Gnostic view of the afterlife

[gord44]

I have been perusing some info on gnostic Christianity and was curious what the view on the afterlife is in gnostic beliefs. I read some stuff that gnostics don't believe in a literal resurrection, etc. I also read that gnostics believe that some go to be with God after death and the rest go to a hell that is similar to present earth. Just curious on learning more.

Any info from the gnostic christians here would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Xpistis sopheiaX]

There are about as many different Gnostic ways to view theology as there are Gnostics.

Being Gnostic doesn't mean you automatically dismiss a literal resurrection. However I think the most important aspect of the resurrection is about God showing us how to be spiritually reborn than anything else.

Some Gnostics don't believe in a physical resurrection, but simply Christ discarding the physical prison of his body to reveal his spirit, which is ultimately more important to us. Conquering death is not necessarily about restoring the physical universe, as it is about returning to our original spiritual state.

I don't know how all Gnostics view Heaven. I view it similarly as Protestants and Catholics myself.

As far as hell? From my experience most seem to reject the idea of a literal hell. I haven't talked to a Gnostic that claims to believe in hell. I think we generally accept the idea of some form of reincarnation, or either some kind of eventual salvation for all men, except for those who are so evil they refuse to accept God again, again, and again. Their spirits I believe are "dissolved to outer darkness," or are simply extinguished I suppose.

I'm sure at least some Gnostics believed or do believe in a literal hell. We just had a post about the layers of heaven/hell as described in the Pistis Sophia.

I hope that helps! If you have any more questions just ask.

 

[gord44]

Thank you. I appreciate the response! You answered my question well!

 

[SimonNova]

and there seems to be quite a lot of mention of 'regeneration'.

a fairly pagan sounding idea, one which I actually ascribe to.

In that, when we die, our souls are regenerated in a divine pool of existence, mixed up with the other ones and re-formed into a new life.

 

[eachallberg]

I have been perusing some info on gnostic Christianity and was curious what the view on the afterlife is in gnostic beliefs. I read some stuff that gnostics don't believe in a literal resurrection, etc. I also read that gnostics believe that some go to be with God after death and the rest go to a hell that is similar to present earth. Just curious on learning more.

Any info from the gnostic christians here would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Like PS said it varies. I agree with the rain metaphor.

I never heard about others going a hell thats like earth. Source?

I believe in a literal resurrection, I just value the practical spiritual resurrection more.

Judge for your self what is right.
Peace and grace be to you.

 

[gord44]

Thanks for the reply eachallberg! I appreciate it!

The hell like earth thing I just found on google when i typed in 'gnostic christian afterlife'. It said something like[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica] 'a few with special knowledge will go to be with God when they die; the rest will go to Hell, which is similar to life on earth.' I don't think it was a gnostic site.
Thanks again!
[/FONT]

 

[Xpistis sopheiaX]

I tend to think of a literal hell as being redundant b/c this world is it's own hell already.

It makes even less sense to have a hell like this earth, when we already live here >_<

 

[MrsBunnygirl]

I read that the Cathars (Some consider them to be Gnostic in lineage) believed that once you died and left the physical body, that unless you were "Perfect" you'd basically be driven back into another "vessel of clay" by various Archonic entities.

If you were "Perfect" however you returned to the True Good God and it was awesome. That required a specific ritual being performed and living a very aestetic lifestyle. So strict that if you accidently eat meat or consumed alochol, you were no longer perfect and had to go through the ritual again to maintain your status.

 

[Soulgazer]

As regarding Heaven and the way we shall exist there, it is an opinion that is divided even in our texts. Philip disagreed with Paul when he said "Flesh and Blood shall not inherit", as he could not imagine existing as a spirit without a body, then settled on what ever happens, happens.

He also believed that if you had to have a hell, God would see to it you weren't disappointed. Paradise has no disappointments.

I, as most Gnostics, don't worry about things that are beyond our control. It is the spiritual resurrection given to us as a gift, that we try and maintain.

There is a lot mentioned about "special knowledge" that is written about us, that is just a huge self perpetuating misunderstanding. Our forebears wrote that a human being can be divided into three ascending parts, body, mind, and spirit. This was not understood by people who considered a physical blemish as indicating the whole person was defective. This is part of our "special knowledge". There is more, equally appalling to primitive mindsets, but pretty much common knowledge today.

