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The Gnostic Equivalent of Otherkin?
I did a lot of research recently into a sub-subculture thriving on the internet made up of people who call themselves Otherkin. In a nutshell, these are people who either literally believe or sort of fantasy-role play that they are actually reincarnations or blood ancestors of mythological creatures: dragons, elves, etc. They go through and list characteristics which are supposed to prove it.
And there is starting to be a lot of cross-over between otherkin and paganism “proper” (whatever that really means). And from what I can tell, there are a lot of pagans who are upset that its happening because they believe it dilutes their religion (or maybe more appropriately the appearance of their religion in the public eye). I would wager that the rise of subcultures like otherkin on the outskirts of paganism is a sign that the pagan community is not quite as dangerous-seeming as it used to be. Where it used to be enough to call yourself a witch or a pagan to get people to notice you, now it’s starting to seem common place. So what do you do? You up the ante and say that you’re not only a witch, but you’re also actually a dragon - or whatever.
I also wonder how far off we are from something similar happening in the burgeoning gnostic community. It’s probably safe to say that by and large, gnosticism is currently picking up a lot of people who would have otherwise drifted in a pagan/wiccan/occult direction 10 or 20 years ago. So in that sense of it being a “newer” trend, I imagine it’s edginess will remain vital at least for a few more years. But I’m guessing we’re going to see very shortly a similar concept of “otherkin” arise within this nascent subculture.
What would a gnostic otherkin look like? We have several models available to us already. There are two choices right now that I see. One is the Da Vinci Code route: we put together a checklist (and maybe even a mail-away blood test) so you can determine whether or not you are a rightful descendent of Christ. Then you can pay a fee and get an ebook and a membership certificate, proving that you’re the latest in the long line of the King of Kings. If some internet scam artist hasn’t already started this shit, I hereby reserve the right to be the first to make this happen. The other option would be the more phildickian variation: set up some kind of meditation technique to help people remember their past lives as Secret Gray Robed Christians fighting against the turn of the century Roman Empire. Dick himself claimed to have had just such an anamnesis, and somebody finding a way to capitalize on this wildly awesome possibility can’t be far off. (And if anybody wants to start this SGRC business with me, I know a great place where we can buy the cloaks)
I used to get really uppity considering these types of ridiculous commercializations and “dumbing down” of spirituality. But I’m no longer so sure it’s such a bad thing. One of the key things that I always forget is that everybody goes about these things differently. The level that I approach spirituality on may not be the most useful or meaningful for somebody else. Other people really might benefit from a very straight-over-the-plate or even literalist rendition of what the gnostic mythology is all about and what it means to live your life according to it. It’s tempting to suggest that such things could be a doorway for people eventually exploring these issues in a deeper way, but within that conceit we neglect the possibility that maybe all some people really ever want or need is a funny costume and a cool name to call themself. I’m not really sure there’s anything wrong with that anymore.
December 19th, 2005 at 6:30 am
Those elven robes you linked to are made of polar fleece. They’re not going to look so magical when they get all nubby!
December 19th, 2005 at 10:50 am
What! Are you serious? They cost $250 bucks! Polar fleece my ass!
December 19th, 2005 at 10:51 am
PS. the only reason I linked to them is because they are sold by JZ Knight/Ramtha who I think is hilarious
December 19th, 2005 at 11:07 am
FYI - I wuz Xmas shopping this weekend and saw, no lie, “Gnosticism for Dummies”.
Pretty good indicator of the increasing popularity of or interest in Gnostic thought.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:24 pm
heh, i hate to say it, but that silly ‘neo’ dude who did that dealey plaza thingie and gets all upset if you don’t read his five zillion words on the subject probably already fits the bill a little (if you don’t know what i’m talkin’ about, follow the comments thread over here). he doesn’t seem to be capitalizing on it financially just yet, but he’s already got a bunch of minions who seem bent on declaring him the new messiah.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:38 pm
I for one would welcome some crazy phildickian past-life anamnesis in contemporary gnosticism. Or–yes–even that crazy Neo guy. Simply because it would confront everyone’s notions of reality in a very direct way. That seems like a worthy gnostic goal to me.
