Gnosticism's hatred of the material world is an odd thing for modern liberal hedonists to uphold. Do they really want everyone to stop procreating and aspire to be perfect spirits?
For the same reason why they've aligned themselves with Islamofacisim, and have beaten the prejudicial assumption that all priests are gay (even though they love gays and claim to hate prejudice) into the ground. What's bad for Christianity and/or America is good for them. The enemy of my enemy and all that.
Doesn't seem logical, does it? I suppose they believe that the earth was created for the birds, fishees, animals, and insects. And what of the quantum universe? Should it be melted and returned to it's pre-energy state?
Hard to imagine what perfect spirits would be doing to entertain themselves.
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Pure spirit Abby: 'So wuzzup, Dave?'
Pure spirit Dave: 'You know there's no 'up,' Abbie. Stop being funny.'
'Sorry. Just thought I'd make some small talk.'
'Small? Wuzzat? You know there are no sizes here. One size fits all.'
'I know. It's just that I feel so closed in. You know, like being in prison. If I could only move a little I'd feel better.'
'Perish the thought, Abby! You know what happened the last time we created motion.'
'Yeah, I remember, Dave. That was quite an explosion, wasn't it?'
'You got that right. The sound is still ringing in my ears.'
'You know what I really miss, Dave?'
'What?'
'Splashing my feet in the water and petting my dog.'
'Yeah, that was cool. But we're pure spirits now and we don't need that kind of stuff anymore.'
'You feel bummed out too, huh?
'Yup!'
'Dave, I have a thought.' Why don't we . . . ummmm . . . you know. Go on vacation!
'Oh, geez. Here we go again! Put your ear plugs in this time!' '
I don't think modern liberal hedonism is connected in any way with Gnosticism.
Gnostics repudiated sexual intercourse because to their thinking, in the act of sex another pure spirit is trapped within the prison of decadent flesh. The Cathars were even vegetarians ass they didn't believe in killing animals.
I don't really understand the current fixation by mainstream Christians with the "threat" of Gnosticism.
As a pretty fundamentalist Christian, I don't consider it a realistic threat at all. Nor do I think Gnostics or Gnosticism especially evil - they merely represent another belief system to which I do not ascribe.
I haven't EVER read of Gnostics blowing themselves up to kill innocent civilians, descrating works of art from antiquity, or crucifying Christians. As a matter of fact, Gnosticism is rather a pacifistic belief system.
I think the very real threat to Christianity today comes from Islam, a belief system which advocates forcible conversion of non-beleivers of all stripes, and has been guilty of all of the above, both in the past and present.
As for Gnostics, if any are still around, they have as much right to believe whatever they wish as anyone else.