Epistemology: Agnosticism or Gnosticism?

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Γνῶθι σεαυτόν: gnothi seauton; know thyself. "An unexamined life is not worth living."--Sokrates.

[edit] Introduction to Philosophic (Platonic) Epistemology

Epistemology is the study of knowledge and science. We will discuss epistemological theology. Read the following Platonic dialogues: Meno, Theaetetus, Sophist, Statesman, Republic, Parmenides, Timaeus. Note that Republic is long, though it is good to read entirely, maybe just read the parables of the cave and divided line. The scientific method is applicable to epistemological theology, so you should read about that in the Philosophy (of science) dept. Materialism (such as the idea matter and not energetic consciousness exists) violates the law of conservation of energy. Subtle senses exist, though it is common to say they do not if one does not try or succeed to use them (which just as learning from gross senses and mentation, can take years, decades,....)

Patanjali's Yoga Sutra is another good epistemological text. It is philosophical and less religious than Plato, so should not bother Western religious people. It can still be described as Platonic, and Plato can be described as Yogic.

[edit] Agnosticism or Gnosticism

Agnosticism is the idea (or philosophy) that something (such as the Deity) cannot or should not be known. Gnosticism (from 'gnosis:' knowledge) is the idea (or philosophy) that something (such as human or even divine spirit) can and should be known: it is a synonym for epistemology.

Religions have views on the material world and spiritual one. Under close study, you will see they always say the spiritual world is knowable, because they have ideas about it, whether of a before and afterlife, Deity, or just human consciousness (which includes spirit.) Where religions may differ is dogma, such as rules involving the material world, the truth of which is more unknowable, or more likely, more (even completely) similar then usually thought but obscured in misunderstanding and even corruption. Religious founders did not arrive to make their own religion and demand worship, but to reform and continue ancient universal spiritual philosophy. If the spiritual world exists, it has universal truths.

Universal spiritual truth means there is universal religion. The great religious founders say the same sorts of things about ethics and spirit; most founders mentioning other religions even say they are there to continue and synthesize it. If someone says their religion is the only true path, they are just as agnostic as an Agnostic (person agnostic about Deity,) because that 'religious' person is agnostic about other spiritual truths (which solve religious disagreements) and perhaps agnostic (perhaps even anti-gnostic and thus aggressive) about the intelligence of other humans to conceive of and name unmanifest Deity. Gnosticism is involved in mysticism/arcana (Greek/Latin: emotion-centered knowing of spirit,) esoterism/occultism (mind-centered knowing of spirit,) and esoteric mysticism (integrated, soul-centered knowing of spirit.) This (with the former two sometimes) can be termed spirituality: the idea of comparative religion.

Consider whether priests and preachers should have a monopoly on spiritual knowledge, and whether you should investigate it whether someone's religion tries to conceal and avoid it, and if you think it should be studied prepare to get into epistemology and have some gnosis.

[edit] Gnosticisms

Hermetism, Orphism, Pythagoreanism, Platonism, neo-Platonism, Nazarean Gnosticism, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy are Gnostic defined in the capitalized word. However, gnosticism/epistemology is in most of the 'great' and pagan religions. Capitalization is just because it is a Western term meaning Western traditions. In the East (India for this example) it may be a word with the root vidya (knowledge) in Dharma. Kabala (Judaist spirituality) is also usually called Gnosticism, but is partly Eastern, and if one defines it as gnostic, so should Sufism (Islamic spirituality) be defined.

Consider whether you should know these and try to answer:

• What is [temporal] life (and ether? Is being non-incarnate death, or is materiality not life?)
• What is the nature of [astral] emotions (and ghost? There are about 4 positive emotions)
• What is mind? (Does it only think, or mentate: such as use its senses?)
• What is soul? (Does it have human form, emotions, and thoughts in heaven, or are those not even this level, and does this clarify the idea of heavens?)
• What is spirit? (Is there anything beyond humanity, and how do the latter relate to Deity?)
• Are there ways of knowing these, and ethics & methods to live by that help develop the capacity?

Gnosticism/epistemology requires ethics (including what is not harmful to 'oneself') and (as in Yoga Sutra) further healthy self-development practices. Patanjali's method that helps with gnosticism, besides the latter, is sense-withdrawl (or paying subtle attention to sensation,) concentration-meditation-contemplation. The latter 4 are his consciousness methods, and the latter 3 are further unified by him.

Gnosticism, and arguably epistemology, are also synonyms for esoteric mysticism, but there are other synonyms. Sum up what you have and would like[d] to investigate, and prepare for metaphysics.