Some random thoughts on Gnosticism etc

Here are some random thoughts on certain topics.

Gnosticism is strictly dualist. The material world was created by an incompetent, imperfect or even evil force, "the Demiurge". The souls of men are held in thrall by demonic beings, the Archonts. Matter is evil. The goal is therefore to liberate the soul (or spirit) from this darkness and return home to the divine world of light. God is fundamentally alien to this world.

Neo-Platonism holds that the world is imperfect compared to God, but not really evil. The material world is the result of a "ray" or emanation from God, and is therefore a product of divine activity. The goal is still to leave the material world and ascend to the greater perfection above. However, since Neo-Platonism also believes in divine providence, nothing hinders the sage from remaining in the world, perhaps to help others reach the highest goal, or even to preach lesser goals in such a way that at least a modicum of providentially decreed "worldly" perfection is attained.

Hermetism is based on the metaphysics of Neo-Platonism, but strives to make the individual perfect in this life through magical practice. The quest for physical immortality through the use of magical elixirs belong here.

These are (of course) ideal types, and in practice, there is considerable overlap.

"Traditional" Christianity is obviously compatible with Neo-Platonism. It also has a "Hermetic" trait (the resurrection of the body) but only through miraculous intervention at the end of days.

Many Gnostics claimed to be Christian, but parallels to Buddhism and Hinduism are perhaps more obvious. 

Hermetism is "occult" but also compatible with early modern science. Think alchemy and the like.

Personally, I find Gnosticism to be the most *existentially* convincing world-view. Is it really so hard to believe that this world is the work of the Devil? However, Gnosticism seems to be *philosophically* problematic.

How can the divine spirits be trapped in matter if there is an absolute dualism between spirit and matter? How could the Demiurge fall from the spiritual to the material if there is an absolute dualism? How could the Gnostic Christ enter the material world and communicate his message if there is such a dualism? This all suggests that there is *some* kind of connection between God and the material world. In other words, something more akin to Neo-Platonism. 

At the same time, I find it hard to believe in providence. What could this providence even be? Unless it's something very broad, along the likes of "eventually, all monads will reach a state of self-reflective awareness and hence be able to see God". Well, thank you. 

Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between Gnosticism and Neo-Platonism? 

Hermetism is bunk. Where are all these physically immortal supermen who imbued the quicksilver elixir? Haven't seen them around lately... 

It struck me that Theosophy seems to combine Gnosticism, Neo-Platonism and evolution. Anthroposophy combines Neo-Platonism, Hermetism and evolution. 

End of stray reflections.