gnostic handbook

The Gnostic Handbook Page 118
Gnostic Handbook is the Foundation and other volumes will build the house. And lets be clear
about it, without a firm foundation the house will fall !
Continuing Revelation
One of the keynotes of the Gnostic system is the revelation is personal, that is to say, that Revelation
as found in the many thousands of sacred texts is only sacred to those people who accept
that they are sacred. The various Gnostic Scriptures are useful to the modern Gnostic student
but should not be treated as "every word inspired by God". One of the more important things
when it comes to Scripture is mans reason. We need to study the historical basis for the Bible,
Gnostic Texts, Dead Sea Scrolls and Nag Hammadi Library so we can get a context for where
Gnosticism has come from. At the same time we must be aware of the great distortions that
have occurred with all Old Testament, Judaic and Christian texts. The key concept within Gnosticism
is continual revelation. We can also see the development of Gnostic doctrine and Theurgy
in light of recent research and experience. Continual revelation while of significant importance
always needs to be seen in the context of the Gnostic lineage, anybody can have a revelation
and they can come from any one of a million sources. The modern Gnostic tradition as exemplified
in the Institute of Gnostic Studies carries on this line of spiritual and Gnostic revelation
valuing our heritage and traditions as well as well as recent refinements and revelations.
Behind the Institute if the Gnostic Apostolic Church, this is our inspiration and the religious application
of our work. We should consider some aspects of the Church as part of this study.