"How do you discern an evil religion from evil actors? The major religions have texts that are a mixed bag of good and bad, mercy and vengefulness, etc. This leaves individuals pretty free to cherry pick which parts agree with what they already want to believe."
One of the issues that is leading me to my view of the danger in Christianity, and our other mainstream religions, is that preach homophobia and misogyny while our governments are preaching equality for gays and women.
Is that good for a country to you?
"But a Gnostic Christian? Really? That is fascinating, I have had zero opportunity to talk to one. Do you draw from the Nag Hammadi texts? Or is your faith less text-based than mainstream Christians', in keeping with the doctrine of gnosis? Do you equate Satan with the demiurge?
Hmm. Maybe these questions would be better suited for a separate thread purely about Gnostic Christianity."
Atheists tend to screw up my efforts these days. That is not a complaint. It is a statement of fact.
My reward for my efforts to have atheist be more militant.
I would love to do a one on one someplace, but if you are not actually searching for an answer and your biases already fixed, you may not be ready to face that you are the only God you can ever know.
Modern Gnostic Christians name our god "I am", and yes, we
do mean ourselves.
You are your controller. I am mine. You
represent and present whatever mind picture you have of your God or ideal
human, and so do I.
The name "I Am" you might see as
meaning something like, --- I think I have grown up thanks to having forced my
apotheosis through Gnosis and meditation and “I am”, represents the best rules
and laws that we have found to live by.
In Gnostic Christianity, we follow the
Christian tradition that Christians have forgotten that they are to do. That
is, become brethren to Jesus.
That is why some say that the only good
Christian is a Gnostic Christian.
Here is the real way to salvation that Jesus
taught.
Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye:
if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him,
If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we
will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren.
Allan Watts explain those quotes in detail.
Alan
Watts - On The Book of Eli - YouTube Joseph Campbell shows the same esoteric ecumenist idea in this link.
On
Becoming an Adult - YouTube The bible just plainly says to put away the
things of children. The supernatural and literal reading of myths.
Gnosis enlightens adults.
Regards
DL