GNOSTICISM IN CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS: SOME TERMINOLOGICAL AND PARADIGMATIC CONSIDERATIONS
The widespread use of the term 'gnostic' in the description of contempor- ary religious phenomena is rarely accompanied by a proper look at just what the defining characteristics of this term are or should be. In this article, three aspects of classical Gnosticism are examined in order to...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
ASRSA
1992
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| In: |
Journal for the study of religion
Year: 1992, Volume: 5, Issue: 1, Pages: 41-55 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The widespread use of the term 'gnostic' in the description of contempor- ary religious phenomena is rarely accompanied by a proper look at just what the defining characteristics of this term are or should be. In this article, three aspects of classical Gnosticism are examined in order to establish how the term could be usefully applied to modern religious movements. It is concluded that only an emphasis on a non-rational type of knowledge can serve as a yardstick for such an application of this term and that the presence of Gnostic metaphysical, mythical and ethical motifs are not in themselves sufficient to warrant the use of the term. Three religious and one cultural phenomenon are examined in the light of these findings. Finally, it is argued that the historically negative connotations of the term negate its usefulness, and that the term 'jnanic' would be a more value-neutral, and therefore more appropriate typology. |
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| ISSN: | 2413-3027 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of religion
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