What the.... ???????

[simchat_torah]

http://essenes.net/subindex1.htm

 

[ShirChadash]

Oh my, yes, I stumbled onto that site a long while back when we were first checking out the "Nazareans". I don't recommend looking around there. totally steeped in gnosticism, and far more. *yikes*

 

[Butane Torah]

I think those guys have seen one too many movies about weird snafu...

That web site is like a great place to be a pagan... a great place for that!

As my buddy Zeke (Ezekiel) would say, lift your skirt up over your head if you go down yonder... it'll all over!

 

[sojeru]

well, what they have on that site makes for a good novel or two

 

[CharlesYTK]

Zappp!

 

[simchat_torah]

However isn't Kabbalah a Jewish form of Gnoticism?

no. See here: http://www.christianforums.com/t99182

As well, the website has nothing to do with Kabbalah, but is Buddhist Netzarim Christianity, or some garbage like that.

 

[The Thadman]

That Buddhist Netzarim Vegan Tantric Foodgroup Triple Mocha Thing confuses and perplexes me...

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[Butane Torah]

Be sure and take simchat's link for authentic kabbalah studies

 

[Butane Torah]

And read Rabbi Benamozegh's "Israel and Humanity" available at amazon.

 

[The Thadman]

Oh, trust me, I wouldn't listen a website that was that ignorant of Torah for 50 bucks.

But on second thought, for 100 bucks I'd listen to it... but I wouldn't put up with what it teaches it for any amount of money

Peace!
-Steve-o

 

[CharlesYTK]

Charles the Messimaniac and Iconoclast

 

[simchat_torah]

Didn't say the site had anything to do with Kabballah.

I didn't say you made any such ascertation. I held issue with your statement:

However isn't Kabbalah a Jewish form of Gnoticism?

You asked a question, I answered it... then even gave a reference thread where Kabbalah is properly defined.

Gnoticism is hidden or secret knowledge, things not revealed to the general following. This seems a pretty good description of Kabbalah to me.

While Kabbalah does reveal secrets, its intended purpose is to explain it in a simple way that our limited and finite human minds can comprehend. It isn't about 'one person gaining secret knowledge' over another. Simply put, Kabbalah has more to do with bringing G-d to the simpleton. Purely Judaic Kabbalah, as often taught by the Chassidim, originated in bringing spirutality to the common folk, and stripping the idea away that it was intended purely for Rabbinical masters.

The Great Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidim, made it his mission to bring G-d to the masses... to the commonfolk. A small clip from the Baal Shem Tov's history:

Many important scholars became his disciples. It was during this period that the movement, which would eventually be known as Chassidus (piety), began. The Baal Shem Tov's teachings were largely based upon the Kabalistic teachings of the AriZal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (1534-72)) but his approach made the benefits of these teachings accessible even to the simplest Jew.

So while an emphasis on study was, and is, wholly worthwhile, Kabbalah's fullest purpose is to bring spirituality to the simpleton.

shalom,
yafet

 

[simchat_torah]

ps. the above quote is taken from: http://members.aol.com/LazerA/baalshemtov.html

 

[ShirChadash]

Actually, gnosticism is far more, and goes much further, than merely revelation of "secret" or hidden knowledge.

 

[simchat_torah]

Quite quite true.

 

[CharlesYTK]

Edited as requested by the Moderator

 

[simchat_torah]

Kind of makes a person real special and respected among their peers.

That's not my intention and I'm sorry you see it that way.

 

[ShirChadash]

One thing is for sure, if you understand Kabbalah well enough to make quotes from it you can impress a lot of people. Because you know things about God and Judaism that they will never figure out from just reading the scriptures. Kind of makes a person real special and respected among their peers.

I see that as a pretty pointed and personal accusation.