Gnosticism. Some of Its Beliefs, Practices, and Continued Influences in the World. Some Brief Concluding Reflections.

Last updated on: February 1, 2008 at 10:21 am by Henry Karlson

Gnosticism. Some of Its Beliefs, Practices, and Continued Influences in the World. Some Brief Concluding Reflections. 2008-02-01T10:21:19-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Part VIII-2: The Christian Response

God became man so that man can become God. While theologians should recognize this famous saying of St Athanasius, it might confuse the non-theologian. What does it mean? How can man become God? Isn’t this the lie of Satan? God is immortal, humanity is mortal. God became man to make mortal man immortal “For He was made man that we might be made God; and He manifested Himself by a body that we might receive the idea of the unseen Father; and He endured the insolence of men that we might inherit immortality,” St Athanasius, On the Incarnation in NPNF2-4(Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing, 1994), ch. 54-3. Through the incarnation we partake of the incorruptible nature of God. We experience and participate in the divine life, in eternal life. What God is by nature, we experience through grace.

In its fashion, St Athanasius’s dictum expresses the central thesis of Christianity: the incarnation. When ones realize the radical nature of the incarnation and all that it implies, one realizes that matter matters. God establishes our salvation through matter. God has taken a body for himself and has become one with the physical universe. It is through his physical form in the incarnation that the Son of God transfigures the universe, changing its corruptible, limited form, into a new, incorrupt, form. This transformation was begun at the resurrection of Christ and will find its fulfillment in the eschaton. For Christians, the sacraments instituted by Christ provide the means by which they partake of this transformation; they are fed the flesh and blood of Christ to render their own flesh and blood immortal. “And as we are His members, we are also nourished by means of the creation (and He Himself grants the creation to us, for He causes His sun to rise, and sends rain when He wills). He has acknowledged the cup (which is a part of the creation) as His own blood, from which He bedews our blood; and the bread (also a part of the creation) He has established as His own body, from which He gives increase to our bodies,” Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses in ANF1(Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing), V-2.2.

When early Christians encountered skeptics of the resurrection, be it from pagan or Gnostic critics, they emphasized and reemphasized the good of the earth and the physical form we have. The world was created good. We were created to be physical entities. To be pure spirits is to be something less than what we are; just as when one loses an arm or a leg one feels the loss, so too the soul feels a loss, a real, noticeable loss, when it it loses the whole body. Of course, the reverse is also true. The body should not be taken care of at the exclusion of the soul. The two are to be treated together, just as they will exist together in eternity. “For if the whole nature of men in general is composed of an immortal soul and a body which was fitted to it in the creation, and if neither to the nature of the soul by itself, nor to the nature of the body separately, has God assigned such a creation or such a life and entire course of existence as this, but to men compounded of the two, in order that they may, when they have passed through their present existence, arrive at one common end, with the same elements of which they are composed at their birth and during life, it unavoidably follows, since one living-being is formed from the two, experiencing whatever the soul experiences and whatever the body experiences, doing and performing whatever requires the judgment of the senses or of the reason, that the whole series of these things must be referred to some one end, in order that they all, and by means of all,-namely, man’s creation, man’s nature, man’s life, man’s doings and sufferings, his course of existence, and the end suitable to his nature,-may concur in one harmony and the same common experience. But if there is some one harmony and community of experience belonging to the whole being, whether of the things which spring from the soul or of those which are accomplished by means of the body, the end for all these must also be one. And the end will be in strictness one, if the being whose end that end is remains the same in its constitution; and the being will be exactly the same, if all those things of which the being consists as parts are the same,” Athenagoras, On the Resurrection of the Dead in ANF2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing), XV.

Sadly, an apathy to things of the world, to things of the flesh, has remained in Christendom despite orthodox Christian doctrine. People are interested in the salvation of their soul but neglect the body. Others might be interested in their soul and body, but still neglect their responsibility to the world. Monasticism, for all its greatness, has had to wrestle with these temptations since its inception. Some monks have given in to it, some have not. Many outsiders who look to the monastic tradition get confused and think the lesson of monasticism is that an excess of bodily mortifications is the way of salvation. It isn’t. This is not to say there should be no fasting or bodily mortifications, but rather, such practices should be used for the restoration of the integral harmony between body and soul and not for the denouncement of material creation. “The higher the Christian ascetic ascends on his path to the heavenly land, the brighter his inner eye shines, the deeper the Holy Spirit descends into his heart – the more clearly then will he see the inner, aboslutely valuable core of creation, the more intensely then will pity for the prodigal child of God burn in his soul. And when the spirit descends upon the saints in their highest flight of prayers, they shone with blindly radiant love for creation. The Mother of Heaven Herself told one of her chosen that ‘to be a monk is to devote oneself to prayer for the whole world’,” Pavel Florensky, The Pillar and Ground of the Truth. Trans. Boris Jakim (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997), 216. Authenetic monasticism always leads to a deep, passionate love for the world because it leads one to see the world with the desire God has for it. “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17).

