Consider this CCL, distribute as desired. J+
Yes, this is as definitive and comprehensive and accurate as only a Venn diagram can be, meaning, not very. It doesn't show the relationships between, say, Christianity and Judaism (or Classical Paganism, to which it owes a great deal – when Jesus isn't quoting Torah, he's spouting Socrates). The center should more properly say gnosis, not Gnosticism, but then where would we fit? These things always require more diagrams (clearly a make-work conspiracy on behalf of the United Venn Diagram Workers, Local 1890).
Perhaps consider this Slide 1, for those not overly familiar with the idea of the Underground Stream that unites the "Religions of the Book" (oh how I loathe that term, how ghastly and Protestant!). It does unfortunately tend to portray those religions as somehow the by-product of Gnosticism, which is not the case.
The purpose of this is to show that, for the countless millions who feel completely disconnected from, say, Islam, that there is in fact an ancient historical relationship not only to the external theologies of Judaism and Islam, or Islam and Christianity, but also a shared, deeper meaning. A familiarity among non-Gnostics with the form and resonance of Gnosticism, I feel, can help in understanding the common ground of all religious experience, particularly among "western" religions. And Gnosticism, as younger than two of these and older than the other two, does seem to serve as a convenient meeting point for a deep-ecumenism.
Slide 2, for which I'll have to scratch my head a bit more, would show Gnosticism as a collaborative developmental effort between Judaism, Greek Philosophy / Classical Paganism, Romanized Kemeticism*, and Silk-Road Buddhist influences.
*by which I mean, those wonderfully syncretic depictions of Kemetic (Egyptian) netjeru, such as Yinepu (Anubis) in Roman armour and poses, trampling a snake or some such.
4 comments:
Jordan-
Thanks for the fab diagram!
I discussed this idea at Homoplasmate, your diagram basically illustrates my point:
http://homoplasmate.blogspot.com/2005/05/perenniality-of-gnosis.html
Hey Jordan! Can I update my above post with your diagram? I know you said we could use it as desired, so I'll ask as a formality.
THANKS DUDE!
Why "Gnosticism" in the centre? Why not simply "Western Mysticism"?
It looks like one can enter the centre without going through a mainstream religion. Can you provide any example of that? As I understand it, pistis leads to gnosis. You'd have to have faith in something to begin with. Would secular humanism be sufficient? Is Magick, the Occult, Theosophy, Scientology, any cult a possible pathway?
And just to be difficult in a third way, *chuckle*, how does this Hermetic quote fit in? Deus est sphaera infinita cuius centrum est ubique, circumferentia vero nusquam. ([God is an infinite sphere, the centre of which is everywhere and the circumference nowhere.]
Well, Gnosticism specifically relates to and amplifies an experience of gnosis, whereas "Western Mysticism" is far broader and more general, and honestly doesn't appy literally to this diagram. WM does not in and of itself relate to Sufism, for example.
"Entering the centre" - that's not how a Venn diagram works. It's not about orientation (center, top, left) but rather sets and overlap.
How does the quote relate specifically to this illustration? It doesn't, except it's a great excuse to cite a terrific quote! ;-)
Thanks!
I think rather than the model representing gnosticism as being the predicate of world religions, it shows us how the dialogue between gnosticism and mainstream religions works. I hope that makes more sense.
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