All in all this is one of the best academic introduction to Gnosticism I have seen on KZitem and I commend you for that. You did a good job of chipping at the complex belief systems of a diverse group of sects and congregations to point at the heart of what one could say makes a system of belief Gnostic, so your students should be glad to have attended your course. I understand this is meant as a basic introduction to what could be cast as the core of Gnostic beliefs, which are a diverse set of ancient and more recent mystical teachings which are tricky to overview in a condensed fashion. There were some things I found a little odd to say though; the true G+D and the "evil" demiurge are never characterized equally powerful in any Christian Gnostic texts I know of, although that might be the case for example according to the teachings of Mani, which I am not familiar with. Christian Gnostics have an admittedly complex collection of myths concerning the coming-into-being of the demiurge, but which all cast the "evil" demiurge as a perverter of the natural order, perhaps a lovecraftian "blind idiot g-d" or likened to an abortion of a child. As far as I know, the question is never whether the totality of divine powers is more powerful than the demiurge, but the texts do differ on whether the demiurge is in its luciferian jealousy sentiently conspiring against the divine sparks or souls that it has trapped in its material plane or if it is, in its arrogance, just plain blind. In the context of the divine powers of all that is good versus the demiurge you brought up Judgement Day. I think the comparison that there can be no Judgement Day in Gnostic theology is a mischaracterization. No divine punishment for sinners or the wicked and base? A great many Christian Gnostic sects were definitely apocalyptic, as were many of the Christian believers in the first centuries - perhaps Christ might make His inevitable return even in their lifetimes. The Christian Gnostic vision of punishment for evil is not too different from how some Jewish texts (by no means most) describe the concept of Gehenna, and could be summarized as such: If you are of the world, you will die with the world. What could be a greater punishment than eternal separation from G+D, an absolute unbeing neverending? A great and vast void into which not the single smallest ray of hope is able to penetrate. Then again we must also remember that after all, for the Gnostics, the hellish torments are already here, and for that to be the fate of any sentient being would for them be an unfathomable terror.
@Xztjhyb7
4 ай бұрын
Very interesting comment and articulated excellently. Precise and succinct.
@billmorgan7287
3 жыл бұрын
Your lectures perfectly open up pathways of thinking I’ve tried so long to venture into but get blocked by a lack of understanding, you demonstrate clearly and it’s incredibly helpful. All these topics I’ve researched for years and never known more clearly than now after hearing you. Thank you for the ability to listen and watch for free, What a treasure! Please any more is greatly appreciated
@Xztjhyb7
4 ай бұрын
I feel the same. I only discovered Brooks last night to my joy and relief. I was fed up going round and round utube and Justin Sledge of Esoterica advertised so many books i felt so overwhelmed i thought oh just give up.
@kandigrl3933
4 жыл бұрын
I recently found your lectures. I am recent UCF alumni but I am a forever student always seeking to learn more. I have also been checking the comments and your responses. People are silly with their “criticism” and not understanding the context of your lectures! For what they are, I hope you know I appreciate them and that you’ve chosen to leave them and the comments public. I’ve learned a lot already from you about philosophy, but I also learned a lot about the Bible! I didn’t go to church growing up and am not Christian, but it is helpful to understand since it is so culturally relevant and I have Catholics and Christian family. I didn’t expect to learn about the Bible when I was seeking to learn mainly about philosophy, but I’ll never turn down extra knowledge! 💖
@georgebrooks7775
4 жыл бұрын
Well hello, neighbor. Interesting you would bring up the leaving of the comments open. I am learning to navigate new waters here: I want people to comment and share their thoughts freely, but I have had to delete several comments from people who just want to preach their own views or have an axe to grind. I need to keep this appropriate for incoming freshmen students, and I figure people are free to create their own KZitem channels and build their own audience. It is sometimes annoying how some people glom onto my comment area and push their own delusions.
@baroquecat2295
4 жыл бұрын
George Brooks Really liked all your lectures, are there any new ones coming soon?
@georgebrooks7775
4 жыл бұрын
@@baroquecat2295 Not until quarantine is over and everyone goes back to campus--it is our digital media students who make these for me. If you haven't see it yet, check out my last video made in the green screen room with lots of special effects on the origin of the mysticism around the number seven: kzitem.info/news/bejne/xIlp0Gurb4imomU
@baroquecat2295
4 жыл бұрын
George Brooks Thanks, will make sure to check it out!!
