Re: Not of your world :) edited.

This is where we will differ. For example as a catholic I do not go to God to ask for forgiveness of sins. I use an intermediary, a priest instead. I have elevated man into a position that is only for God himself. So they do not worship the God of the bible but of there own creation. This not a i see it different than you do scenario. This is a fact. that they pray to anyone but God is a fact so they have elevated people once again into a postion reserved for God . In a sense elevating them to God's unto themselves. This is not Christianity.

I contend Christianity can be divided into 3 main branches with one being heretical in nature

the branches are pelagianism (heretical), calvinism, and arminianism. There are some semi-palagian that do away with the heretical portions, so could be considered another branch.




First, you are correct in the definition gnostic, yet you do not capture the heart nor the intent of the gnostic movement of that period.


"The word Gnostic comes from the Greek word gnosis, meaning knowledge and has the connotation of hidden knowledge. Gnosticism denies the accuracy of the New Testament, does not believe in the resurrection of Christ or his followers, and states that our need is not for forgiveness but rather enlightenment" ............Erwin W Lutzer, The DaVinci Deception: credible answers to questions millions are asking about Jesus, the Bible and The DaVinci Code, Tyndale House Publishers, Illinois, 2006.

As for canonization, the gnostics were not included for a reason. For one, long before the first nicene council the church had been using a conical text. The gnostics are not conical. They have all been dated from 150 - 300 AD, and are not eyewitness accounts. The last conical writings are dated to about 70 AD. Secondly to paraphrase Martin Luther Scripture must interpret scripture.


So lets look at some of these for consistency in scripture. We will look at the Gospel of Thomas since this one you focused on. This is the one that seems the most innocent and has been debated if it originated from the same Quelle, "source" as other conical writings. Looking at the age of the writing and that it was also written in coptic. It it is much more probable it was exposited from the conical.

lets look at one passage that does not line up with any other writings in scripture whatsoever.

114 Simon Peter said to them, "Make Mary leave us, for females don't deserve life." Jesus said, "Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of Heaven."

Some say this is metaphor. CRI (Christian research Institute) did a great breakdown on this. Metaphor or not, it does not correlate to any other writings or themes in scripture.

7 Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion that the man will eat, so that the lion becomes a man. And cursed is the man that the lion will eat, and the lion still will become a man."

Huh?

14 Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will bring sin upon yourselves, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give alms, you will harm your spirits.
When you go into any region and walk about in the countryside, when people take you in, eat what they serve you and heal the sick among them.

if you fast you will bring sin upon yourselves? .........really..............

19 Jesus said, "Blessed is the one who came into being before coming into being.
If you become my disciples and pay attention to my sayings, these stones will serve you. For there are five trees in Paradise for you; they do not change, summer or winter, and their leaves do not fall. Whoever knows them will not taste death."


the 5 trees only parallels with Kabbalistic (Jewish mysticism and Hindu)

this gives more credence that the book was extrapolated from conical and then the gnostic material added.

Just by looking at these few passages you can see even outside of the dating, and lack of eyewitness accounts, it still does not meet the smell test.





So my Question to you is do you believe that the conical canonized scripture is the inherent word of GOD? If the answer is no, then I question your Christianity. I am no ones judge, yet we are told to test the spirits. So it is right to question.



So you do not believe in the trinity? Is that a correct assumption by your last post. If the answer is no, then I can't call you brother because you do not believe in the God of the Bible

So by saying you believe hell and satan are metaphorical. Because God likes talking to metaphorical creatures like he did in the book of Job I am guessing you are some sort of universalist. Is this a fair assumption?

Cheers

Job 1 [7] The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From [m]going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” [8] And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you [n]considered my [o]servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, [p]a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” [9] Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? [10] Have you not put [q]a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have [r]blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. [11] But [s]stretch out your hand and [t]touch all that he has, and he will [u]curse you [v]to your face.” [12] And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
(Job 1:7-12 ESV)

[Cross References]
=======================================================
[m] ch. 2:2; [1 Pet. 5:8]
[n] ch. 2:3
[o] Num. 12:7; 2 Sam. 7:5; Isa. 20:3
[p] ver. 1
[q] [Ps. 3:3; 34:7]
[r] [Ps. 128:1, 2]
[s] ch. 2:5
[t] ch. 19:21; Isa. 53:4 (Heb.)
[u] ver. 5
[v] Isa. 65:3