gnosticism

I have been returning to the concept of gnosticism over the last few weeks. I am not sure why. Maybe it is the time of year Al Hijra. This is the month of Maulid, the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday(sallahu alayhi wa salam).

What is the Nur Muhammad? It is the original light, the NUR that existed outside of time before creation. Jesus, alayhi salam, was referred to as the light of the world by the writers of the gospels. Jesus, alayhi salam, was the word of God that brought all creation into being.

What is the point of religion, anyway? The Buddha taught that the nature of enlightenment, or nibbana, was the same as the snuffing out of a candle, the cessation of influxes. Is religion an attempt to understand this original light that is at the center of all people. Or not at the center but what remains after death.

Gnosticism is the attempt to understand this light, the light embodied in Jesus and Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa salam)

gnosis comes from one of two greek words to know. Similar to the french to know someone (connaitre) and to know something (savoir)