Talk:Aeon (Gnosticism)

Confusing

After reading the lede several times I still don't understand what "Aeon" is. It is not clearly explained at all. I think at a minimum the lede needs to be re-written, especially the first sentence.

MitchMcM (talk) 07:03, 24 October 2011 (UTC) 21:32, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

If This helps...

It is "a view that I have picked up" using various texts... 1) Nag Hammadi scriptures (written way before the bible... that's why I'm concerned about the "twist" with Christianity ....? 2.) The Dead Sea scrolls 3.) Not in his image - John Lamb (prolly the best read on it).....

Aeon Which originally means "life" or "being", "forever" or "for eternity"....a totally self-aware being. The source of all life on this planet. The short story behind it...

Sophia (the Aeon) falls into a deep sleep and begins a dream that causes spectral life to spring up from the dream....she begins falling out of the realm of formlessness and begins to take the form that she is dreaming in her dream, slowly becoming more and more dense (to make a long story short) winds up developing into a Planet.Which means the earth is truly a living being, formed from the Aeon Sophia.

Help?

=========Agree, very confusing. ChatGPT explanation:

This passage outlines key concepts within Gnostic cosmology, a belief system that emerged in the early Christian era and was influenced by various philosophical and religious traditions. Here's an explanation of the main ideas presented:

Emanations of God: Gnosticism posits a transcendent and ineffable divine reality, often referred to as the Godhead or the Absolute. From this divine source, various emanations arise. These emanations are not separate beings but rather aspects or expressions of the divine, representing different qualities or attributes.

Names of Emanations: The text lists several names used to refer to these emanations in different Gnostic systems. These include "One," "Monad," "Aion teleos," "Bythos," "Arkhe," "Proarkhe," and "Aeons." Each name may emphasize different aspects of the divine nature or the process of emanation.

Basilidian Gnosis, Marcus, Valentinianism: Different Gnostic schools had their own terminology and interpretations of these concepts. For example, Basilidian Gnosticism refers to the emanations as "sonships," Marcusian Gnosticism associates them with "numbers and sounds," and Valentinian Gnosticism depicts them as male/female pairs called "syzygies."

Ennoea, Nous, and Aeons: Within the hierarchy of emanations, certain key figures are often mentioned. Ennoea, Charis, or Sige represents the first emanation, often associated with thought, grace, or silence. Nous, meaning "mind," is usually the second emanation, representing the divine intellect or intelligence. The Aeons are subsequent emanations, forming complex hierarchies within the divine realm.

Pleroma: This term refers to the fullness or completeness of the divine realm, including both the Godhead and its emanations. It represents the realm of pure, spiritual existence, beyond the material world.

Relation to the Physical World: In Gnostic cosmology, the physical world is seen as a lower, imperfect realm, separated from the divine Pleroma. The lowest regions of the Pleroma are said to be closest to this darkness or physicality, indicating a hierarchical distance between the divine and the material.

Overall, Gnostic cosmology offers a highly symbolic and abstract understanding of the nature of reality, emphasizing the transcendence of the divine and the role of intermediaries or emanations in connecting the divine with the material world. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.66.245.251 (talk) 22:11, 6 April 2024 (UTC)

The term is meant to be confusing I think; esotericism and secrecy were important parts of gnostic sects I believe, because it was considered important to have to meditate on or realize the sort of "true meaning" of things. It's not intended to be straight forward.

I am unclear what you mean when you say the Nag Hammadi scriptures were written way before the Bible. That is simply not the case. Rorb lalorb (talk) 13:59, 11 September 2024 (UTC)

Caen & Akhana

Where do Caen & Akhana come from? I have never run into this pair before in any published or online work discussing the various aeon syzgies. I perused Adversus Valentinianos http://www.tertullian.org/articles/riley_adv_val/riley_00_index.htm and they don't seem to be there... I checked Against Heresies Book I, Chapter 12 http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103112.htm and I don't find them there either. I see they're already flagged citation needed. Did somebody just insert a couple of made-up Aeons, or are these bad transliterations from some unknown source?

Also, apologies if I'm messing up on formatting on this page - this is my first time editing anything on Wikipedia...

Destaphiton (talk) 16:02, 25 October 2012 (UTC)

i take it that aspects involving other religious focuses are meant to be "In context with Gnosticism"

true? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.50.10.214 (talk) 22:48, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

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