Gnostics or gnostics?

I have recently created and began organizing monthly meetings for gnostics in the Vancouver area through a great website called Meetups.com. The group has grown from 5 to 16 in a few months and we have had some great initial meetings.

In this last meeting, we had quite the collection of people, and their own approaches to Gnosticism seemed to represent that current identity crisis that is occurring online. Who is Gnostic (as in a follower of the ancient religious tradition called GnosticISM) and who is gnostic (seeker of divine knowledge within through whatever means necessary and convenient)?

There were 4 people including myself that attended. There should have been more but I changed the date a week and a half before and that seemed to confuse. Note to self...don't do that again.

The first was a beautiful and bright lady who came from a Witness background but discovered Gnosticism through reading Sylvia Browne's material. Sylvia Brown is about as Gnostic as my toaster is a water buffalo and I suspect that she uses the term for it's popularity and Google rating.

The second was a kind and reflective young man who came to Gnosticism through the writings of Samael Aun Weor who teaches a psychology more than a religion. I have even heard him described as a cult of personality leader who claimed the title of White Rider from the New Testament.

The third was a thoughtful and contemplative older man who appreciates Gnosticism but does not consider himself of it. He is what I would label a New Ager if labels were necessary. He follows the beliefs of astral projections, karma and the such and offers spiritual counseling to those that seek him out.

The fourth is a self proclaimed Gnostist, in other words someone who feels that salvation comes from knowledge rather than spiritual practice alone. He is quiet and astute, preferring to watch than to actively participate.

Then there is me, the Priest of the group. I ascribe to a classical Gnosticism and believe and embrace the "churchiness" of it all rather than approaching it from a "I hate Christianity" direction that so many people do. Gnosticism has become perceived an anti-Christianity, rather than the original Christianity that it actually is.

So what's my point? Well technically speaking, I am the only one that is able to properly use the term Gnostic to describe myself...that is if I felt labels were worth anything. Many Gnostics online spend way too much time drawing distinctions and lines in the sand between themselves, the true Gnostics, and everyone else, the lowly small "g" gnostics.

Each of us was at that meeting to actively seek gnosis. We discussed many things much of it centered around praxis, the active application of beliefs to ones life with the expressed goal of attaining gnosis, or experiential knowledge and understanding of the divine within. As the organizer of the group, I seek to imprint a scriptural and chiclet-collared approach to Gnosticism because in my opinion it is the most proven avenue towards gnosis. It has survived for 2000+ years for a reason.

But I also seek to include the approaches and beliefs and notions of the other members, for I am not trying to create an exclusive club, but an inclusive community. I hope to impart an appreciation of scripture (NHL and GoJohn) and tradition to my fellow seekers, but I wish to learn from the as well. No matter what my impression and inherited biases are of their paths, what matters is the intent, not the tools.

Regardless of labels and notions, the meeting that just passed was real and beautiful and uplifting. As I have told many people before, it is the seeking that is the true lesson and it is there that the truth will be found. For without that, the object that is sought will never be found for how could it have any meaning? And so in these four I found brothers and sisters of my heart, united in purpose and awakening together to the reality of our existence and to the love of God. I look forward to future meetings and to walking with these great people as we journey side-by-side. What are labels compared to the love of another within a supportive community?