HipHip--gnosisgnosisAncient transformation Ancient transformation

techniques for a New Agetechniques for a New Age

Presenter:Presenter: Joe SzimhartJoe Szimhart

Joe Szimhart—bioJoe Szimhart—bio

University of Dayton: BA&S—1969 fine artsUniversity of Dayton: BA&S—1969 fine arts Pennsylvania Academy Fine Arts—1975 Pennsylvania Academy Fine Arts—1975

certif.certif. Santa Fe, NM: 1975-1992Santa Fe, NM: 1975-1992 Church Universal and Triumphant/Summit Church Universal and Triumphant/Summit

Lighthouse—membership 1979-1980Lighthouse—membership 1979-1980 Exit counselor/deprogrammer—1980-Exit counselor/deprogrammer—1980-

presentpresent Crisis caseworker at psychiatric hospital—Crisis caseworker at psychiatric hospital—

1998 to present1998 to present

Gnosticism revisitedGnosticism revisited GnosisGnosis: Greek—to know; Intuitive apprehension of spiritual : Greek—to know; Intuitive apprehension of spiritual

truths, an esoteric form of knowledge sought by the truths, an esoteric form of knowledge sought by the Gnostics.Gnostics.

GnosticismGnosticism: Radical dualism rooted in early Christian/Greek : Radical dualism rooted in early Christian/Greek influences, features mythic revelation and ritual initiation, influences, features mythic revelation and ritual initiation, elements of neo-Platonismelements of neo-Platonism

MatterMatter is a degraded emanation of spirit—Demiurge/Yahweh is a degraded emanation of spirit—Demiurge/Yahweh Physical universePhysical universe: a mistake—should not exist, therefore : a mistake—should not exist, therefore

physical science is a futile enterprisephysical science is a futile enterprise SexSex for procreation avoided; ritualized for procreation avoided; ritualized Pneumatics: Pneumatics: Gnostics, self-realized, enlightened; small Gnostics, self-realized, enlightened; small

percentage of humanity percentage of humanity Psychics: Psychics: potential for gnosis, recruit-worthy; slightly larger potential for gnosis, recruit-worthy; slightly larger

percent of humanity percent of humanity HylicsHylics: literally ‘mud people’ with no chance for gnosis in this : literally ‘mud people’ with no chance for gnosis in this

lifetime; vast majority of humanity lifetime; vast majority of humanity

Gnosticism as radical Gnosticism as radical dualismdualism

The Divine is generally thought of as transcendent, The Divine is generally thought of as transcendent, impersonal, and ultimately unknowable rather than as impersonal, and ultimately unknowable rather than as personal and involved in human history. personal and involved in human history.

God did not create the world by a sovereign act; rather, the God did not create the world by a sovereign act; rather, the visible universe is the end result of God's (visible universe is the end result of God's (Pleroma or the Pleroma or the uncreated plentitudeuncreated plentitude) emanations of His own spiritual ) emanations of His own spiritual essence. essence.

The universe is structured in layers with the visible universe The universe is structured in layers with the visible universe at the lowest level. Salvation consists in gaining the wisdom at the lowest level. Salvation consists in gaining the wisdom (gnosis) that provides the information for escaping the (gnosis) that provides the information for escaping the world of matter, in which human entities are trapped on a world of matter, in which human entities are trapped on a wheel of reincarnation. wheel of reincarnation.

Commonly, Gnostics believe that humans have forgotten Commonly, Gnostics believe that humans have forgotten their divine origin as an emanation of the deity (their divine origin as an emanation of the deity (PleromaPleroma) ) and thus need to reawaken their memory by various and thus need to reawaken their memory by various spiritual disciplines. (spiritual disciplines. (gnosis from Answers.comgnosis from Answers.com))