The concerned Christian will note that many of their fellow Christians do not have such love for the world. Some, sadly, even hate it. It is not surprising that a non-Christian would find much to hate: they see the world only in its fallen modality. But Christians should know better. “Do not despise matter, for it is not despicable. To think such things is Manichaeism. Only that which does not have its source in God is despicable – that which is our own invention, our willful choice to disregard the law of God – namely, sin,” St John of Damascus, On the Divine Images. Trans. David Anderson (Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1980), I.16. Christians know the world is the work of God. Any disrespect for the world ultimately is disrespect for its creator. It is telling God that he didn’t know what he was doing. But one must be careful. The world, and all its material contents are good. Recognizing this, one should not disregard spiritual realities and spiritual needs. Any rejection of the material world for the spirit or any rejection of the spirit for the material world undermines the integral order of creation. One who does either has fallen for Gnostic dualism. “The Gnostic impulse secretly or openly animates all those modern world-views which see ‘body’ and ‘spirit’, bios and ethos, nature and God, in antagonism or opposition,” Hans Urs von Balthasar, The Scandal of the Incarnation: Irenaeus Against the Heresies. trans. John Saward (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1990), 5. Thus, authentic Christian spirituality must be holistic, integrating the physical world with the spiritual world. Christian praxis must include care for the earth. Any pitting of the needs of the earth against the needs of the soul is merely a Gnostic spirituality masquerading itself as Christian.

Gnosticism is the earliest Christian heresy. Its influence continues even to this day and age. Christian teaching does not reject all Gnostic ideas; it rejects Gnosticism’s unbalanced approach to the world. Authentic Christianity follows the incarnation and works for the restoration, not the rejection of, the world. It understands that it cannot be done by us alone but must be done with the grace of God in and through Christ. Christ unites all things in himself, and divisions in the world will find themselves overcome in Christ. This should not be seen as a rejection of differentiation, as if the world should become a monistic point. Rather it as an overcoming of the ontological duality which the fall tried to impart to the world. “With us and through us he encompasses the whole creation through its intermediaries and the extremities through their own parts. He binds himself each with the other, tightly and indissolubly, paradise and the inhabited world, heaven and earth, things sensible and things intelligible, since he possesses like us sense and soul and mind, by which, as parts, he assimilates himself by each of the extremities to what is universally akin to each . . .“Maximus the Confessor, Difficulty 41 in Maximus the Confessor. Trans and intro by Andrew Louth (London: Routledge, 1996), 1312A. Gnosticism makes relative, logical distinctions as ontological and creates cosmological division as a way to overcome the problems encountered in a fallen universe. Christianity, on the other hand, seeks to halt the divisions of nature, seeing divisiveness as a result of the fall; it works for universal reintegration and cosmic unity as the goal of salvation. Which of the two do you work for?

