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PRELIMINARY NOTES TOWARD ANELEMENTAL GNOSTIC WORSHIP MEETINGby Jeremy PumaDue to accidents of history which have occurred sincethe original Gnostic movements went underground orvanished, different expressions of community have developedwithin spiritual culture. Within the language ofChristianity, we find a new demarcation between“Catholic/Orthodox” and “Protestant” approaches to worship.Whereas the former retain the High Mass and ceremony andliturgy of the Christian Mysteries, the latter haveattempted to return to the “primitive” form of the EarlyChurch and celebrate as simply as followers of Christduring the Apostolic Age. Unfortunately, the one arose asprotest, not complement, to the other, and furtherdevelopments have resulted in what many considerirreconcilable differences.There has been a susurration within modern Gnosticcircles that a more “Protestant” form of Gnostic worshipwould be welcome within the current era. The author agrees,except that “Protestant” is an inapproriate term in thiscase, as differing forms of worship are considered welcomewithin this context. For this reason, let us consider thisalternative worship “Elemental,” not in the sense of thefour elements, but in the sense that some Gnostics wish toworship in as elemental an environment as possible, i.e.with as minimal structure and hierarchy as possible, inunembellished environments, sans vestments, Latin, etc.This is not to be taken as a condemnation of EcclesiasticalWorship. Rather, it is the natural result of the currentcultural context, in which these other forms of worshiphave been common and familiar for hundreds of years. Itshould be no surprise that some individuals would favorthis expression of worship over the more “Catholic”expressions currently extant.An Elemental Gnostic community would differ frommainstream Protestantism in very important ways. Whereas inmainstream Christian expression, primitivist worship reliesheavily on sola scriptura and the literal interpretation ofscripture, Modern Gnosticism considers this kind ofreliance on Gnostic scripture inappropriate, findingscriptural sources human-created, fallible and subject tointerpretation. Also, whereas many modern Protestant
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denominations subsist on evangelism, Gnostic expressionprecludes proselytization. That said, there is a great dealof support within the Gnostic context for pneumatic andcharismatic expressions of gnosis, which would be welcomeand expected within Elemental Gnostic groups.What, then, would Modern Elemental Gnosticism “looklike”? First of all, it should be noted that the resistanceto structure sometimes implied in this discussion would notapply in our case. Though the structure would be loose, itwould be required, if for no other reason than simplepracticality. Although the legend of the lot-drawingGnostics can in no way be proven, this would undoubtedly bea workable structure for Elemental Gnostic Meetings,provided that the lots cast contained the names only ofindividuals who felt called to minister. Meetings would becelebrated by Ministers and Deacons with a Lector alsopresent to read any scripture pertinent to the meeting.Eucharist would remain an essential and central aspectof Elemental Gnostic Meetings. At some point during themeeting, congregants would be invited to take bread andwine mixed with water to signify the presence of the divinewithin. A sermon or talk might be delivered, andindividuals who felt so moved by the spirit would beinvited to discourse on their gnosis as so called. Modernor Classical Spiritual Music, live or improvised bymembers, would be welcome depending on the general sense ofthe meeting. The community as a whole would have very greatlatitude when deciding how to conduct church business.Meetings could be held anywhere readily accessible to thecommunity, in houses, rented spaces or out-of-doors.Sacramental tools could be as simple as desired, andvestments completely unnecessary (though certainly welcomeif the community found value in them).A typical Meeting for Worship in an Elemental GnosticChurch might proceed as follows:1. Music/Fifteen to twenty minutes for socializing.2. Call to worship (Deacon).3. Opening Prayer/Blessing (Minister).4. Reading of Gospel, Lesson, Epistle chosen byMinister (not of necessity from Gnostic scripture)(Lector).5. Sermon or Talk (Minister).
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