Changes

==Development: forms of Protestantism as Gnostic Christianity==

==Development: forms of Protestantism as Gnostic Christianity==

[[Relativism|Relativist]] interpreters emphasize that "the true value of the Gospel" lies primarily in its profound psychological and emotional impact, in '''''the telling of the story''''', without the necessity of it being factually and historically true, as a powerful means of causing spiritual transformation through personal identification with "the struggle and triumph of the mythical Jesus invented by Paul and the Gospel writers and the developed tradition of Christianity" ([[Subjectivism]], [[Mysticism]], [[Gnosticism]], [[Humanism]], [[Christian socialism]]). <br> Compare [[Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)]].

[[Relativism|Relativist]] interpreters emphasize that "the true value of the Gospel" lies primarily in its profound psychological and emotional impact, in '''''the telling of the story''''', without the necessity of it being factually and historically true, as a powerful means of causing spiritual transformation through personal identification with "the struggle and triumph of the mythical Jesus invented by Paul and the Gospel writers and the developed tradition of Christianity". Compare [[Historical-grammatical method (Literal hermeneutic)]].

''See especially the following article'' <br> —[https://www.theaquilareport.com/gnosticism-vs-christianity/ '''Gnosticism vs. Christianity:''' Six contrasts between the teachings of Gnosticism and the Christian faith, Written by Peter M. Dietsch - The Aquila Report (theaquilareport.com)]  

The "myth" assertion that the story of Jesus is an [[Archetype|archetypical]] [[icon]]ic pattern for personal insight and development—''being profoundly "awakened" and transformed by being dynamically engaged and absorbed in the telling of the story''—is a prime element of [[Gnosticism|gnostic initiation]] and [[Cosmic Humanism]], which is in direct opposition to the grounded reality of the [[Christian mysteries]].<ref>Compare [[Subjectivism]], [[Mysticism]], [[Gnosticism]], [[Humanism]], [[Christian socialism]].</ref> See

:—Peter M. Dietsch is pastor of Providence PCA (''[[Presbyterian Church in America]]'') in Midland, Texas. He summarizes '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''', by Philip J. Lee, concerning the Gnostic disdain of the [[sacrament]]s and disdain of the doctrine of the [[Last Judgment|physical resurrection of the body]], in which Lee shows that Gnostic tendencies toward a disdain for authority and the physical nature of things, with the hope of a bodiless spiritual-only salvation forever in heaven after death, through a direct "personal relation with Christ" (as a cosmic spiritual entity) and "knowing Jesus" by the "chosen elect", are being taught alongside Christian orthodoxy, and how these teachings of Gnosticism have wormed their way into Christian teachings, particularly in North American Protestantism. <br> In refutation Peter Dietsch says, "''In both the Old and New Testaments, the knowledge of God is not self-discoverable. God has revealed Himself in and through a community (His people, the Church), therefore He may be known only through that community.''"

*[https://odyssey.antiochsb.edu/literary/joseph-campbell-the-heros-journey/ '''Joseph Campbell & The Hero's Journey''' - Odyssey Online. Antioch University, Santa Barbara (odyssey.antiochsb.edu)]

*[http://www.tlu.ee/~rajaleid/montaazh/Hero's%20Journey%20Arch.pdf '''Excerpts from ''Myth and the Movies'', Stuart Voytilla''', by Christopher Vogler (tlu.ee)] pdf (9 pages)

*[https://asyourpoetshavesaid.com/does-jesus-follow-joseph-campbell-heros-journey/ '''Does Jesus follow Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey?''' (asyourpoetshavesaid.com)]

*[https://strangenotions.com/gospels-myth/ '''Are the Gospels a Myth?''', by Fr. Dwight Longenecker - Strange Notions: The Digital Areopagus—Reason. Faith. Dialogue (strangenotions.com)] ''They only seem to be, but they are not a myth.''—see '''[[Fallacy of analogy]]'''.

*[https://www.firstthings.com/article/1996/04/are-the-gospels-mythical '''Are The Gospels Mythical?''' by Rene Girard (firstthings.com)] ''Some people insist that they are, in spite of evidence to the contrary.''

 

Author Philip J. Lee, '''''Against the Protestant Gnostics''''' shows that Gnostic tendencies are being taught alongside Christian orthodoxy, and that the Reformation at its heart fostered the inherent Gnostic tendencies toward a disdain for authority and the physical nature of things, and the Gnostic disdain of the [[sacrament]]s and disdain of the doctrine of the [[Last Judgment|physical resurrection of the body]], and a ''[[sola scriptura]]'' reading of scripture ''[[sola spiritu]]'' with the hope of a bodiless spiritual-only salvation forever in heaven after death, through a direct "personal relation with Christ" (as a cosmic spiritual entity) and "knowing Jesus" by the "chosen elect".<ref>Compare the same elements found in the earlier [[Bogomil: Bogomilism|Bogomils]] and [[Cathar]]s or [[Albigenses]].</ref> He demonstrates how these teachings of Gnosticism have wormed their way into Christian teachings, particularly in North American Protestantism. Pastor and author Peter Dietsch, in summarizing Lee's book, says, "''In both the Old and New Testaments, the knowledge of God is not self-discoverable. God has revealed Himself in and through a community (His people, the Church), therefore He may be known only through that community.''" <ref>[https://www.theaquilareport.com/gnosticism-vs-christianity/ '''Gnosticism vs. Christianity:''' Six contrasts between the teachings of Gnosticism and the Christian faith, Written by Peter M. Dietsch - The Aquila Report (theaquilareport.com)]

==Development: Faith and Doctors==

==Development: Faith and Doctors==