skinned people that claim Israeli ancestry.
    

    by The Gnostic on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:59:32 PM PDT

    •  You might want to check out Gene Edwards

      He's written a lot about the early church.  He's right up your alley.  Mine too.

      by baba durag on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 07:34:58 PM PDT

•  Thankyou

  For an informative and educational diary, it's appreciated.

  by ohcanada on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 06:56:48 PM PDT

•  Agree, but subtlety will win the day

  "As we all instinctively know, education is the key to stopping creeping chaos in the world and it is key to defeating the radical Christians and Islamists:  they hate education.  The people of the world must embrace education to defeat the totalitarian ideology of these "christian" groups who utilize hate, fear, and guilt to achieve their wicked ends."

  Beautiful and appropriate word-smithing. Thanks for giving a voice to the beliefs of many thoughtful and concerned citizens. I had the pleasure of matching wits with a fundy brother-in-law over the holidays and it was amazing to witness his high degree of certitude in all things political and religious; yet devoid of any credible facts or historical context.

  For those people who believe that the separation of church and state is an absolute requirement for protecting the unity of our Republic I'd like to second your position that education is the key to a prosperous and peaceful future. However, a frontal attack on fundamentalism may win a few converts but is doomed to fail as it only provides a rallying point for the faithful. Any institution, religious or otherwise, thrives when they perceive themselves to be under attack. Consequently, a longer term, and more subtle approach emphasizing a worldly education and an appropriate leadership framework for the leaders of tomorrow can, and will, make a difference. I'm working on this.

  Keep up the good work.

  by stork on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 07:09:47 PM PDT

•  You might also enjoy

  When Jesus Became God, which chronicles the division between: those who thought Jesus was here to teach (bring gnosis) versus those who thought he was God's only Son and his purpose was salvation via substitutionary death.  It chronicles the fight between these two groups, which lead to the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.  It's a lively read, and you'll never be able to hear the Nicene Creed in the same way again.

  by alyosha on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 07:12:00 PM PDT

  •  I would also recommend..

    Crossan's The Birth of Christianity. I will have to check out your recommmendation, I have yet to find a satisfactory explanation of what happened at Nicea. Does it really exist?

    by souldrift on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 10:43:09 PM PDT

•  I think Jesus dies a Million Deaths

  Until Jesus, people always (by force or ignorance) looked up to someone or something as greater than them. Society was based on either a Ceaser and/or a God leading them.

  Jesus dissed both of them. He did not respect the money grabbers at the temple nor the Romans. It no longer was time for these leaders to dictate lives, but to look at the poor and help them.

  Many people since have tried to do this, but he was one of the first.

  Meanwhile, 2000 years later, we still have Bush's PR team posting images of him with halo's and lights making him appear 'holy' while he ignores the poor.

  To me, that, more than anything, shows Bush and his team have no clue what Jesus was about.
  

  by mickT on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 07:12:37 PM PDT

•  The Paulist version that survived

  is so far from the original it wouldn't be recognizable.

  by xrepub on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 08:18:37 PM PDT

•  Unitarian Universalists

   of all the Christian denominations seem closest to embracing gnosticism. I hope their numbers grow.
    An interesting website whose author is a gnostic-  http://www.timboucher.com/...

  by Pinko Elephant on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 08:25:35 PM PDT

•  Wealth and Power

  I'm certainly no religious scholar or lettered historian, but it seems to me that throughout most of human history, the seat of all social power has been material wealth.  Jesus, Muhammed and others sought to change that status quo not by destroying material wealth but by providing those without it a counter-balancing power - power over one's own life.

  "Render up unto Ceasar...

  It seems to me also that Jesus and Muhammed both saw this power/wealth axis embodied in the wealth of high priests as well as in political rulers.  We still see this tendency today in guys like Falwell, Robertson and the Mullahs of Iran.  Money-changers in the temple, and all that.

  In the secular political realm, it seems to me that the US Constitution and Bill of Rights and their historical precursors (Magna Carta, etc.) were attempt to counter-balance great wealth as the sole source of power.  Even mercantilism and capitalism, at least in their early days, were intuitive methods for changing the acquisiton of wealth, and therefore power, away from being a zero-sum game.  Obviously, Communism, too.