On the otherkin thing: those “Encyclopaedia Dramatica” links on skullfood made me laugh for like 10 minutes straight. They were BRUTAL! In the best way possible. If you’re going to be cruel you might as well be hilariously cruel.
My gf told me a story of how she was reading Brown University’s Daily Jolt website in a thread about housing for trannies. And someone posted, “Well if trannies should get special tranny housing, then otherkin should get special otherkin housing.” Of course people responded with, “WTF is otherkin?” I’m told the conversation that ensued was interesting, to say the least.
December 19th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
I think you remembering “The complete idiots guide to the gnostic gospels”. I gave into temptation and bought it a while back. Here’s the crazy thing, I actually thought it was among the better books on Gnosticism I’ve seen. I think it might be the only one out there aimed at the public which looks at any of the Nag Hammadi texts other than the Gospel of thomas or mary. The only real downside is that I got a definite vibe that the author was trying to save women who came to it from the Da Vinci Code from converting. Any negitive thing about Gnostic groups treatment of women seemed to get ten times stronger while the positive was buried, with the opposite true for his descriptions of women in the mainstream church. Still, with that one aside, I was really shocked by how good the book is.
December 19th, 2005 at 4:20 pm
How to Determine Whether You are a Descendant of Jesus and Mary Magdalene:
1. Do you have any ancestors from Northern France?
2. Do you ever feel pain in your palms, feet, side and forehead?
3. Are you keen on redheads?
4. Are you particularly bouyant?
5. Are you inexplicably fascinated with cups or chalices?
6. Are you frequently invited to weddings and asked to bring the booze?
7. Have you ever been betrayed by a good friend?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, YOU MIGHT BE RELATED TO JESUS CHRIST!
December 19th, 2005 at 4:34 pm
Yeah, I thought of that as well, and am planning a post on it - without tooting his horn too much.
December 19th, 2005 at 5:27 pm
OT, but did anyone hear that NPR “This American Life” feature on Saturday about that black televangelist who had been adopted by Oral Roberts, and had this huge miulti-media ministry in Tulsa, and then rec’d a “word from the Lord” that the Bible wasn’t perfect, that Jesus saved everyone - even those who never accepted him(!) and everyone is going to heaven cause there is no Hell?
Man, it was fascinating, the guy’s church went from 2000 people to 200 almost overnight, had to foreclose on his home, friends wouldn’t return his calls, Roberts disowned him, etc.
OTOH now he lets gays come to his services which he didn’t used to when he was still a celebrity. Real innaressin’.
December 19th, 2005 at 5:29 pm
http://www.thislife.org/
December 19th, 2005 at 5:43 pm
What’s this guy’s name? Can you find me a link?
Heheh. “Oral” Roberts. That never ceases to crack me up.
December 19th, 2005 at 5:44 pm
Oh whoops, I just moderated that comment. There he is!
December 19th, 2005 at 5:51 pm
Man, this seems pretty much awesome. I’m gonna do some research and post separately on his work
http://www.higherd.org/
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/007/11.19.html
December 19th, 2005 at 6:25 pm
Yeah well you haven’t lived until you’ve met his cousin Anal Roberts, the furry televangelical theriomorphic otherkin. He has a thing for banana slugs I hear…
December 19th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
On topic: http://www.brunching.com/images/geekchartbig.gif
December 19th, 2005 at 8:51 pm
That chart is awesome.
December 19th, 2005 at 11:11 pm
Oddly enough I sent a message to one of the people linked on the other otherkin page, and we ended up talking. She was actually okay, and a bit surprised to have been included. She seemed to think the others on the list were a bit nuts.
Anyway, her thing is that she remembers being, not an elf, but a non-human supernatural being as part of a strictly heirarchical organisation which fed on fear.
Sound familiar? She says she hasn’t read anything about gnosticism until now. What if THAT was true?
December 20th, 2005 at 12:20 am
Wow, that’s really compelling. I’d be very very curious to hear more about that…
December 20th, 2005 at 12:36 am
She responded on her blog today after reading this http://www.livejournal.com/users/overlord_mordax/41149.html
Didn’t talk about it much today, mostly just Robert Rankin, but I’ll be back. Or she’ll be back. I’m really interested in this.