Previous Post

February 1, 2008

Calvinism in America, Vatican Voices

Next Post

February 1, 2008 Whither Waterboarding?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2019 A Consistent Ethic of Life Aaron Weldon Abortion absurdity Abuse Scandal Academics Adoption Advent Africa agreement/disagreement with Church teaching Alexander Schmemann Alexham Alterity America Amnesty International Anarchism angels Anglicanism Animals Annual Statistics Anthony Anxietas Apocalyptic Apophatic Appalachia Aquinas Art Atheism Atonement Augustine Authority Baptism Beauty Bible biblical criticism biblical scholarship Bioethics Bishops Black Catholics Black Theology Blackadder Blogs Books Breastfeeding Brett Salkeld Buddhism Bush administration Byzantine Catholic Calvinism Canada Canon Law Capital Punishment Capitalism Caryll Houselander Catholic Blog Awards Catholic Blogging Catholic League Catholic Social Teaching Catholic Worker Movement Catholicity CFL Charity Children Chris West Christ and Culture Christian Democracy Christian Unity Christmas Christology Church Church Doctrine Church History Climate Change Cohabitation Colbert Collegiality Communion Communism Comparative Theology Competition Conferences conscience conscience rights Consequentialism Consistent Life Ethics Consumerism Contraception Contrition Conversion Converts Coptic COVID-19 Creation Critical Thinking Cross Cuba Culture Culture of Death Culture of Life Darfur David Cruz-Uribe David Wheeler-Reed Death Death Penalty Democracy Demons Desert Fathers Devil Dialogue dignity Disability Disarmament discernment Discipleship discrimination Dissent Distributism Division Doctrine Domestic Church Dorothy Day Double Effect Doubt Down syndrome Driving Early Church Easter Eastern Churches Ecclesiology Economics Economy Ecumenism Education El Salvador Election Election 2020 Ellul Embryonic Stem Cell Research Empire Energy Enlighenment Environmentalism Ephraim Radner Episcopal Church epistemology Equality Eschatology Ethics Eucharist Europe Euthanasia Evangelization Evil Evolution Excommunication F.X. Durrwell Facism Facts Fair Trade Faith Family Fashion Feddie Feminism Feminist theology Fertility Fetal Rights Fiction Film Finances First Things flags Folk Religion Food Foreign Affairs Forgiveness Frank Sheed Free Speech Freedom gay & lesbian persons Genocide George W. Bush George Weigel Gerald L. Campbell Girard/Mimetic Theory Global Warming Globalization Gnosticism Good Friday Grace Gratitude Greed Grey Cup 2009 Guadalupe Guest Post Guest Posts Gun Control Gustave Martelet Habitat for Humanity Hans Urs von Balthasar Harry Potter Hate Speech Health Health Care Healthcare Heather King Hebrew Bible Henri de Lubac Henry Karlson Herbert McCabe Heresy HHS Mandate Controversy History Holidays Holiness Holy Spirit Homiletics Homily Homosexuality Hope Hospitality How Far Can We Go? How Far Can We Go? Human Person Human Rights Humanae Vitae Humility Humor Hunger Hunting Identity Idolatry Ignacio Ellacuría Imagination Immigration In Memoriam Income Inequality Inculturation Indigenous People Individualism Inklings Intellect Interdependence Internet Interpretation Interviews Introduction Iraq War Islam Israel Jain James Alison James Martin Jazz Jesus Christ Jews Joe Biden Joe Hargrave Johann Baptist Metz John Allen John Henry Newman John Paul II John the Baptist John XXIII Jonathan Josef Pieper Joseph (the husband of Mary) Joseph Bernardin Joseph Ratzinger Josh Brumfield Journals Joy Judgment Just War Justice Kari Lundgren Karl Rahner Katerina Ivanovna Kenya Keynes Kingdom of God Kyle R. Cupp Labor Language Latin America Law Leanne Ogasawara Legion of Christ Leisure Lent Liberalism Liberation Theology Libertarianism Libya Lies Life life & dignity & responsibility of the human person Literature Little Way Liturgical music Liturgical Year Liturgy Living Simply Living Wage Local Church Lombard Lord of the Rings Louis Dupre Love M.Z. Magic Magisterium Mark DeFrancisis Mark Gordon Marriage Martin Luther Martin Luther King Jr. Martyrdom Marxism Mary Masculinity Matt Talbot Matthew Fish Matthew Levering McCain Media Memorial Day Mennonites Mental Illness mercy Michael Iafrate Middle East militarism Miroslav Volf Mitt Romney Modesty Moral Theology Morality Mormonism Morning's Minion Mother Teresa Music Muslims Natalie Nate Wildermuth Nationalism Native Americans Nature Nazis Neuhaus New Evangelization New York City News NFP nihilism Nonviolence Not Abortion Nova's Ordo Nuclear weapons Nuns Obama Occult Old Age Opus Dei Ordination ordination of women original sin Orthodoxy Oscar Romero Other Voices Pacifism Palestine Palin Papacy Papal Peace Messages Papal Social Encyclicals Particular Affections Partisanship Patriotism Paul Paul Ryan Paul VI Peace Pentimento persecution Personalism Phantastes Philosophy PKD Planned Parenthood Pluralism Poetry Policraticus Politcal Apathy Politics Poll Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Pope John Paul II Pope Leo XIV Population Postcolonialsim Poverty Power Prayer Preaching Predictions Predictions for 2012 President Barack Obama priestly formation & discernment Pro-Life Progress Prophetic Witness Proportionalism Public Diplomacy Public Policy Question Quotes Rachel Maddow Racism Radical Catholic Mom Radical Catholicism Raymund Schwager Real Catholic TV Real Presence Reconciliation Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange Religion religious freedom Responsibility Ressourcement Resurrection Rick Garnett Ridiculous Crap You Never Thought You'd See Robert Barron Roe v. Wade Roman Curia Rome Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation History Sam Harris Sam Rocha Same-sex Marriage Saskatchewan Roughriders Satire School of the Americas Science Scripture Seamless Garment Second Vatican Council Seeing Sex sexual violence Sexuality Sia Sin social justice Social Security Socialism Society of Jesus Sofia Loves Wisdom Solidarity Sophia soteriology Soutenus Spirituality Sports St. Dismas St. Joseph Stanley Hauerwas Statistics Stimulus Suffering Sunday Reflections Supernatural Supreme Court Symbolism Syria Taxing Technology Terrorism The State The Tea Party The Trump Administration Theological Anthropology Theology Theotokos Thomas Merton Throwaway Culture Tim Muldoon Tim Riley Tim Tebow Time Titian Tolkien Torture Toys Trade Traditionalism Transgender Transportation Transubstantiation Trinity Truth TV U.S. Affairs Uncategorized Unions unity among people who disagree US Catholicism USCCB Usury Utilitarianism Utopia Valentine's Day Vatican Vatican II Veterans Vicarious Suffering Video Violence Virgin Mary Vocations Voluntary Associations Voluntary Poverty Voting Vox Nova vox nova blog war War and Peace War Strategy Wealth Weirdness Welfare state Women Women Priests Work Woundedness Youth

Select a Month June 2026 May 2025 February 2025 January 2025 July 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 July 2023 March 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 November 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Selah," found often in Psalms, likely mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Give thanks Pause or reflect Sing loudly Forever