The Christian Thread

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 timothy leary wrote:

In luke 11:52 we are told about the Pharisees and the keys of knowledge. There is no doubt the Way was about gnosis. For instance the old outward temple, you slay animals for sacrifice.......just a sign. The new inner temple in yourself, you slay your inner animal, beastly tendencies "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature." It would seem most of the world, myself included, are still in the "Far Country"

The usage of the word gnosis (knowledge) does not indicate an acceptance of gnostic beliefs any more than our use of the word "knowledge" would.  "Gnostic" was simply a name that early followers of the philosophy pinned on themselves to indicate their emphasis of personal knowledge as the way to salvation.

When the gnostics talked about "gnosis," they were talking about an inner knowledge by which you could save yourself.  This is entirely different from the biblical doctrine of faith.  Faith is trust in something outside yourself: namely, Jesus Christ, the savior of mankind.  Christians believe (and have believed as long as Christianity has been around) that you cannot save yourself by knowledge or might or anything else, but only by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus.  

Your animal sacrifice example doesn't work, either.  The Epistle to the Hebrews makes it clear that animal sacrifices were a foreshadowing of Christ, who was the ultimate sacrifice to atone for all sins on the cross.  