  Anyway, my instinctive revulsion toward the Bush Admin, the GOP, Conservatism and religious fundamentalism is precisely because they seek to turn the tide against these efforts and to restore  material wealth as the seat of power.

  Just my thoughts . . .

  by sxwarren on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 08:57:18 PM PDT

•  "Did it matter? Does it now?"

  "Stephen would answer if he only knew how"

  by WI Deadhead on Sat Jan 07, 2006 at 09:26:41 PM PDT

•  Quote from 1851

  "And now, after making due allowances for evils that are natural and can not be avoided - and so few are they that I challenge the whole host of Western metaphysicians to call them evils or trace them directly to an independent cause - I will point out the greatest, the chief cause of nearly two thirds of the evils that pursue humanity ever since that cause became a power. It is religion under whatever form and in whatever nation. It is the sacredotal caste, the priesthood and the churches. It is in those illusions that man looks upon as sacred, that he has to search out the source of that multitude of evils which is the great curse of humanity and that almost overwhelms mankind. Ignorance created Gods and cunning took advantage of opportunity. Look at India and look at Christendom and Islam, at Judaism and Fetichism. It is priestly imposture that rendered these Gods so terrible to man; it is religion that makes him the selfish bigot, the fanatic that hates all mankind out of his own sect without rendering him any better or more moral for it. It is belief in God and Gods that makes two-thirds of humanity the slaves of a handful of those who deceive them under the false pretense of saving them. Is not man ever ready to commit any kind of evil if told that his God or gods demand the crime; voluntary victim of an illusionary God, the abject slave of his crafty ministers. The Irish, Italian, and Slavonian peasant will starve himself and see his family starving and naked to feed and clothe his padre and pope. For two thousand years India groaned under the weight of caste, Brahmins alone feeding on the fat of the land, and to-day the followers of Christ and those of Mahomet are cutting each others throats in the names of and for the greater glory of their respective myths. Remember the sum of human misery will never be diminished unto that day when the better portion of humanity destroys in the name of Truth, morality, and universal charity, the alters of these false gods."

  Khoot Hoomi Lal Singh (Master K. H.)  1851

  from  "The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett"

  by hiddengnostic on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 12:43:18 AM PDT

•  It was my understanding

  that gnostics went back at least as far as Paul-I had a vision-Saul.  Paul himself was either a gnostic or a mole/saboteur.  Jesus never preached that gentiles were saved.  That was Paul's idea.

  There were also the essene and the well known (but little understood) pharisee sects of early christianity.  Gnosticism far predates the Council of Nicea.  Though it's true that the purpose of Nicea was to consolidate the dogma and create distance from dissenting factions.  This was no doubt bad for the gnostics.  Not very mainstream or plebian, those gnostics.

  Nicea was also the meeting where human bishops voted on what books of God's inerrant word to put into our modern Bibles, right?  Majority is the Word of God.

  by Capn Guts on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 04:46:41 AM PDT

  •  In other words

    they were "Branding" Christianity.

    by karenc13 on Fri Feb 03, 2006 at 05:43:04 PM PDT

•  That Jesus

  the atomic plane and the laws of physics ironically shows Jesus was indeed God.

  I find this connection interesting.  Yahweh, the supreme God in the OT, destroyed cities, murdered entire bloodlines, even killed everything on the planet, save one family and some animals.  Are you really saying that this is the same guy as your Jesus?

  by Capn Guts on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 05:03:09 AM PDT

  •  I was just saying that...

    ...because the atomic plane connects us all, we are all God.  And that makes Jesus God too.  And you as well.  I was saying that to mention "Christhood," which is discussed in the gnostic Gospel of Philip, if I recall correctly, in contrast to just Christ the person.

    by The Gnostic on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 06:43:05 AM PDT

•  also Eastern philosophy

  matter is the manifestation of the creative energy of the Universe....GOD, so we are all parts of God, and so, we ARE God.

  Group energy just about proves this.

  At a music concert, say Bruce....the whole arena is there to hear the music be moved, we all become one and the energy is palpable.

  by karenc13 on Fri Feb 03, 2006 at 05:45:46 PM PDT