BEFORE CHRISTIANITY......IT WAS

     Long before Christianity spread throughout the world, there were those who already believed.  They were called Gnostics, and this sect had pre-Christian roots.  In Greek, Gnostic is defined as "knowledge".
     These ancient followers went on to study the teachings of Jesus Christ.  And many people today say, that this was the beginning, from which many of today's religions sprung.
     As I said in a previous post, this lady could care less whether any of you are Christians, Buddhists, or follow Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, or whatever.  My aim is to research many previously unknown facts, that have been kept from the multitudes, and share my findings-- with those who are searching,  like me.
     Those of you, who are satisfied with your religion and seek nothing more, that is fine.  This post is meant for the countless number of folks for whom organized religion has few, or no, answers to their questions. 
     Gnostic believers learned that real truth of our existence is available to humans.  It is a personal awakening to spiritual truth.  Some say, Gnosticism is "universal knowledge, and the heart of every religion".  That is before mankind altered the original concept--with their own changes, interpretations, opinions  & church rules--many of which had no validity in Jesus' teachings.
     Of course, to this lady's knowledge, Gnostic teachings were not ever taught in Christian churches & schools, where only human interpretation of the Bible was evident. And by the end of the 4th century, Gnostics were denounced, it's teachers were ostracized and their holy books were destroyed.  This is because early Christian leaders believed Gnostics to be threats to their new religion, after Christian church leaders had compiled their own version of the Bible--incidently leaving out several important Books, that should have been included.
     So, centuries followed when the teachings of Gnosticism became unknown. And many of their ancient beliefs were denounced--beliefs in the importance of mankind's individual revelations & knowledge of God's realm, as well as the inner tranquility of the soul, which leads to a closer loving union with the Almighty.  Instead, many Christian churches, particularly, went on to teach about the fearful wrath of God, holding worshipers in horrible fear of burning in hell.
     But after thousands of years, in 1945, in upper Egypt, earthernware jars were found, with ancient leather bound books within--it was "Gnostic Gospels".  And it was also reported,  in many of these texts, that our loving God  encompassed  both male & female descriptions --as Father God & Mother God.
     So, for we searchers of truth, who have always felt that organized religion was lacking, there is apparently a belief system that is in harmony with us.   Therefore, our beliefs, that we could reach out--some of us through visions, dreams or from the very core of infused knowledge in the depths of our souls---it  is true!  And those who ridicule us for our beliefs, just because we do not blindly follow a particular man-made religion, they are the ones who have a lot to learn.
     Gnostics believe that only truth can become known by direct experience.  Because beliefs can sometimes be discarded.  But experience can never be.
              MORE.....LATER....