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Glossary Gnosticism / Term

Gnosis

The awakened alternative to hylicism and psychism. Gnosis includes awakening from collective slumber, deep transformation of consciousness, insight into the daimonic processes of the cosmos, and trans-rational self-knowledge connected to the divine.


While the literal translation for this word is "knowledge", it's meaning is closer to "insight" or " enlightenment". Rather than an intellectual understanding then, it is a "knowledge of the heart" or wisdom (which is not meant to imply mere emotionalism). While any religion that places an emphasis on esoteric understanding as a spiritual goal can be said to have gnosis (small "g") it has become common practice to spell it "Gnosis" (capital "G") when referring to the syncratic movements of the late antiquities. Some extend this definition to include related movements such as Kabbalah, Classical Hermeticism. This system is of course arbitrary and not used by all, but is very useful in written dialogue.


While the literal translation for this word is "knowledge", it"s meaning is closer to "insight" or, to use another concept, "enlightenment". It may imply more in some cases than a purely intellectual understanding. It may imply complete comprehension that comes from both rational and intuited means. Gnosis is bonding the soul (nous) with wisdom, in both Sethian,Valentinian, and other Gnostic schema, which link this act through Jesus. The process of Gnosis may have different schema, or criteria as to secular practices. The process of Gnosis seems to be transitional or a transcendence in a learned process.

Permanent link Gnosis - Modification date 2023-01-30 - Creation date 2020-05-23


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