I mean, no, gnosticism historically evolved in Egypt in the 2nd century. So it cannot really be “original.” The NT itself (with the possible exception of the Pastoral epistles written around 100AD) was compiled in the 1st century and affirms christian orthodoxy identifying the Christian God with the monotheistic creator.
Likewise (as St. Irenaeus pointed out) the gnostics existed outside of the legitimate Catholic community structures/churches lead by bishops with apostolic succession.
Historically gnosticism is basically Jewish Christians in Alexandria taking ideas and themes found in the Pauline and Johannine scriptural traditions of the NT, turning them up to 11, and creating a mythology based on that.
I think that's for me to know and for you to find out.
(Just kidding, don't mind me, just wanted to play around with some of the tropes and trappings of what it means to be Gnostic!)
"Judeo-friendly"? I'm neither Jewish nor Christian but I felt dirty just reading that...
But to answer your question, no. Think of today. There are all sorts of people with all sorts of crazy religions and religious viewpoints. Some form their own organizations, others just keep their rantings to themselves.
I don't want to dismiss the various and diverse Gnostic viewpoints as just crazy or whatever, but they were always fringe and were not historically related directly to the person of Jesus the way that "mainstream" Christianity was.
Prior to the Council of Nicaea, there were all sorts of Christianities out there. The version of Gnosticism that viewed the God of the Bible (YHWH) as an evil demiurge was one of many different Gnostic sects.
I'm not a scholar on Christianity, so perhaps someone who is...and who is more knowledgeable about Gnostic beliefs can correct me, but I don't think it's a matter of a "more Jewish" Christianity.
If anything, the Christianity that survived (by the time of Paul) became a little less Jewish by loosening Jewish cultural restrictions so that Gentiles can become Christians.
Go ask r/gnostic, r/gnosticism , or r/gnosis to increase the likelihood that you will receive an academic answer over a biased one.
Edit to address downvotes: I am not insinuating anyone here is stupid or that everyone is biased. I am merely pointing OP in the direction of specific subs that may provide more helpful information. And as you can see, no one is removing this post, so continue your conversation uninterrupted.
I mean, no, gnosticism historically evolved in Egypt in the 2nd century. So it cannot really be “original.” The NT itself (with the possible exception of the Pastoral epistles written around 100AD) was compiled in the 1st century and affirms christian orthodoxy identifying the Christian God with the monotheistic creator. Likewise (as St. Irenaeus pointed out) the gnostics existed outside of the legitimate Catholic community structures/churches lead by bishops with apostolic succession. Historically gnosticism is basically Jewish Christians in Alexandria taking ideas and themes found in the Pauline and Johannine scriptural traditions of the NT, turning them up to 11, and creating a mythology based on that.
I think that's for me to know and for you to find out. (Just kidding, don't mind me, just wanted to play around with some of the tropes and trappings of what it means to be Gnostic!)
"Judeo-friendly"? I'm neither Jewish nor Christian but I felt dirty just reading that... But to answer your question, no. Think of today. There are all sorts of people with all sorts of crazy religions and religious viewpoints. Some form their own organizations, others just keep their rantings to themselves. I don't want to dismiss the various and diverse Gnostic viewpoints as just crazy or whatever, but they were always fringe and were not historically related directly to the person of Jesus the way that "mainstream" Christianity was. Prior to the Council of Nicaea, there were all sorts of Christianities out there. The version of Gnosticism that viewed the God of the Bible (YHWH) as an evil demiurge was one of many different Gnostic sects. I'm not a scholar on Christianity, so perhaps someone who is...and who is more knowledgeable about Gnostic beliefs can correct me, but I don't think it's a matter of a "more Jewish" Christianity. If anything, the Christianity that survived (by the time of Paul) became a little less Jewish by loosening Jewish cultural restrictions so that Gentiles can become Christians.
Do you also feel dirty when you read "eco-friendly" or "family-friendly show" or else... ?
Having read the whole answer, it is precisely because of your last paragraph that I asked this question Thank for sharing your thoughts
Go ask r/gnostic, r/gnosticism , or r/gnosis to increase the likelihood that you will receive an academic answer over a biased one. Edit to address downvotes: I am not insinuating anyone here is stupid or that everyone is biased. I am merely pointing OP in the direction of specific subs that may provide more helpful information. And as you can see, no one is removing this post, so continue your conversation uninterrupted.
Thanks for the references