[ZION] American Gnosticism

[John W. Redelfs]

I recently heard Mormonism referred to as American gnosticism. What does that mean? Does it mean salvation through the acquiring of secret knowledge? And if that is so, are we not modern gnostics? For we are taught that gospel knowledge is the most important kind of knowledge and we call our temples a "house of learning." We go there to learn things that cannot even be discussed outside the temple. We learn line upon line, precept upon precept until we have learned... what? And if this knowledge not available to every person sitting in the Ketchikan Ward Elder's quorum, if all of the saving ordinances are not available except to those who have mastered some esoteric temple knowledge, does that not make us gnostics?

I am asking this out of genuine ignorance. In other words, it is not a rhetorical question. I am not asking as a method of teaching. I would like to know the answers to these questions.

John W. Redelfs [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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"I can image a world without war, a world without fear, a
world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that
world, because they'd never expect it.' --Jack Handy
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All my opinions are tentative pending further data. --JWR

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