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Coincidence? I don't think so.
Jul. 31st, 2008 07:15 pmThere's an early heretical branch of Christianity called Gnosticism. In the first couple centuries AD, the Gnostics believed Jesus gave us the power to become one with God, in the same sense Jesus was himself. Through Jesus' teachings, anyone could learn about God and become a prophet. The Gnostics therefore would say the Mass amongst themselves, with no priests or bishops present (they'd go in order, or randomly). Women could say the Mass as well as men. Gentiles as well as Jews. Mary Magdalene was considered as much of an apostle as Peter or Paul. If asked: "Are you a Christian" by Roman persecutors, the Gnostics would look them in the eye and say: "No sir!", then go back home and say the Mass again. (Yeah, the Gnostics were, in essence, a bunch of hippies).
It was probably the last couple bits that made proto-Catholics annoyed with them and declare them heretics.
In any case, a famous Gnostic scholar, Valentinus, gave his prophecy as to the beginning of the world (Gnostics were expected to prophesy): The real one-true God was alone, so created companions (perhaps they were angels). A couple of them decided to create life on their own, as God did before them. Because they were creations themselves, and not the original source, their offspring was insane. Yet, he was still partly divine.
After a lot of dense Gnostic scripture, this offspring ended up being called the Blind God, because this offspring automatically assumed he was the only thing in existence, and thus ended up creating everything, just by thinking about it. Earth, the Universe, another (separate) hierarchy of angels and demons, etc. Gnostics figured the reason there's so much suffering in the world is not because the real God is aloof, but because the creator god was actually insane -- he's not the true God but a failed breeding project.
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Fast forward 13.73 billion years (or 1900 years depending if your start point is the Universe, or Rome). Noggin/Nick Jr. has this show called "Yo Gabba Gabba".
This weird DJ dude (DJ Lance Rock!), looking like a Dee Lite reject from the 1990's, has a case full of plastic creatures, the like of which does not exist in nature.
So DJ Lance sets them in a bad cardboard diorama, says the magic words ("Yo Gabba Gaaaaaabbbbbaaaa!!!") and these brain dead creatures come to life (so to speak) and get into really dumb situations, while singing dumb songs about pre-school staples ("We need to wait our turn in line!" "We need to share!" "I like vegetables!")
Which just goes to prove. If you're not the one, true Divine, your attempts at creating life from nothing will be more dorky and mentally challenged than you are.
It was probably the last couple bits that made proto-Catholics annoyed with them and declare them heretics.
In any case, a famous Gnostic scholar, Valentinus, gave his prophecy as to the beginning of the world (Gnostics were expected to prophesy): The real one-true God was alone, so created companions (perhaps they were angels). A couple of them decided to create life on their own, as God did before them. Because they were creations themselves, and not the original source, their offspring was insane. Yet, he was still partly divine.
After a lot of dense Gnostic scripture, this offspring ended up being called the Blind God, because this offspring automatically assumed he was the only thing in existence, and thus ended up creating everything, just by thinking about it. Earth, the Universe, another (separate) hierarchy of angels and demons, etc. Gnostics figured the reason there's so much suffering in the world is not because the real God is aloof, but because the creator god was actually insane -- he's not the true God but a failed breeding project.
---
Fast forward 13.73 billion years (or 1900 years depending if your start point is the Universe, or Rome). Noggin/Nick Jr. has this show called "Yo Gabba Gabba".
This weird DJ dude (DJ Lance Rock!), looking like a Dee Lite reject from the 1990's, has a case full of plastic creatures, the like of which does not exist in nature.
So DJ Lance sets them in a bad cardboard diorama, says the magic words ("Yo Gabba Gaaaaaabbbbbaaaa!!!") and these brain dead creatures come to life (so to speak) and get into really dumb situations, while singing dumb songs about pre-school staples ("We need to wait our turn in line!" "We need to share!" "I like vegetables!")
Which just goes to prove. If you're not the one, true Divine, your attempts at creating life from nothing will be more dorky and mentally challenged than you are.
