Ecclesiastical Gnosis
I've been reading the Catechism of the AJC, and I've learned a lot with just the first couple pages. The hierarchy and doctrinal statements of the AJC have kind of puzzled me in a Gnostic setting, as Gnosticism is not so much about statements but about experience. The emphasis of the curriculum on studying Christian theology also puzzled me.
However, experience without a reference point is meaningless. The Doctrines, as spelled out by the AJC, are there to guide the experiences of the initiates and parishioners. Think of them as signposts. You can go on a journey, but without knowing where you are, having a point of reference, you're not just wandering: you're lost.
Christian Theology has been dealing with these problems for centuries, and so those doctrines and statements also form a valuable signpost from which to proceed. It's kind of like "Ok, I know my friend is over here, but I want to go THIS way..."
However, experience without a reference point is meaningless. The Doctrines, as spelled out by the AJC, are there to guide the experiences of the initiates and parishioners. Think of them as signposts. You can go on a journey, but without knowing where you are, having a point of reference, you're not just wandering: you're lost.
Christian Theology has been dealing with these problems for centuries, and so those doctrines and statements also form a valuable signpost from which to proceed. It's kind of like "Ok, I know my friend is over here, but I want to go THIS way..."
Comments
Do you follow? A Buddhist or Hindhu could have a common spirituality with us, but their praxis would be entirely different. As Christian Gnostics, the revelation which is given to us as a Church is that which is of the Christos with the ongoing guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit.
ASF
Rev Ken+
Theology is useful in that it presents a system of enquiry and teaches you how to use that system; you can also say "Here's how orthodox Christians talk about the trinity, the church, or the soul" and know what you're talking about.
Your signpost analogy is quite apt.
""Here's how orthodox Christians talk about the trinity, the church, or the soul" and know what you're talking about.
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And not just that but "Seeing all this- here is how we are different, and why"
The purpose of examing orthodox viewpoints in formation is not so much to understand what they teach, but to better understand why we dont teach it, and what we do actually teach.