The Gnostic Problem

Jesus said, "Whoever has come to know the world has discovered a carcass, and whoever has discovered a carcass, of that person the world is not worthy."

Gospel of Thomas

I have chosen this quote from the famous Gospel of Thomas because it encapsulates the Gnostic perspective on the physical world. That said, many academics today don't refer to the Gospel of Thomas as a Gnostic text since there's no mention of the staple figures that appear in most Gnostic texts: the Demiurge, the Archons, Sophia etc. Furthermore, there is even a reference to "carrying one's cross" which is definitely an Orthodox reference. Still, as David Brakke suggests, the Gospel of Thomas is a sui generis Gnostic text where Christ encourages the reader to seek knowledge that isn't of this world.

Gnosticism isn't pessimistic: it's "realistic" whilst offering some seeds of hope. Everything that can be done on this earth is finite, imperfect and subject to decay. Because this realm has been created with suffering and injustice on each and every level. It's pointless to fight it. The only thing that can be done, is to know. To know. Isn't the truth everything? Even if this means that we are living in a simulation?

But on the other hand, this extreme Gnostic dualism denies the beauty of this world. Love, parenthood, friendship, the sublime awe that nature can inspire. The smell left behind by the rain on the grass. The kiss of a loved one. The beauty of a sunset.

Are these things just fake? How do we move forward and attain meaning in this realm, in the here and now?

Perhaps we should look at Gnosticism in a different light. Maybe a literal and dogmatic approach to it's cosmology and texts isn't helpful. Specialised academics like Elaine Pagels deny altogether the existence of Gnosticism and now refer to a broad range of ancient Christian groups with differing theology instead when talking about the authors of the Nag Hammadi codices and their follow. Maybe a helpful way to interpret the Gnostics today would be to understand their texts and ideas in a non literal way as the encouragement to never stop seeking Gnosis, to not satisfy ourselves with man made dogmas. To seek this truth beyond the limitations of time and space. To have hope in the unknown because the best films are those with an open ending.

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