Gnosticism vs Christianity / Demiurge vs True God : From a Myth to the Highest Truth (Gnosis) ?

Abstract: In the Abrahamic faiths, we often observe a clash between two foundational teachings: Gnosticism and Christianity/Catholicism. Gnosticism, with its emphasis on higher knowledge or "Gnosis", can be seen as controversial when compared to the other two teachings. Many Gnostic beliefs are considerably more liberal and diverge from traditional Abrahamic doctrines. This divergence can present both positive and negative implications. However, a clear distinction exists between the central concepts of Gnosticism and those of other Abrahamic teachings. Gnosticism centers around the notion of a higher being known as the "Demiurge", whereas Christianity and Catholicism trace their roots to the forefather termed the "Supreme Creator" or "True God". Various religious narratives and mythologies have emerged surrounding these concepts; for practitioners and bodhisattvas, they represent authentic stories, milestones, and revelations along their evolutionary journeys. For most of us, the path toward the Demiurge remains accessible, albeit fraught with numerous obstacles. Under the influence of the Demiurge, individuals can achieve a certain level of spiritual enlightenment. However, the journey of bodhisattvas - such as Jesus and Buddha - toward the Supreme Creator appears to be even more challenging. This post seeks to explore these differences by sharing the encounters and meditative insights of ancient yogis.

                       

Fig. 1. The meditator transcends the Demiurgic region, reaching the protection of supreme creator (Only a handful number of enlightened masters transcend, going over this hurdle)

The Gnosticism has opened pathways to many spiritual aspirants and it's a heterogenous teaching, a non-dogmatic approach to spiritual enlightenment. I believe it is to be a combination of root teachings in Abrahamic faiths, Esoteric traditions and personal teachings from many enlightened masters who appeared before Christ and later. Master Samael Aun Weor is a proponent of this tradition, who recently emerged to serve the humanity. On top of that, the Kabbalastic teachings also share many traits with the Gnosticism. Especially the aspects such as Esoteric knowledge, the Yogic and Energetical teachings in these traditions may sound appealing, and may not be found in orthodox or mainstream Abrahamic faiths. The orthodox Christianity/Catholicism delivers more of conservative ideas. One interesting distinction between the two teachings is that the central figure or the focal concept of their savior and the creator God. Often the mainstream/orthodox Abrahamic faiths rebuke Gnosticism and consider it as a heresy. Moreover there is a conflict due to the differences between the emphasis in Old and New Testaments. The first finds its root and enlightenment around the concept, Demiurge (Yaldabaoth) and the latter is about the final salvation of Jesus Christ, through the Supreme Creator. Why do these ancient teachings make a big fuss about lesser/higher Gods? Why is it so important?   

Gnosticism leading to Gnosis (or "Higher Knowledge") often finds its root in the creator being called the "Demiurge" which is a lesser creator God compared to the supreme God or ("True God") the father of Jesus Christ. Some people identify the Demiurge as an evil creator/God, but I don't think this is necessarily true. So what is the difference between the two? Does it mean that the masters/teachers from the Gnostic background promotes a heresy and leading us to no enlightenment? Let's dive into this.

Demiurge, as the name implies, is the creator who is responsible for the materialistic world. Demiurge as a higher-order, energetical being dwells in the highest plane of the existence of the materialistic world. This can be related to the 7th dimension. Demiurge's duty is to shape, or manage the energetical fields or planes descending down from its highest one to the lowest vibratory plane. In this way, the Demiurge can control certain physical aspects of the material world. However, at the same time, the Demiurge maintains the prosperity of their region/plane of the existence, including the lowest plane under their rule. This needs both the spiritual and materialistic aspects, otherwise the existence cannot be controlled. Therefore, the Demiurgic rule too requires enlightened masters, spiritual teachers, healers and meditators to govern its scope of interest. 90% of the enlightened Masters/Gurus evolve up to this point. Their service is extremely important to handle/manage this materialistic creation. The Old Testament is essentially speaking about the evolutionary stage of the creation only up to this point. It is a gradual, creative learning process, finally arriving to the materialistic perfection. However, the human suffering and yearning for true salvation isn't emphasized in the Old Testament and within the scope of Demiurgic rule.

Fig. 2. The ten Avatars of Hinduism from the Indian subcontinent depicting the evolution of materialistic world (Demiurge) and the true spirituality (Supreme Creator). 

We can find plenty of similarities between the Abrahamic faiths and the Pre-Vedic Hinduism studies about the evolutionary process of creation. One such rudimentary example is the evolution of the human existence and the creation from its fundamental unit water/fish (Matsaya Avatar) to the world-ruler (Krishna Avatar). This represents the gradual growth of the materialistic world. Or the Demiurge's creation. Then we go beyond this, arriving to the emanations of the supreme creator (True God) as Buddha or Kalki Avatar. The same story, but just different versions!

The Nature of Demiurge

Therefore the Demiurge itself helps evolving the humanity to the 7D level of Existence, through many different teachings and techniques. In any case, we have to go through its illusions to come to our spiritual awakening and it is Demiurge's job to trap truth seekers, advanced human souls within the materialistic realm, otherwise everybody will be liberated from his grip. The Demiurge is often associated with this special artifact called Pleroma which is often mistaken for an ornament or a symbol of power! This is a stupid idea created by the false teachings. In fact, the true meaning of Pleroma is the ultimate purity of our human mind and heart achieved through sincerity and genuine spiritual practice as mentioned in here. Energy-wise, it is the union between the awakened human soul and the universe, the supreme Creator. It was, in fact the prime objective of the masters such as Buddha and Jesus !

