This is the theme of Harold Bloom's book, "The American Religion." He means that we believe we have a body of knowledge not known to the body of Christians in general. I'd suggest reading his book for more information.
"John W. Redelfs" wrote: > I recently heard Mormonism referred to as American gnosticism. What does > that mean? Does it mean salvation through the acquiring of secret > knowledge? And if that is so, are we not modern gnostics? For we are > taught that gospel knowledge is the most important kind of knowledge and we > call our temples a "house of learning." We go there to learn things that > cannot even be discussed outside the temple. We learn line upon line, > precept upon precept until we have learned... what? And if this knowledge > not available to every person sitting in the Ketchikan Ward Elder's quorum, > if all of the saving ordinances are not available except to those who have > mastered some esoteric temple knowledge, does that not make us gnostics? > > I am asking this out of genuine ignorance. In other words, it is not a > rhetorical question. I am not asking as a method of teaching. I would > like to know the answers to these questions. > > John W. Redelfs [EMAIL PROTECTED] > =========================================== > "I can image a world without war, a world without fear, a > world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that > world, because they'd never expect it.' --Jack Handy > =========================================== > All my opinions are tentative pending further data. --JWR > > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > -- Marc A. Schindler Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada -- Gateway to the Boreal Parkland “We do not think that there is an incompatibility between words and deeds; the worst thing is to rush into action before the consequences have been properly debated…To think of the future and wait was merely another way of saying one was a coward; any idea of moderation was just an attempt to disguise one’s unmanly character; ability to understand a question from all sides meant that one was totally unfitted for action.” – Pericles about his fellow-Athenians, as quoted by Thucydides in “The Peloponessian Wars” Note: This communication represents the informal personal views of the author solely; its contents do not necessarily reflect those of the author’s employer, nor those of any organization with which the author may be associated. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ==^^=============================================================== This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^^===============================================================