 

[gord44]

I tend to think of a literal hell as being redundant b/c this world is it's own hell already.

It makes even less sense to have a hell like this earth, when we already live here >_<

Hehe I see your point. Like i said it was on some random site so it was probably what someone's cousins, nephews, 2nd cousins roommate's ex-wife told them

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[gord44]

Thanks Soulgazer. Interesting stuff!

 

[eachallberg]

Thanks for the reply eachallberg! I appreciate it!

The hell like earth thing I just found on google when i typed in 'gnostic christian afterlife'. It said something like 'a few with special knowledge will go to be with God when they die; the rest will go to Hell, which is similar to life on earth.' I don't think it was a gnostic site.
Thanks again!

Not a problem, friend.
Christians who are against gnostic Christianity are uninformed.

Places like gotquestions.org (Christian site) spin the subject like a tabloid.

They claim to know the bible, but I think they don't.

 

[gord44]

I am a noob when it comes to the Gnostic works but was wondering what you guys make of this text from the Apocalypse of Paul.

"And the three witnesses came. The first spoke, saying, "Was I not in the body the second hour [...]? I rose up against you until you fell into anger and rage and envy." And the second spoke, saying, "Was I not in the world? And I entered at the fifth hour, and I saw you and desired you. And behold, then, now I charge you with the murders you committed." The third spoke, saying, "Did I not come to you at the twelfth hour of the day when the sun was about to set? I gave you darkness until you should accomplish your sins." When the soul heard these things, it gazed downward in sorrow. And then it gazed upward. It was cast down. The soul that had been cast down went to a body which had been prepared for it. And behold, its witnesses were finished."

Was the author implying reincarnation of some sort in the highlighted part? I found it quite interesting.

 

[eachallberg]

Peace,

I am a noob when it comes to the Gnostic works but was wondering what you guys make of this text from the Apocalypse of Paul.

"And the three witnesses came. The first spoke, saying, "Was I not in the body the second hour [...]? I rose up against you until you fell into anger and rage and envy." And the second spoke, saying, "Was I not in the world? And I entered at the fifth hour, and I saw you and desired you. And behold, then, now I charge you with the murders you committed." The third spoke, saying, "Did I not come to you at the twelfth hour of the day when the sun was about to set? I gave you darkness until you should accomplish your sins." When the soul heard these things, it gazed downward in sorrow. And then it gazed upward. It was cast down. The soul that had been cast down went to a body which had been prepared for it. And behold, its witnesses were finished."

Was the author implying reincarnation of some sort in the highlighted part? I found it quite interesting.

I'm not interested in codex 5 of the NHL, it's all apocalyptic. The Gnostic bible contains none of them.

Nice, right?

As mainstream Christianity emphasizes salvation for after a physical death. Gnostic Christians focus on the moment. Salvation can be right now.

The AoP has greek ideas of the afterlife. Themes from the AoPeter reflect imagery used in Dante's inferno.

The discovery of AoP had an elaborate appearance to prove its authenticity thats similar to the discovery of Mormon scripture.

What doesn't add up is that the AoP stems from 2 Corinthians 12 which Paul speaks of this rapture and he describes it as an ineffable experience.
Yet the author of AoP, "Paul" is able to describe the journey through heaven.

=\

Reincarnation? Maybe...
I don't know. I forgot.

Peace.

 

[Soulgazer]

There are various takes on the Soul's journey after the body dies; The fragments that we have from the Gospel of Mary describe the journey thus:

Chapter 8:

