If you’re at all interested in tough debate about gnosticism, I highly recommend checking out Jeremy’s recent article on a new approach to Gnostic myth and scripture. He himself made some really excellent points to begin with about using an “open-source” approach to gnosticism, but it has since blossomed into a really intelligent and fascinating discussion from several different viewpoints, including ecclesiastical gnosticism, Orthodox Catholicism, and whatever the hell it is that I represent.

There’s also one really awesome comment left later by Jeremy, part of which I’d like to capture here for posterity:

“how then does one determine whether one person’s experience of gnosis was truly gnosis or was some kind of self- or archon-induced illusion?”

One doesn’t. That’s between the individual and the God. If said person hasn’t really experienced gnosis, and is lying, they’re the ones who should deal w/the consequences.

[…]

“Just what is the authoritative gnosis anyway?”

That’s not for anyone who hasn’t experienced it on an individual level to say! Look at it this way: anyone who shows up for mass at our chapel is allowed to take communion. It doesn’t matter who they are! As mere mortals, we don’t get to decide whether or not they can take communion for them– it’s between them and the God. Nor can we decide who has experienced gnosis.

The bits in italics were from another commenter. Anyway, check this out, join in the discussion if you’re interested.