Christians wearing amulets, "magic charms?" Typical of paganized Gnostics from that area in Egypt. The article says this dates back 1500 years, at 500 AD that puts us in the time Egyptian Gnostics were causing such havoc, subverting original Christian practices and beliefs.
Much of what is considered judeo-Christian iconography as well as much of the sacred myth likely came from Egypt and other ancient peoples.
This is more the opinion of the researcher than an objective description of the document from a Christian perspective. I don't see anything Gnostic about it.
This article was posted earlier this week: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3199682/posts
My thanks to Tilted Irish Kilt for the explanation that “the magic charms” are not magic but faith reminders:
“..the Jewish practice of wearing a piece of scripture as part of one’s clothing; unfortunately I do not know the proper name for this item/practice.”
I knew of the term wearing phalacteries among Orthodox Hassidic Jews, as I grew up in predominately Jewish neighborhoods.
I was occassionaly the “shabot goy (Sabboth Gentile-worker)” as truely Orthodox don’t work on the Sabboth.
SOURCE :en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefillin
Info :” efillin also called phylacteries are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers.
Also
SOURCE:judaism.about.com/od/prayersworship/a/What-Are-Tefillin.htm
INFO: Tefillin are two small leather boxes that are worn by observant Jewish men during morning services. One box is attached to an arm and the other is affixed between the eyes, just above the forehead.