From Gnosticism to LGBT rights to our Christian thinking

David Shepherd  |  Comment
Date posted:  1 Nov 2021
Share Add       
From Gnosticism to LGBT rights to our Christian thinking

A classic image expressing the dualism of Gnosticism, here adapted by an LGBT blogger

Recently, I have been struck by the parallels between the ever-louder pronouncements from the LGBT lobby and the influence of Gnosticism on the early church.

From the late first century, ‘fashionable’ Greek philosophy began to infiltrate the church. Gnosticism was one such philosophy that gained an early foothold. It was characterised by a dualism in which the entirety of physical existence was believed to be inherently deceptive and evil, while the unseen spirit world was believed to be inherently full of goodness and truth.

Members of the early church who espoused Gnosticism found it impossible to reconcile such beliefs with the Christian doctrine of the incarnation. They flatly rejected the belief that Jesus the Messiah is both fully God and fully human.

Share
< Previous article| Comment| Next article >
Read more articles on:   theology  /  gender & sexuality  /  history
Read more articles by David Shepherd >>
Comment
Why reputation is prioritised over protecting victims

Why reputation is prioritised over protecting victims

In the four years of writing for Evangelicals Now, the published responses to my articles have been few and far …

Comment
How do Christian legal principles help us navigate scandals?

How do Christian legal principles help us navigate scandals?

I’m not a lawyer but, as a Christian, I am fascinated by the relationship between the principles enshrined in our …

Looking for a job?

Browse all our current job adverts

Search

About en

Our vision, values and history.

Read more