Monthly Message - Gnosticism all around us.
This will be an interesting thread I’m about to spin and make sense of, but stick with me, because I think something crucial is happening in the world around us.
Pew Research recently released an interesting survey asking non-Catholic and non-Eastern Orthodox Christians whether they still believe in Sola Fide or Sola Scriptura. The surprising result is that most self-professed Christians—who would typically fall into the “Protestant” grouping—claimed that they do not agree with Sola Scriptura or Sola Fide. A slim majority, 52% of respondents, said they do not abide by either of the original calling cards of the
Protestant Reformation. To some Catholics, this may seem like good news, but refrain from jumping for joy until you finish reading this monthly message.
In conjunction with this bit of statistical information regarding Christian beliefs, there’s the complete domination of AI. I’ve written a fair amount about AI, as has everyone else over the past 24 months. But two things are becoming painfully
obvious:
AI is rapidly increasing on all fronts—power, ability, and funding.
AI makes even its investors and promoters a bit uncomfortable.
It’s an odd thing when those who engineer, invest in, and promote AI
are also fearful of it. Just take a look at recent interviews with Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman—they all express the same mix of eagerness and concern.
The last piece of this puzzle—and I assure you, it is a puzzle—is the thriving number of conspiracy theories, many revolving around the State of Israel. I’m sure you’ve all been inundated by your favorite news outlet with the latest
happenings in the Middle East. I’ve said my piece about the Jews and Israel before, but the political and cultural relevance of the war in Gaza cannot be ignored as I begin to explore what connects these three topics.
The obvious connection among them—the thing that first put them all on my radar—is money.
The Christian influencer industry doesn’t have official numbers, but estimates suggest it generates billions annually, contributing to a trillion-dollar Christian economy. (It’s fairly easy to generate revenue when your target demographic includes over two billion people.) The money flowing from the U.S. to Israel—and then back to U.S. companies—is eye-popping, to say the least. Well over $20 billion has been sent to Israel since the war in Gaza began in 2023 and many have
made a small fortune off commenting on the war in Gaza and Israels approach to it. I won’t spend time here going down the rabbit hole of how that money makes its way back to American politicians and defense contractors, but trust me when I say: no one is better at profiting from war than Uncle Sam. Yes, I know even more—far more—military aid has been sent to Ukraine, but when I make the second connection among these three things, Ukraine doesn’t fit quite as neatly into the puzzle. Lastly, AI
has created a $500-billion-plus industry that will surely surpass a trillion dollars by 2030.
So, as you can see, these three subjects involve an enormous flow of money and attention worldwide over the past few years. The sheer magnitude of it had me wondering what to write about this October. Many topics came to mind—how influencers profiteer off conspiracy and/or the Body of Christ, how war is too
lucrative for humanity to abandon, or how AI’s advocates admit its dangers yet still push ahead because the money screams too loudly to ignore.
But all of these ideas felt like they were leaving something on the table. Then it hit me.
Gnosticism.
Gnosticism means “special knowledge” and is perhaps the oldest and most potent heresy of all. The gnostic counter to Christianity has existed since shortly after the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. People thought they knew better and were smarter than everyone else, granting themselves permission to do as they pleased.
The AI enthusiasts think they
know best. Though AI frightens some of them, they still believe they are the right people to usher in a new, world-changing tool. I don’t hold a hard-and-fast opinion on whether AI is intrinsically evil. I believe it’s merely a tool—one that will, unfortunately, be used more for evil than for good, because we live in a vice-filled world. Much like the internet: anyone with access to it can read the Summa Theologica, or they can watch pornography. Sadly, we know what most people
choose.
The same problem will plague AI. Those who promote it know its dangers yet press forward, convinced they know what’s best for society. Pride and arrogance—the telltale signs of Gnosticism.
