What is the word pleroma meaning?
fullness of divine
Definition of pleroma 1 : plenitude: a : the fullness of divine excellencies and powers the pleroma of the Godhead resides in Christ corporeally— Philip Schaff. b : the fullness of being of the divine life held in Gnosticism to comprise the aeons as well as the uncreated monad or dyad from which they have proceeded.
What is Gnostic mythology?
Gnosticism is the belief that human beings contain a piece of God (the highest good or a divine spark) within themselves, which has fallen from the immaterial world into the bodies of humans. All physical matter is subject to decay, rotting, and death.
Who is the Gnostic God?
the Monad
In many Gnostic systems, God is known as the Monad, the One. God is the high source of the pleroma, the region of light. The various emanations of God are called æons.
What does Gnostic mean in religion?
Definition of gnosticism : the thought and practice especially of various cults of late pre-Christian and early Christian centuries distinguished by the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis.
Who was Abraxas?
Ancient mythologists placed Abraxas among the Egyptian gods. Abraxas was also the Persian sun god, and in Syria he was a form of Iao (aspect or name for Yahveh, Yahweh, or Jehovah). It is said that the name was created to replace the unmentionable name of the Supreme Being.
Do Gnostics believe in karma?
It’s no wonder that the Gnostic scholar Gilles Quispel stated that if any rebirth occurred, it would have to be due to attachment, not karma, which made no sense.
What is the difference between Gnostic and agnostic?
“Gnostic” and “agnostic” are words that have opposite meanings. In a religious context, “gnostic” usually refers to one who possesses knowledge or one who seeks knowledge about God. “Agnostic” is just the opposite, and they are persons who have no knowledge about the existence of God.
Do Gnostics believe in the Trinity?
Gnostics held that she was the syzygy (female twin divine Aeon) of Jesus (i.e. the Bride of Christ), and Holy Spirit of the Trinity.
Who are the Gnostics today?
Mandeans are the only surviving traditional Gnostics, with no more than 20,000 adherents living in southern Iraq and south-western Iran.
What is the difference between gnostic and agnostic?
What is the opposite of Gnostic?
The opposite is not “gnostic”. An “agnostic atheist” is someone who is not sure, but thinks that God does not exist. If the opposite of that is someone who is sure that God does not exist, then the opposite of “ agnostic atheist ” is simply “atheist”.
Was Arius a Gnostic?
Arianism is often mistaken for a form of Gnosticism ; but at no time did Paul of Samosata , Arius of Alexandria, or any of their successors teach a secret, mystical doctrine of the Gnostic style. Arianism was a form of Literal Christianity (as opposed to Gnostic).
What is Gnosticism and who are the Gnostics?
Gnosticism was a second-century heresy claiming that salvation could be gained through secret knowledge. Gnosticism is derived from the Greek word gnosis, meaning “to know” or “knowledge.”.