Zain's Guide to Overthinking Everything

Notes on the Basics of Gnosticism            The Gnostics were an early sect of Christianity who had various beliefs, scriptures, and branches. Gnosticism derived its name from the Greek word “gnosis” which means knowledge. However, for them it signified an intimate, experiential knowledge of the divine and esoteric wisdom that are necessary for liberation. The Gnostics generally claimed that this world was created by a false God known as the Demiurge who is the god of the Hebrew Bible and is an evil vengeful god. While the Demiurge claims to be the highest God, in reality it is a creation of an emanation or Aeon, Sophia, of the absolutely transcendent real God, the Monad or the Neoplatonic idea of the One. Human beings are essentially divine spirits trapped within physical bodies and through proper gnosis or knowledge, one can achieve spiritual enlightenment and salvation and this gnosis was taught by Jesus Christ. In their cosmology, Aeon...

Notes on the Basics of Neoplatonism   Neoplatonism revolves around the idea of an all-powerful transcendent divinity, The One, and its emanation. The movement was founded by the Greek Platonist philosopher, Plotinus (204-270 AD). According to The Enneads , Plotinus’ primary text of Neoplatonism, The One is an omnipotent force which exists beyond all categories and is the single source of light from which the entire universe is illuminated. The One, however, is not directly the creator of our universe. Rather, The One represents a higher level of divinity and reality than the Demiurge or the divine intellect which is the creative element of the divine and a manifestation of the radiance of The One which permeates the lower levels of the cosmos which are visible to man. The One is so simple such that it does not contain any parts or be divided and beyond reality that it cannot even be said to exist or to be a being since it is utterly beyond. The system can be divided between the inv...

Early Christian Heresies Throughout the history of Christianity, various theological controversies and debates have given rise to heretical beliefs that deviate from the orthodox teachings of the faith. These heresies often concern profound questions regarding the nature and person of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and the relationship between the divine and the human. Understanding these heresies is important for gaining insights into the development and refinement of Christian doctrine. In this exploration, we will delve into several ancient Christian heresies, their founders, and the core beliefs they entail. Arianism: Founder: Arius (256-336 CE) Belief: Arianism taught that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was a created being and therefore subordinate to God the Father. According to Arius, there was a time when the Son did not exist.   Gnosticism: Founders: Various Gnostic teachers (1st-3rd centuries CE) Belief: Gnosticism encompassed various beliefs, but in general, it held that salv...