@Xztjhyb7
4 ай бұрын
❤ delighted with these lectures. At last an introductory type i can build upon. I wonder what you think of Justin Sledge of Esoterica and Dan Atrell who compiled Encyclopaedia Hermetica. Id love you to do one on the Kaballah. Youre so good at simplifying things by condensing. Thank you so much.
@ameremortal
Жыл бұрын
I had to watch this again, fascinating…
@gnosticjournals
Жыл бұрын
Do you feel like you already knew all this but he just woke you up and you remembered it?
@ameremortal
Жыл бұрын
@@gnosticjournals I watched it years ago and understand so much more watching it now.
@thestranger9226
3 жыл бұрын
Yes! Thank you. I'm impressed. I see many documentaries on the gnostics. It's so bizarre seeing and hearing my experiences with religion and spirituality just in documentaries, But not knowing anyone else associated with it.
@wagnervana2000
3 жыл бұрын
Fantastic. Going to rewatch and take notes. Thank you.
@Xztjhyb7
4 ай бұрын
Jordan Peterson could learn alot in how to teach from you Dr Brooks. ❤
@jamesleon4883
5 жыл бұрын
Where are your sources for the creation story from? I read a different creation story. The god of this world (demiurge) was made by Sophia (wisdom) as it came from the highest reality (can't remember the reason). The demiurge created our universe as a copy of the higher world he could only glimpse. Now I read all this a while ago so a lot of it is vague. I didn't think the gnostics believed in a good and bad god, just in a bad creator god. Anyways I like your videos, I'm looking forward to hearing your views on Plato's philosophies (I downloaded and will listen on the bus)
@georgebrooks7775
5 жыл бұрын
There are multiple versions of the gnostic creation story. As I don't have time or an advanced enough audience to delve into them, I am really presenting a generic overview of the essential belief that permeates all of them, and largely derived from studying with Dr. Maureen Tilley in graduate school--she was an expert on Christian syncretism and early heresies. She taught a course called "Monks, Martyrs, Maidens and Madmen."
@jamesleon4883
5 жыл бұрын
@@georgebrooks7775 ok cool thanks
@bluemagic9531
3 жыл бұрын
By the way love the lecture
@abercrombiefuffufnick6090
4 жыл бұрын
+9:25 is quite a leap Sir. How can one suppose to know the nature or quality of existence of a soul or self-conscious energy freed from corporal restrains? In an infinite universe, is it unreasonable to entertain an infinite number of possibilities? It is good to beware of those who wish to usher you down a single road.
@georgebrooks7775
4 жыл бұрын
Hey, I'm just explaining how the Gnostics viewed the world--this is a history of religion lecture, not my own sermon.
@ionioakinioanette5729
4 жыл бұрын
They believed that Gnosis ("the secret spiritual knowledge/wisdom") was received, interpreted and passed down through initiation from their divine teacher, Mani was "of the Light" and Christian Gnostics obviously saw Christ as their Redeemer, so in that sense the soteriology of the Gnostics is usually not that different from Christian ones. It is drastically different in other ways though. To put it simply the Gnostic Christians received their salvation from Christ, but not by his sacraficial death on the Cross for the sins of humanity but by his secret teachings to his apostles which were passed down in their visionary texts. Gnostics did not believe in original sin, but that sin was born of ignorance of the true G+D.
@ZuluSierraPapa
4 жыл бұрын
lolol ancient anti-natalists
@Revelation14.11
4 жыл бұрын
Being naked in the garden shows that their souls were not overcome by flesh,their minds were only aware of the Creator not themselves (like today). The tree of good- and let's not forget- EVIL, is the knowledge of the senses that once they knew, brought them (and us ) enslavement to the self through the 5 senses. "The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for FOOD and PLEASING TO THE EYE" Genesis 3:6 Here it shows that her mind was already thinking at her stomach; and the senses that were created just to observe the material creation,were now RULING over her mind. This is the fall of man, from a superior created soul above the senses,now as an animal to live through the senses and for the senses.... there is no "evil God" ,all the evil in the world we create through our lusts,greed,judgement of others,pride,senses. They fell through their freedom of choice as FREE created beings. Actually the fall is 100% proof they had freedom,because if they were "prisoners" to this "evil God".... what chances they had to disobey in the first place? Zero. Edit : i am Orthodox and the Orthodox view of the world is not from Plato. I suggest you read the New Testament: Matthew 5:20 ; 5:48 ; 7:13 ; 7:19 Luke 9:24 ; 9:48 John 3:5 ; 12:48 Just to name a few
@marissabesseling6963
5 жыл бұрын
Thankyou!!