. . . it.
10) And desire said, I did not see you descending, but now I see you ascending. Why do you lie since you belong to me?
11) The soul answered and said, I saw you. You did not see me nor recognize me. I served you as a garment and you did not know me.
12) When it said this, it (the soul) went away rejoicing greatly.
13) Again it came to the third power, which is called ignorance.
14) The power questioned the soul, saying, Where are you going? In wickedness are you bound. But you are bound; do not judge!
15) And the soul said, Why do you judge me, although I have not judged?
16) I was bound, though I have not bound.
17) I was not recognized. But I have recognized that the All is being dissolved, both the earthly things and the heavenly.
18) When the soul had overcome the third power, it went upwards and saw the fourth power, which took seven forms.
19) The first form is darkness, the second desire, the third ignorance, the fourth is the excitement of death, the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh, the sixth is the foolish wisdom of flesh, the seventh is the wrathful wisdom. These are the seven powers of wrath.
20) They asked the soul, Whence do you come slayer of men, or where are you going, conqueror of space?
21) The soul answered and said, What binds me has been slain, and what turns me about has been overcome,
22) and my desire has been ended, and ignorance has died.
23) In a aeon I was released from a world, and in a Type from a type, and from the fetter of oblivion which is transient.
24) From this time on will I attain to the rest of the time, of the season, of the aeon, in silence.


​

Important to note that these aeons were very important then in describing the human condition---they are very important now as they have mutated into psychological terms.

Ignorance is, of course, the mother of all evil. That's why you will see it in these text in a negative portrayal time after time.

This journey is that of a soul that had found salvation; ignorance no longer bound it, nor desire, nor had it judged anyone, so could not be judged in like manner.

 

[gord44]

Peace,


I'm not interested in codex 5 of the NHL, it's all apocalyptic. The Gnostic bible contains none of them.

Nice, right?

As mainstream Christianity emphasizes salvation for after a physical death. Gnostic Christians focus on the moment. Salvation can be right now.

The AoP has greek ideas of the afterlife. Themes from the AoPeter reflect imagery used in Dante's inferno.

The discovery of AoP had an elaborate appearance to prove its authenticity thats similar to the discovery of Mormon scripture.

What doesn't add up is that the AoP stems from 2 Corinthians 12 which Paul speaks of this rapture and he describes it as an ineffable experience.
Yet the author of AoP, "Paul" is able to describe the journey through heaven.

=\

Reincarnation? Maybe...
I don't know. I forgot.

Peace.

Thanks eachallberg. When I posted that I didn't know much about the AoP background. I got a Gnostic Bible off of Amazon and noticed it wasn't in there. Thanks for the info about it!

I am starting to see what you mean about salvation in this moment. I pondered that even before I looked into these teachings. It might have been what lead me to it. Still I find it very interesting to explore what happens to the soul after death, especially when some gnostic texts seem to go so against orthodox teachings by perhaps hinting at some sort of reincarnation.

I was reading the Secret Book of John as well and noticed when the Savior was speaking to John about the experiences of the soul after death he mentioned those whose souls are strongly under the influence of the contemptible spirit are 'bound by the authorities and cast back into the prison'. The prison I am assuming is this world again as John then asks how a soul can become younger again and return to a womb.

Very interesting stuff. I don't look to deeply into it. I just take it all in and see where it leads me.

 

[gord44]

Important to note that these aeons were very important then in describing the human condition---they are very important now as they have mutated into psychological terms.

Ignorance is, of course, the mother of all evil. That's why you will see it in these text in a negative portrayal time after time.

This journey is that of a soul that had found salvation; ignorance no longer bound it, nor desire, nor had it judged anyone, so could not be judged in like manner.

Thanks for the post Soulgazer. Good info. I do see A LOT of references lately about how evil ignorance or forgetfulness is. Fascinating text you posted too.

 

[eachallberg]

Here's something about "the end" from the gospel of Thomas...

18. The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us, how will our end come?"

Jesus said, "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is.

Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."

What does this mean to you?

 

[Soulgazer]

The beginning is personal; it's us just as we come into the world, untainted by it. No hatreds, prejudices, or hypocracies.

It is also collective. We all came from God and to God we will return.

 

[gord44]

Here's something about "the end" from the gospel of Thomas...

18. The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us, how will our end come?"

Jesus said, "Have you found the beginning, then, that you are looking for the end? You see, the end will be where the beginning is.

Congratulations to the one who stands at the beginning: that one will know the end and will not taste death."

What does this mean to you?

My first thought was similar to what Soulgazer said. We all game from God and we will all return there.

Further thoughts are we aim to return to how we were at the beginning. Before we began to forget where we came from and the world blinded us. If we can remember who we are and where we are from and start the process to become like we were at the beginning, we can begin to find salvation now.