Aquarius and the rise of neo-gnosticism

[ArmsMerchant]

The astrological age of Aries ended right around the the time of the rise of Christianity, and the beginning of the Age of Pisces. This was a very turbulent period, the early Gnostics being, I think, hold-overs from the Age of Aries, which keynoted courage and adventure--thus, they tended to reject the authoritarianism of the early church which was ruled by the Age of Pisces, and were branded as heretics by the like of Bishop Iraneus.

Now that the Age of Pisces is ending and the Age of Aquarius is beginning, we see the most religious turbulence of any time in the past 2000 years. A keynote of Pisces is "I believe"--typified by the words of the hymn "this I know, for the Bible tells me so." More authority. Now the authority of the church is breaking down--witness the ongoing scandals of the numerous priests outed as pedophiles and thieves. The thievery isn't getting much press coverage, but it is there.

The keynote of the Age of Aquarius is "I know," and a return to going inward for answers (ironically, this is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he was quoted as saying "the kingdom of God is within you.") Thousands, if not millions of people are moving in this direction--folks like Madonna taking up Kaballah; people joining up with Neale Donald Walsch and many others of his ilk--John Holland, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, people banding together to study the Urantia Book or A Course in Miracles-- as well as thousands of others--such as my wife and myself--who are working in relative obscurity and out of the public eye.

The "downside" of this is a hardening of attitudes-as people of whatever religious or spiritual persuasion-- "know" that they are right. One can only hope that this will be tempered by a spirit of ecumenism--the idea that we are All One, and that no one religion or mindset has all the answers, or that there is any such thing as the "one true religion."

One can only hope that as a species we get it all sorted out before we manage to turn the planet into a radioactive charcoal briquet or--more likely--a huge toxic waste dump.

[BrokeProphet]

If all theists died the world would be a better place.

Men will not be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.

[crazy maniac]

what does the position of the stars have anything to do with people finally smartening up and rejecting religion?

[FreedomHippie]

Originally Posted by crazy maniac

what does the position of the stars have anything to do with people finally smartening up and rejecting religion?

Haha I was thinking the same thing but than thats probably what most people who don't believe in astrology or the zodiac would say. In any event the fact is people are getting smarter (for the most part) and are starting to reject organized religion and looking for their own answers.

[Obbe]

Originally Posted by ArmsMerchant

The keynote of the Age of Aquarius is "I know," and a return to going inward for answers (ironically, this is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he was quoted as saying "the kingdom of God is within you.")

Very interesting.

...I know...

Originally Posted by ArmsMerchant

One can only hope that this will be tempered by a spirit of ecumenism--the idea that we are All One, and that no one religion or mindset has all the answers, or that there is any such thing as the "one true religion."

I agree.

Originally Posted by ArmsMerchant

One can only hope that as a species we get it all sorted out before we manage to turn the planet into a radioactive charcoal briquet or--more likely--a huge toxic waste dump.

We can only hope.

Who knows. Maybe we'll experience different outcomes relating to our current beliefs.

[ArmsMerchant]

Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

If all theists died the world would be a better place.

Men will not be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.

Oh, so we would be better off governed by atheists--like Stalin, Mao, and Castro, to name but a few.

I think maybe someone has been playing too many violent video games, or reading a very limited selection of Nietszche.

[godfather89]

Gnosticism is what the earlier Christian Pagans founded there beliefs on. Do be honest Christianity should be a mix between Gnosticism and The Teachings of Christ. I consider myself a Christian Gnostic. The belief is simple To Know Thyself and obtain Gnosis (Knowledge) however this Gnosis is not intellectual but rather intuition like... You gain this thru, meditation, prayer, contemplation, morality... etc.... However, the experience varies one person may report mystical experience another more practical or intutive "Knowing w/o actually Knowing." However, this summary is way to short and disgraceful to sum up like this... Instead I give you a Website with a large forum of other practicing gnostic's and two books worth reading:

PTG (Palm Tree Garden)-
http://www.palmtreegarden.org/forum/index.php

BOOKS-

Gnosticism: New Light on the Ancient Tradition of Inner Knowing by Stephen A Hoeller (An Postmodern Heritic Catholic Bishop)

The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels (Well respect for research in the Gnostic Community)

[truckfixr]

Originally Posted by ArmsMerchant

Oh, so we would be better off governed by atheists--like Stalin, Mao, and Castro, to name but a few...

We would be best governed by those possessing logic and reason, not those who base their opinions on bronze age superstition and myth.

Stalin, Mao, and Castro did/do not perform atrocities because of their atheism. They did/do so because they were/are seriously screwed up individuals. Claiming that one performs evil acts due to one's being an atheist is simply a bullshit assertion.

I dare say that the exact opposite would apply to the religious among us. There have been good people who have done terrible deeds in the name of their religion.

[RoFallandbreakyourHypnol]

Originally Posted by ArmsMerchant

Oh, so we would be better off governed by atheists--like Stalin, Mao, and Castro, to name but a few.

exceptions do not prove rules

that religious leaders have been responsible for great evils is undeniable and they have done so in the name of their religions

atheist dictators did not do anything in the name of atheism and their lack of faith was merely an incidental detail

also

human significance attached to the alignment of the stars has no impact on what happens in the world aside from the self fulfillment arising from those who believe such nonsense

to make sweeping statements about typical characteristics of a two thousand year period and claim that there are common themes resulting from a particular age encompassing it is also idiotic

[AtomicZagnut]

Fact of the matter is, we're better off governed by ourselves, because leaders, be they religious or not, tend to get big egos. Plato's idea of a philosopher-king is a noble ideal, but after they go through all the training Plato recommends, they're more likely to be a sociopathic wreck then a wise ruler. Of course, I wouldn't say any of the current rulers are better...

As for looking for common themes among ages, ho w is that idiotic? It's useful to look at history in ages (stone age, industrial age, etc.). Applying the Zodiac to this concept simply allows one to add another layer of meaning, and perhaps see connections that couldn't be seen with any other system. Rather than criticizing the technique, try it out for yourself and see what you find!