Gnostic influence through Gnostic influence through historyhistory

Oriental religion—Jnana Yoga, BuddhismOriental religion—Jnana Yoga, Buddhism Pythagorean community at Krotona—(500 BCE) proto-GnosticPythagorean community at Krotona—(500 BCE) proto-Gnostic Gospel of John; letters of Paul—Gnostic elementsGospel of John; letters of Paul—Gnostic elements Manicheans (242 CE)—radical dualism; rejected by St. AugustineManicheans (242 CE)—radical dualism; rejected by St. Augustine Paulicians (657 CE)Paulicians (657 CE) Cathars/Albigensians (11Cathars/Albigensians (11thth Century) Century) Rosicrucians—’Christian Rosencreutz’ (1616)Rosicrucians—’Christian Rosencreutz’ (1616) Freemasons (1717)Freemasons (1717) Theosophy—Madame Blavatsky (1875)Theosophy—Madame Blavatsky (1875) New Thought; Unity (1890)New Thought; Unity (1890) Anthroposophy—Rudolf Steiner (1912)Anthroposophy—Rudolf Steiner (1912) New Age (20New Age (20thth Century) Century) Carl G. JungCarl G. Jung ““Self”-transformation groups: est, Scientology (1960s)Self”-transformation groups: est, Scientology (1960s) Bible cults—Pentecostal, fundamentalistBible cults—Pentecostal, fundamentalist Ramtha School of Enlightenment (1980s) Ramtha School of Enlightenment (1980s) Dr Wayne Dyer: Intention and “Source”Dr Wayne Dyer: Intention and “Source” The Gnostic Movement: founder Rabolu—1970s; Mark Pritchard/BeelzebubThe Gnostic Movement: founder Rabolu—1970s; Mark Pritchard/Beelzebub

Philosophy, exit counseling and Philosophy, exit counseling and Kevin GarveyKevin Garvey

Philosophy examines knowledge, conduct Philosophy examines knowledge, conduct and governanceand governance

Knowledge: gnosis, experience, scienceKnowledge: gnosis, experience, science Conduct: morals, behavior, psychologyConduct: morals, behavior, psychology Governance: politics, rule, managementGovernance: politics, rule, management Exit counseling examines cult knowledge, Exit counseling examines cult knowledge,

cult conduct and cult governancecult conduct and cult governance

Kevin GarveyKevin Garvey

Garvey and ‘est’Garvey and ‘est’

Kevin Garvey’s approach was Kevin Garvey’s approach was philosophicalphilosophical

Transformational cults emphasize gnosis Transformational cults emphasize gnosis through experience while suppressing through experience while suppressing science and reason.science and reason.

est reduced knowledge to simplistic est reduced knowledge to simplistic gnosis or “it” through manipulated gnosis or “it” through manipulated experienceexperience

est and similar self-transformational est and similar self-transformational “intensives” push attitude and experience “intensives” push attitude and experience but lack applicability and extension. but lack applicability and extension.

Hip-Hypnosis and self-Hip-Hypnosis and self-suggestionsuggestion

Power of suggestion: Power of suggestion: ÉÉmile Coumile Couéé

ÉÉmile Coumile Coué:é: 1857-1926 1857-1926Tous les jours à tous points de vue je vais de mieux en mieuxTous les jours à tous points de vue je vais de mieux en mieux

Affirmation and self-suggestion Affirmation and self-suggestion gone awrygone awry

Create your own reality: Leonard Orr and Create your own reality: Leonard Orr and RebirthingRebirthing

Rebirthing in the New AgeRebirthing in the New Age by Sondra Ray & by Sondra Ray & Leonard Orr (Celestial Arts, 1977)Leonard Orr (Celestial Arts, 1977)

The Ten The Ten CommandmentsCommandments byby Leonard OrrLeonard Orr

VII. VII. Thou shalt not commit adulteryThou shalt not commit adultery The superficial definition of adultery is sleeping The superficial definition of adultery is sleeping

with a guy’s wife or a woman’s husband without with a guy’s wife or a woman’s husband without their permission. Adultery really means their permission. Adultery really means adulteration of your own thoughts. If you adulteration of your own thoughts. If you adulterate the First Commandment, then all you adulterate the First Commandment, then all you can do is commit adultery. As long as you honor can do is commit adultery. As long as you honor yourself as God you are not adulterating because yourself as God you are not adulterating because everything is OK. Because if you are God, you can everything is OK. Because if you are God, you can decide that you are married today and that you decide that you are married today and that you are not married tonight (so you could sleep with are not married tonight (so you could sleep with another woman) and then you could decide you another woman) and then you could decide you are married again tomorrow…If you are God, you are married again tomorrow…If you are God, you have a right to do that. However, the other have a right to do that. However, the other people are Gods also and when you mess around people are Gods also and when you mess around with other gods like this the consequences can be with other gods like this the consequences can be very heavy. very heavy.

