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To: jayhorn
I've seen one sermon of his. It seems he's part of the "God is just waiting to bless you if you let Him" school of theology. Not my brew of choice, but whatever.

Went to see him in Philadelphia. Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff is one of the best singers I've ever heard. It was a great musical show. As for theology, he seems to be a bit of a Gnostic.

103 posted on 07/12/2005 7:31:32 PM PDT by Stentor
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To: Stentor
As for theology, he seems to be a bit of a Gnostic.

Gnostic? Really? Carnal... maybe, but Gnostic? What is your definition of Gnostic?

Gnostics, Gnostic Gospels, & Gnosticism

A one-sentence description of Gnosticism: a religion that differentiates the evil god of this world (who is identified with the god of the Old Testament) from a higher more abstract God revealed by Jesus Christ, a religion that regards this world as the creation of a series of evil archons/powers who wish to keep the human soul trapped in an evil physical body, a religion that preaches a hidden wisdom or knowledge only to a select group as necessary for salvation or escape from this world.

The term "gnostic" derives from "gnosis," which means "knowledge" in Greek. The Gnostics believed that they were privy to a secret knowledge about the divine, hence the name. (Huxley coined "agnosticism" on the basis that all knowledge must be based on reason. We cannot rationally claim to have access to knowledge that is beyond the powers of the intellect.)

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Somehow I just don't think that fits Joel Osteen. I could be wrong, but I would think that a genuine gnostic would not look like a used car salesman. (Or in Osteen's case... a New Car Salesman).

105 posted on 07/12/2005 7:39:02 PM PDT by P-Marlowe
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