Gnostic Altered States

Initiatory structure of Gnostic initiation; therapeutic goals of Gnostic initiation; ritual practices and positive cognitive changes. Engages the movie, "Altered States."

Introduction

In 1982, I was finishing my first year of college. I was enrolled in a two-year program to become a registered nurse and had been doing rounds on the oncology floor of the local hospital and in geriatrics. I was eighteen years old and any romantic notions I may have had about health care when I started school vanished with the first catheter I had to insert....

Superpowers and Monsters

Engages the super hero movies and comics, including Superman; Spiderman; and Doctor Strange.

Pleasantville Religions

Emergence of the first Gnostic new religious movements; Church of Mani; Church of Pistis Sophia; Mandaeism. Engages the movie, “Pleasantville.”

John and the Dark Cosmos

Historical influence of the Gnostic religion of Simon Magus on the formation of the first Johannine community; Gnostic storyline of the Gospel of John that has been obscured for centuries by inaccurate translations; Gnostic controversy in the epistles of John. Engages the movie, “The Dark City.”

The Gnostic True Man

Examines rise of Gnostic Spirituality within historical environment of shamanic practices and mystery initiation; Engages the movie, “The Truman Show.”

Spiritual Avatars

Valentinian Christians functioning within the Catholic Church until the third century when they were expelled; shared teachings and rituals with Catholics, while elaborating and redefining them; divine humans and angelic twins; sacred marriage and holy eroticism; Valentinus; Ptolemy; Heraclean; Marcus. Engages the movie, “Avatar.”

Hell Walks and Star Treks

Elaborate second- and third-century Christian Gnostic movements; Basilidians, Peratics; Ophians; Naassenes; Platonic Sethians; soul-journeys through hell and through the star system as initiatory practices; connection to ancient mystery religions and Greek philosophical schools. Engages the movie, “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.”

The Matrix of Ancient Spirituality

Discusses Servant Spirituality, Covenant Spirituality, and Mystic Spirituality as models that pre-exist the rise of Gnostic Spirituality. Engages the movie, “The Matrix.”

Gnosticism Out on a Limb

Closing remarks that leave reader to wonder about the therapeutic and personal shape of religion in modern America; debt to the ancient Gnostics who altered the very fabric of religion. Engages the film, "Out on a Limb."