GnosCast: The Gnostic Podcast #12: "You are Here" (part 2) as a Social Animal

Visit the new GnosCast site. (I'll cross post here for a time.)

Part of a "last lecture" series on essentials. A users guide to Gnosis continuing with an overview in the form of "you are here." As a social animal we have evolved in groups and will instinctually repeat patterns in organizing ourselves into group. The instinctual form of this and the type of hierarchy that results is discussed in the context of sociobiology. Functional pragmatic hierarchies are discussed, and contrasted with instinctually based ones.

Topics include: evolution and group organization, bio-social forms of hierarchies, examples, evidence, ways of recognizing sociobiological hierarchies, pragmatic hierarchies, formalization of pragmatic hierarchies provides opportunity for bio-soc form to take over, pattern in christian history, bio-soc hierarchies are a part of human nature no ideology, authority as a manifestation of bio-soc pattern, failed attempts to address bio-soc hierarchy issues, ways to keep a pragmatic hierarchy from being taken over, recognition of teachers in some traditions, lack of that in Western traditions, Holy Orders in that context. Followed by a discussion that includes: modern Gnostic practice, the necessity of psychological perspective, how you understand religion, religion as developmental framework, historical encounter of the West with the East, pragmatic religion.

Presented at the Holy Gnosis of Thomas Chapel in Salt Lake City, 16 May 2010

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GnosCast: the Gnostic Podcast # 11: "You Are Here" part 1 - Embodiment

My segmented and somewhat fragmentary "last lecture" continues with a users guide to Gnosis. First part is a "You are Here" in a body. Evolution and its effects, towards an evolved self-gnosis.

The Description:

Continuing a series on essentials of Gnosticism. A users guide to Gnosis beginning with an overview in the form of "you are here."

Topics include: Perspectives on religion without Gnosis, tripartite division of the human and individual orientation, our evolved nature, evolution's aims and the suffering that causes, evolved capabilities, evolved mechanisms for cooperation, modeling others and self, ego, identity, self-deception, freedom through awareness, gnosis and logos, limits of knowledge, steadfast pursuit of Gnosis, religion as social control or developmental system, progressing to uncertainty, not knowing.

Presentation with discussion in the Holy Gnosis of Thomas Chapel in Salt Lake City, 16 May 2010, by Gnostic priest and scholar Troy Pierce.

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GnosCast: the Gnostic Podcast # 10: Gnosis Further Considered

The second of a series on advanced essentials of Gnosticism (as opposed to basics). Further considerations on the nature of gnosis and implications for understanding and practice. Topics include: Mistaken notions of self (rational and self-controlling), irreducible nature of gnosis, gnosis in Platonic Forms, recognition of objects and concepts, gnosis of gnoses or epignosis/metagnosis as Gnosis, example of the good art critic, Gnosis as transformation, Gnosis as developmental process, Gnosis as shape of reality, misrecognition, self-gnosis of embodiment.

Health-wise I was worse off while recording this than while recording the previous week.

Presented at the Holy Gnosis of Thomas Chapel in Salt Lake City, 9 May 2010.
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The science fiction story mentioned is "They're made out of meat" by Terry Bisson.

GnosCast: the Gnostic Podcast # 9: Gnosis in Context

Since I have been too ill to write or plan and give a long lecture of late, I plan to use some of the time at services where I am unable to do more to have short presentations and discussions on some of the essentials.

Although it varies within a range, long-term my health isn't getting any better. While I plan and would very much like to write about the understanding I have arrived at after decades of study and practice, it may not happen. So, I hope these short talks will be of service in passing on some of what I have found that may be valuable.

Please, forgive some of the lack of composition and coherence. They are necessarily given at less than 100% ability, the fatigue effects my ability to think, speak, and recall. This podcast has been edited to reduce those effects.

Description:
The first of a planned series on essentials of Gnosticism, this one considering the nature of gnosis and implications from the ancient context. Topics include: meanings and implications of the term 'gnosis' in the context of the Greek language and philosophy and in ancient Gnostic texts, concluding with a free ranging discussion. Presentation and discussion at the Holy Gnosis of Thomas Chapel in Salt Lake City, 2 May 2010, by Gnostic priest and scholar Troy Pierce.


Here is the direct link