Gnostic and Arian Christianities

[Gooding]

http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html This link will introduce the reader to the various writings of an alternative form of Christianity known as Gnostic Christianity. It's an esoteric expression of the Christian religion condemned at the Council of Nicaea. The Cathars are commonly thought of as Gnostics, although they simply called themselves Christians:http://www.cathar.info/ The Arian Christians followed the preachings of a fourth century priest of Alexandria known as Arius. In an interesting aside, many of the Germanic tribes that Roman and Celtic missionaries first encountered were actually of the Arian persuasion. http://www.arian-catholic.org/arian/arianism.html As our knowledge of history increases and the ancient expressions of Christianity are brought to light, the Christian faith might well anticipate further, non- Nicene divisions in their ranks.

[Dombra]

I will be reading this

[Gooding]

I will be reading this

Awesome! Your insights into this matter will be most appreciated and welcome!

[Carignan]

The Franks is one of the few or the only Germanic tribe that converted to catholicism instead of arianism. They also helped converting the Arian Germanic Tribes to catholicism through missionaries and conquest. Had they not been catholic, we might have all been Arian instead of Catholic.

[Gooding]

The Franks is one of the few or the only Germanic tribe that converted to catholicism instead of arianism. They also helped converting the Arian Germanic Tribes to catholicism through missionaries and conquest. Had they not been catholic, we might have all been Arian instead of Catholic.

That's very true. It's really kind of interesting how history unfolds.

[Gooding]

Here are some links to other Gnostic and Arian sources. Do you think there might be sufficient public interest in these two ancient expressions of faith to spark a renewal? http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/chri..._arianism.html, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/...almostwon.html, http://www.oocities.org/awareness88/arianism.htm, http://gnosticschristians.com/,http:...Gnosticism.htm. http://www.essene.com/Gospels/GnosticAndSophia.html

[Guapo]

The Franks is one of the few or the only Germanic tribe that converted to catholicism instead of arianism. They also helped converting the Arian Germanic Tribes to catholicism through missionaries and conquest. Had they not been catholic, we might have all been Arian instead of Catholic.

Too bad. Arian sounds alot cooler.

[Gooding]

Too bad. Arian sounds alot cooler.

Here's a biography about the man himself. The Council of Nicaea condemned him.http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Arius

[Gooding]

Of course, Gnostic Christianity had sects and divisions of its own, some of which still exist in greatly reduced numbers today.http://www.fact-index.com/g/gn/gnosticism.html

[sean]

Gnostic and Arian Christianities. Do you think there might be sufficient public interest in these two ancient expressions of faith to spark a renewal?

Nope.

Gnostica Catholica was set up by Crowley and they do stuff like rituals with naked women. Their interpretation of gnosticism is very warped to say the least and actual gnostic revival movements stay far away from them.

Celibacy was part of the ascetic life for many Gnostics in the past but modern Gnostics don't practice it, much less asceticism, which is a bit of a head scratcher. Asceticism was the way Gnostics rejected the material world to prepare their souls to try to escape the material world. It's hard to see the fall of asceticism as anything but Gnostic failure and seduction to the material world, if you hold any value in the idea that the material world corrupts and should be rejected.

I mean how do you reconcile Gnostic doctrine with participation in modern markets and consumer culture? Do you eat meat or consume pornography? Not only are those things against an ascetic lifestyle, they both violate the general rule that you aren't supposed to contribute to the trauma of other beings.

Arianism returned during the Protestant Reformation as Unitarianism, particularly through leaders like Michael Servetus and Francis David. Through that time, there were a number of different Christologies, generally advancing a belief that Jesus was not God in the same sense that the Father is God, yet that Jesus was more than "just a guy." Contemporary Unitarian Universalism has no creed, thus no doctrine about Jesus, but most members today would lean toward the "just a guy" view.

However, I'm unaware of any groups that have any actual ties to Arius and that aren't 18th century Restorationist groups.