Usually an advanced soul (of higher vibrational frequency) who is lost towards his supreme, un-surpassing enlightenment, due to the lack of knowledge and ignorance, can turn into a Demiurge unknowingly. This is indicated by his "one eye" in the middle of the forehead symbolically! What it essentially means is that, this higher order soul, after taken by the "darkness or the veil of ignorance", goes astray from his evolutionary path and is unknowingly trapped in a materialistic plane. Often the Demiurge is said to be an angry divine being who is not in favor of Bodhisattvas (i.e. Jesus/Buddha) who aspire for the highest truth.

Fig. 3. The Demiurge disguised in a form of a spiritual Guru (this is just an example) or some other form, appearing before a higher order Yogi/Master. 

Due to the ruling/controlling nature, one might also recognize Demiurge as an Alien being. Nowadays there are so many speculations and theories circulating about the Alien invasions, abductions and ruling of the human planet. However, we cannot be certain about these conspiracy theories and other paranormal stories. Nonetheless, many higher order truth seekers, advanced Bodhisattvas and enlightened beings claimed to have witnessed these rulers including Demiurges and Archons in the higher planes of existence. This justifies and verifies the authenticity of ancient spiritual teachings including, the Gnosticism, Old/New Testaments, Kabballah and Western Spirituality. We find plenty of similarities across many such religious/spiritual traditions, including Buddhism about the same lesser-God, the creator of illusions. But what is their purpose?

How do we recognize the message from the "True God"?

As was noted, the "Spirit Realm" is occupied and controlled by many friendly as well as hostile forces. The most powerful among them is the Demiurge, whose task is to trap human beings, truth seekers within his lower-dimensional ruling plane. Apparently it is their very duty and the divine task, for us, may be there is nothing to complain about it! However, the Buddhas and the great Bodhisattvas often come into the Demiurge's attention, as they try to transcend his region of control. This esoteric information and the scarcity of knowledge has to be uncovered by reading religious/sacred scriptures along with the divine message. Sharing this vital information brings forth ancient and higher knowledge, aka "Gnosis", for the benefit of others. All ancient masters used to be great meditators, higher order yogis, so their intuitive knowledge signals what is truly, "right" and "wrong", bringing true discernment!

Fig. 4. The image is self-explanatory ! It's said only the rightful heir (disciple) will recognize the "true God" (master).

The content covered in this post, up to this point, brings the epiphanies, experiential and meditative insights of advanced Yogis, Bodhisattvas towards the enlightenment of their unconventional, less-trodden spiritual paths. It is to share this vital information with others to guide them towards the right direction, enlightenment and saving them from pitfalls, bottlenecks and human errors. 

From this information, it is apparent why all the Abrahamic faiths that developed around the idea of Christ, regardless of their background, creed and root teachings, consider Jesus Christ as their "Only Savior" while emphasizing the importance of studying the New Testament and being righteous. 

The Textual References to this Topic (If you are into religious studies):

Gnosticism before Christianity: Valentinus founded a school of speculative Christian theology in the second century AD. Because he and his followers drew a distinction between the true God and the creator of the world, they are classified by modern scholars as "Gnostics". In common with other Gnostics, they believed that the material world was created by a lesser deity which they call the Demiurge. In the Sethian school, for example, the Demiurge is a hostile demonic force who creates the material world in order to trap the spiritual elements. In contrast, Valentinians "show a relatively positive attitude towards the craftsman of the world or god of Israel" (Layton 1987). Valentinians insisted that while the Demiurge may be a bit foolish, he certainly could not be considered evil. Instead, he has a role to play in the process of redemption [ref].

Biblical Reference 1: Gnostic texts, such as those discovered in the Nag Hammadi library (e.g., The Apocryphon of John), describe the Demiurge as a being who may be ignorant of the true divine realm and crafts a corrupted material universe. In contrast, biblical tradition maintains that the God who created is all-knowing, holy, and sovereign. Passages like Isaiah 45:18 emphasize God’s supreme control and purposeful design of the world: For thus says the LORD-He who created the heavens, He is God, He who fashioned and formed the earth, He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited…”

Biblical Reference 2: The God revealed in the Bible is not a partial or lesser agent but the eternal Creator whose omniscience and benevolence permeate His creation. John 1:3 makes it clear: “Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.” The God revealed in the Bible is not a partial or lesser agent but the eternal Creator whose omniscience and benevolence permeate His creation. John 1:3 makes it clear: “Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.”

Plato's Account in Valentinian Tradition: Demiurge is formed as an "an image of the Father" (Excepts of Theodotus 47:1-3). A similar description occurs in the Tripartite Tractate: "He is the lord of all of them, that is, the countenance which the logos (i.e. Sophia) brought forth in his thought as a representation of the Father of the Totalities. Therefore, he is adorned with every name which is a representation of him, since he is characterized by every property and glorious quality. For he too is called "father" and "god" and "demiurge" and "king" and "judge" and "place" and "dwelling" and "law" (Tripartite Tractate 100:21-30). Because he is seem as the image of the true God and Father, Valentinians have no problem using the terms "Father" and "God" to describe him (cf. also Against Heresies 1:5:1, Valentinian Exposition 38). While he is an image of the true God, he is not a perfect on account of his non-spiritual nature. In comparison with the true God he is rather "coarse" or "rough" (Excerpts of Theodotus 33:4). This statement is quite inline with my depiction in Fig. 3. The fact that, the Demiurge may appear in a disguised form of God/a Well-known Guru! However, the bodhisattvas might intuitively recognize otherwise!

Plenty of Other Third Party Materials: Early Christians were highly critical of many of the particulars of Judaism, asserting that Christ had come to correct what the Jews had gotten wrong (Attaining liberation from god/Demiurge vs God/True-God). Note the difference between "g for god and G for God". Consider the Apostle Paul’s remarks to Peter on the Mosaic Law, the centerpiece of Judaism, in Galatians 2:11-21 [ref].