Those obsessed with Israel and conspiracy theories often fall into the same trap, though they may never admit
it. To put it bluntly, Israel is a corrupt nation, and its politicians shouldn’t be given too much rope—but this is true of virtually every nation on earth. We are self-interested and corrupt beings who need a Savior and we all know power corrupts.
Discussions about the State of Israel are constantly centered on conspiracy theories when they should focus on Israel’s actual significance—or lack
thereof—to the U.S. and other Westernized, semi-Christian nations. Is Israel merely a small country of nine million people with a GDP just 2% of America’s, occupying far too much of our mental and political energy due to corrupt politicians and organizations? Or is it the only fighting ally we have in a region that largely despises Western civilization, sharing valuable technology and intelligence with us?
A strong debate could be had on that question. But when you—someone with no geopolitical expertise or access to classified files from Tel Aviv or Langley—claim to know what happened and what should happen, you are puffing yourself up, subscribing to a gnostic worldview: you believe you have the special knowledge.
Now, I’m not saying you can’t have opinions or healthy debates
with friends and family. But I urge you not to speak in absolutes about matters that have perplexed the world for centuries.
Lastly, the Gnosticism of Christian influencers—and of Christians more broadly who claim to “just be followers of Christ”—is something I have true disdain for. If you’re going to read the Bible on your own, study the Church Fathers on your own, and come to your own
conclusions—and believe those conclusions are correct—then here’s what you must do (a short and non-exhaustive list):
1. Learn ancient Greek.
2. Learn Aramaic.
3. Learn Hebrew.
4. Study antiquity.
5. Read and compare the theological views of Martin Luther, St. Thomas Aquinas, Mohammed, and ancient Judaism. Since you’re starting from scratch, you should probably also read
Charles Taze Russell, John Smith, and anyone else who claimed to have the full truth. Can’t take any chances!
6. Read the Bible cover to cover, at least a dozen times, and make sure you’re using the correct translation (see steps 1–3).
7. Determine how many
books the Bible should contain.
8. Be certain you’re completely detached from sin so that your interpretations are accurate.
Obviously, it’s absurd to think that anyone could read the most complex text known to man—one the Devil himself knows better than you—and truly have it
figured out. It screams of Gnosticism.
If Protestants abandon the roots of their religion and refuse to submit to the authority Jesus Christ gave to the Catholic Church, they will be far more vulnerable to the influence of the occult than to the Holy Spirit. Which for those keeping up with the trends of religion among young people you know that they are becoming increasingly enticed by the occult.
These young people just happen to be the same people who claim they do not believe in Sola Fida or Sola Scriptura.
Whenever you think you know best about AI, religion, global politics, or any other uber complex topic, it’s probably best to take a step back and simply do what you’re supposed to do. Which brings me to my main point: if you are seeking truth and doing what you ought—following the moral
law written on your heart—you will naturally grow in humility and be led to the truth: Jesus Christ and His Church.
This humility gives you peace and clarity. It allows you to see that war, confusion, and depravity will always exist in this fallen world—and that won’t change until Christ returns. The corruption of our leaders will cease to shock you and instead become a mundane reality. Not because
we accept corruption, but because we understand that Jesus never said He came to make the world a better place. Rather He came for you.
The AI advocates think they know what the world needs. The Christian who refuses any authority thinks he knows better than all who came before him. The geopolitical conspiracy theorist thinks he has it all figured out because he read a book or listened to a
podcast.
Gnosticism, at its core, is thinking you know best. And honestly—have you ever met someone who truly had it all figured out? What are the chances that person is you?
Continue the conversation—but do so with humility. Become Catholic. Don’t be a gnostic.
Please pray for me as I struggle with the very things I just ranted about. I’m a hypocrite trying to become a saint, and I need your prayers. You have mine.
Another thought…Gnosticism will always be a money maker. Just think of the finance bros who keep their trade secrets close to the chest and speak to the rest of us like we need
them or else we’ll be destitute. Secret knowledge is a tool of the Devil to fear monger us into doing his will. Lets resist together.
