Sethian Gnosticism: The Christian Left Hand Path

[NightWatchman95]

Hello! For my first real thread in this forum I would first like to ask why this esoteric sect of christian Gnosticism (which i could say chose me rather i choosing it deliberately) is not really talked that much about in occult circles.

I think it works to perfectly bridge the gap between the desire for transcendence and theosis, while still allowing the room for individual self expression and self empowerment.

It directly tackles the problem of evil head on that the god of the old testament was basically a tyrannical dick and jesus was actually the luciferian light bringer to free us from past superstitions to give us true authority over the earth as princes of light.

only through coming to accept and know yourself, can you truly understand Christ, and eventually become the god you always were meant to be and shape the world in what reflects your highest values and loves.

any feedback is essential, sense i have my misgivings about the elitist nature of Gnostic traditions and its strong discouraging of engaging with the world in any meaningful way out side maybe a path of thankless action that goes nowhere.

On the other hand it just seems right up my alley as a person who respects my christian heritage, but is well aware that the church should not have the final say in who is saved and who isn't, that only breeds insecurity and paranoia to be frank.

 

[Yazata]

I haven't read too much gnostic texts yet, even though I occasionally open the Nag Hammadi. But this

It directly tackles the problem of evil head on that the god of the old testament was basically a tyrannical dick and jesus was actually the luciferian light bringer to free us from past superstitions to give us true authority over the earth as princes of light.

only through coming to accept and know yourself, can you truly understand Christ, and eventually become the god you always were meant to be and shape the world in what reflects your highest values and loves

Is exactly how I feel and how I would describe my beliefs.

 

[Thee Nightfool]

I deeply believe that Christ and Lucifer are one in the same. This means that the dynamic presented in grimoires involving Lucifer (the Verum, for example) are interesting indeed...

 

[Yazata]

I deeply believe that Christ and Lucifer are one in the same. This means that the dynamic presented in grimoires involving Lucifer (the Verum, for example) are interesting indeed...

Yes. I know it to be true but I also believe there is some value in treating them as separate entities. Two "exoteric facts":

1. God cast Lucifer out of Heaven from which he fell to earth, while Jesus was sent down from Heaven to earth. Feels like the same story, only told in two different ways, to appeal to two different types of people.
2. Jesus is born in December, which makes him a Capricorn. Jesus is the GOAT. Capricorn is the sign at the top of the zodiac; it can only fall after this. If Jesus = the goat, then that casts a different light on the Witches' Sabbath too am I rite?!

A thought experiment:
Imagine a stereotypical adolescent Catholic and a stereotypical adolescent Satanist. Imagine how to both of them is revealed that in truth Jesus and Lucifer are the same.

I think the Catholic church is edging towards making this public, with Lucce being the current mascot (and come on, be honest, isn't she the cutest?)

 

[NightWatchman95]

Yes. I know it to be true but I also believe there is some value in treating them as separate entities. Two "exoteric facts":

1. God cast Lucifer out of Heaven from which he fell to earth, while Jesus was sent down from Heaven to earth. Feels like the same story, only told in two different ways, to appeal to two different types of people.
2. Jesus is born in December, which makes him a Capricorn. Jesus is the GOAT. Capricorn is the sign at the top of the zodiac; it can only fall after this. If Jesus = the goat, then that casts a different light on the Witches' Sabbath too am I rite?!

A thought experiment:
Imagine a stereotypical adolescent Catholic and a stereotypical adolescent Satanist. Imagine how to both of them is revealed that in truth Jesus and Lucifer are the same.

I think the Catholic church is edging towards making this public, with Lucce being the current mascot (and come on, be honest, isn't she the cutest?)

agreed, the caths are sitting on all sorts of dirty secrets in the Vatican for fears it could undo papal authority and "inerrancy". i have nothing to "confess" to these decadent corrupt hypocrites.

 

[Sabbatius]

any feedback is essential, sense i have my misgivings about the elitist nature of Gnostic traditions and its strong discouraging of engaging with the world in any meaningful way out side maybe a path of thankless action that goes nowhere.

Much of the textual notation of the Nag Hammadi relies heavily on Neo-Platonic Thought which is the biggest turn-off for me. Gnosticism fascinated me greatly in my earlier years which is why I studied Judaic- and eventually Early Christian texts. In the process it blended into the Nag Hammadi, Qumran and the highly ignored Ras Shamra site(not Gnostic but interesting) which required a tedious task of studying(never well-learned) Ugaritic. Out of all the writings which have been made public, it is impossible to shake the Neo-Platonic, heavily Greek-influenced syncretism which honestly ruins the core, in my humble opinion.

Some people have no issue with taking the Neo-Platonic thought and being able to implement it into their practice and faith. It is, after all, the root of Hermeticism and the basis for most of the two Millenia of Ceremonial Magic. Hermeticism heavily complemented the Solomonic practices i.e. influenced the Testament of Solomon, The Notary Arts and the bulk of the Clavicula Solomnis. However, taking into consideration the influences from the Greek world to Egyptian culture has definitely brought about a syncretism blending Judeo-Christian Cosmology, Egyptian Mysticism and Greek thought into the corpus of the Papyri Graecae Magicae.

On the other hand it just seems right up my alley as a person who respects my christian heritage, but is well aware that the church should not have the final say in who is saved and who isn't, that only breeds insecurity and paranoia to be frank.

Sadly, much of the Roman Catholic, technically the whole of Western Christendom itself, has a bad dialogue with humanity on the condition of the human soul and what salvation is. If we consider that Western Christendom has been focusing on sin itself instead of the processes, we could eliminate the majority of the "final say" and consider the focus on the elimination of Death as the overall purpose of the Crucifixion instead of the remission of sins. This would change the perspectives of most denominations and door-knockers for the last two centuries alone.