Ramtha School of Ramtha School of EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Finding Enlightenment: Ramtha’s School of Finding Enlightenment: Ramtha’s School of Ancient WisdomAncient Wisdom by J. Gordon Melton by J. Gordon Melton (1998)(1998)

Chapter 3Chapter 3: Modern Gnosticism: Modern Gnosticism

Be all you can beBe all you can be: 1980-2001 Army : 1980-2001 Army sloganslogan

Attitudinal HealingAttitudinal Healing: Gerald Jampolsky : Gerald Jampolsky and and A Course In Miracles A Course In Miracles (sin, error, (sin, error, illness are illusion)illness are illusion)

EnduraEndura of the Gnostics: of the Gnostics: consolamentum or sacrament of consolamentum or sacrament of fasting till deadfasting till dead

CatharsCathars——1010thth to 12 to 12thth centurycentury

Objection to the Cathars was not strictly theological Objection to the Cathars was not strictly theological in as much of what the Cathars taught and practiced in as much of what the Cathars taught and practiced had a very destabilizing effect on society. The had a very destabilizing effect on society. The dualism of the Cathars was also the basis of their dualism of the Cathars was also the basis of their moral teaching. Man, they taught, is a living moral teaching. Man, they taught, is a living contradiction. Hence, the liberation of the soul from contradiction. Hence, the liberation of the soul from its captivity in the body is the true end of our being. its captivity in the body is the true end of our being. To attain this, suicide is commendable; it was To attain this, suicide is commendable; it was customary among them in the form of the endura customary among them in the form of the endura (starvation). The extinction of bodily life on the (starvation). The extinction of bodily life on the largest scale consistent with human existence is largest scale consistent with human existence is also a perfect aim. As generation propagates the also a perfect aim. As generation propagates the slavery of the soul to the body, perpetual chastity slavery of the soul to the body, perpetual chastity should be practiced, by all Cathars, at all times should be practiced, by all Cathars, at all times (glasgowgnostic.com)(glasgowgnostic.com)

The Gnostic The Gnostic Movement/GnosticwebMovement/Gnosticweb

Roots in Gurdjieff and TheosophismRoots in Gurdjieff and Theosophism Victor Manuel Gomez RodriguezVictor Manuel Gomez Rodriguez

(Columbian/Mexican: 1917-77) aka: “Samael (Columbian/Mexican: 1917-77) aka: “Samael Aun Woer” Aun Woer”

Joaquin Amortegui Joaquin Amortegui (Columbian: 1926-2000)(Columbian: 1926-2000) aka. “Rabolu” aka. “Rabolu”

Mark PritchardMark Pritchard (Welsh: born 1934, a current (Welsh: born 1934, a current leader) aka: “Beelzebub”; “Belzebuub”leader) aka: “Beelzebub”; “Belzebuub”

http://www.belzebuub.com/http://www.belzebuub.com/ International: Hundreds of branches mostly International: Hundreds of branches mostly

Mexico, Latin America, Greece, SpainMexico, Latin America, Greece, Spain

BelzebuubBelzebuub

referencesreferences

The Gnostic ReligionThe Gnostic Religion by Hans Jonas by Hans Jonas (1971)(1971)

Gnosis: The Nature and History of Gnosis: The Nature and History of GnosticismGnosticism by Kurt Rudolf (1987) by Kurt Rudolf (1987)

The Tree of Gnosis: Gnostic The Tree of Gnosis: Gnostic Mythology from Early Christianity to Mythology from Early Christianity to Modern NihilismModern Nihilism by Ioan P. Couliano by Ioan P. Couliano (1992)(1992)