@bluemagic9531
3 жыл бұрын
Words naked and wily is the same in genesis. So humans were wise before the they ate of the tree
@derekquaye5734
5 жыл бұрын
Your videos are great however you butchered this history of Gnostic ideology which was never universal in thought or application. You failed to highlight Jewish-Christian groups that had what many would consider Gnostic views & you also failed to mention St. Valentinus who was a very notable Gnostic teacher in the early 2nd century CE he was in contention for the early position of Bishop of Rome (the papal sea wasnt created yet).
@georgebrooks7775
5 жыл бұрын
There is a lot of stuff I could discuss leading up to the Gnostic-Manichees, as well as a bunch one could follow with, all the way to the Bogomils and Cathars. This is an introductory lecture for sophomores taking a course that covers the Biblical tradition and the entirety of the Middle Ages...I am barely able to squeeze in the material on "alternate Christianities" that I do, which is one reason I recorded them so I can save some class time. The purpose of the lectures is to give them enough background that the students can then read the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas and pick out the differences between synoptic parallels, Pauline insertions, Gnostic additions...and then hopefully they can find the couple of genuine lost sayings of Jesus as a reward for their critical reading. What you are describing belongs in a graduate level course.
@derekquaye5734
5 жыл бұрын
@@georgebrooks7775 ok ok my bad i understand better with proper context what u was doin.
@nosuchthing8
2 жыл бұрын
Dude, sound level!!!!!!
@georgebrooks7775
2 жыл бұрын
I know, I know...these early videos were made by digital media students as class projects so they are of uneven quality. I will eventually get around to re-filming all these with better equipment and expertise.
@tolgaerbatur
Жыл бұрын
@@georgebrooks7775you should upload more videos. Philosophy and religion are very important subjects and you are very good to simplify them. I really enjoy your videos but pls upload more.
@Ugloke
4 жыл бұрын
Your dilemmas are based on thoughts, and not being a beleaver of anyting, I will qoute Jesus: Buy your words you Schall
@Ugloke
4 жыл бұрын
Sorry cant controll my ipad lol. Trying again. Jesus says, bye you word you shall be justified, bye your word you shall be condemmed. The world Can not fit inside thoughts, you have to see it!
@georgebrooks7775
4 жыл бұрын
Why do so many people think I'm preaching some personal belief? I'm just explaining how the Gnostics viewed the world and elaborating on the early history of Christianity--this is a history of religion lecture, not my own sermon. Relax.
@Ugloke
4 жыл бұрын
George Brooks I am sorry if I did not understand you corectly.
@watermelonlalala
4 жыл бұрын
@@georgebrooks7775 Maybe because your tone SOUNDS like you believe what you are saying.
@gnosticjournals
Жыл бұрын
I would like to know how many people you converted to gnosticism in this teaching.
@crackingsealsandliftingvei5914
3 жыл бұрын
The Gnostic Simon Magus the Samaritan. The Samaritans are from Cutha. Cutha is the Birthplace of Abraham and the origin of the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad the Koreshites. The God of Cutha is Nergal/Mars and this equates to Samael-Yaladoboath/Lion of Judah/Ra Heru Khuti or as known in the doctrine of Aleister Crowley and Thelema, Ra Hoor Khuit. The God of this world age, iron age, Kali Yuga is Mars. Elohim Gibor Geburah=216=666=Samael=Jesus.. EL GIBOR Meaning "Mighty God" Explication This name describes the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah, as a great and powerful warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty God, who will defeat God's enemies and will rule with a rod of iron. Jesus is El Gibor Samael is El Gibor Simon Magus the Samaritan is the founder of the universal Catholic Church
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