patristic gnosis.doc

The term “gnosis” just like “religion” has suffered from misuse, misapplication and misunderstanding, and has often been used interchangeably with both “gnostic” and “Gnosticism”. Some have even considered “gnosis” the third component of European culture along with faith and reason, whilst others, especially in the twentieth century, have applied the term to just about anything. This essay will be an attempt at untangling the semantic mess caused by polemical associations, generalisations and abuses of terminology. Can gnosis be liberated from the chains of the Christian heresiologists and cleansed of its pejorative connotations and step proudly into twenty-first century academic usage or is it condemned to be forever a “vague” term?

Please fInd all the abstracts in the attachment.

In: Glenn Alexander Magee (ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of Western Mysticism and Esotericism, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge 2016, 381-392.

Ralph M. deBit, Vitvan, founder of the School of the Natural Order (http://www.sno.org), has reformulated ancient gnostic teachings in a modern form. His teachings give a sound psychology of the human being and its potential to develop its consciousness. Practical advice is given for use in daily life. His use of semantic devices is fundamental to his teachings. He states that one's perceptions are given labels and are being associated with concepts which take on their own life. As such, a reification of symbols and ideas have taken meanings that are often contradictory to their original meanings. The path to spiritual development is clearly outlined throughout his work. This paper is only an introduction to his vast amount of teaching.

The Vienna Journal of East Asian Studies (VJEAS), 2024

This article provides an in-depth study of two occultist journals published in France at the turn of the twentieth century, namely, La Voie and La Gnose. Although ultimately commercially unsuccessful, both journals proved to be very important in the development of the influential esotericist René Guénon (1886–1951). Through a detailed analysis of all issues, it is shown how both journals initiated their publication as house organs of a neo-Gnostic organisation (the Gnostic Church of France), but soon moved to “Eastern” themes such as East Asian religions or Islam. In conclusion, it is argued that the history of these two journals is evidence of the “logic of bricolage” employed by occultists in their quest for religious meaning in the age of European Colonialism.

American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 2015

Ptyalism gravidarum, or sialorrhea, is the excessive secretion of saliva during pregnancy. Treatment of ptyalism gravidarum is often challenging due to its unknown etiologies. This article discusses a case of ptyalism gravidarum with concomitant hyperemesis in which the condition was successfully treated with hypnosis. A 28-year-old woman presented with ptyalism 2 months into her pregnancy and hyperemesis 3 months into pregnancy with associated vomiting that occurred following every meal. Hypnosis was administered at week 16 of pregnancy to eliminate ptyalism and hyperemesis, to prepare for childbirth, and to increase overall psychological well-being. Ptyalism resolved by week 36, concurrent with the final hypnosis session.