17 June 2012

Literalists and Gnostics


Literalists believe that their particular spiritual tradition is different from all others and has a unique claim on the truth.  They obsessively formulate dogmas which define membership of their particular cult.  They are prepared to enforce their opinions and silence those who dissent, justifying their actions by claiming that they are fulfilling God’s will.  Gnostics, on the other hand, are free spirits who question the presuppositions of their culture.  They follow their hearts, not the herd.  They are consumed by their private quest for enlightenment, not by the goal of recruiting more adherents to a religion.
          Gnostics wish to free themselves from the limitations of their personal and cultural identities and experience the oneness of all things.  They themselves have no reluctance in adopting the wisdom of other traditions if it adds something to their own.  Literalists use religion to sustain their personal and cultural identity by defining themselves in opposition to others.  This inevitably leads to disputes with those outside their particular cult.  It is Literalists who fight wars of religion with Literalists from other traditions, each claiming that God is on their side.  Literalists’ enmity also extends to Gnostics within their own tradition who question their bigotry.  Most spiritual traditions have a tragic history of brutal suppression of Gnostics by intolerant Literalists.  Interestingly it is never the other way around.

Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy
Jesus and the Lost Goddess
The Secret Teachings of the Original Christians

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