What is Black Gnosticism?

Originally posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008

I have been researching Los Angeles-based Black Gnostic communities since 1992 and have garnered some unique perspectives regarding religion, cultural worldview, and human potential, many of which have yet to be properly acknowledged in a large-scale sense. Here, you have a group of predominantly Black social and religious theorists that have been studying under two unique progenitors, Drs. Alfred and Bernice Ligon, since 1943. Influenced by esoteric practices in freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, Black Christian practices, Buddhism, astrology, Islam, Confucianism, amd Catholicism (among other influences), The Aquarian Spiritual Center employed a complex curriculum and lesson-dessemination system to define, frame, and shape the study of metaphysicality from an Africana context in Los Angeles.

In the late 1960’s and 70’s, a new generation of Black Power activists filled the small grassroots metaphysical think-tank. They pushed for a more African-centered approach to the study, and Black Gnosticism was more clearly defined. Using a combination of works by authors such as George G.M. James, Kersey Graves, Gerald Massey, Dane Rudyar, Levi Dowling, and many more, Aquarian metaphysicians attempted to define a mode of spiritual reflection void of the religious dogmatism they encountered in the churches in which they grew up.

Although the Aquarian Center no longer functions in any central location, the Aquarian community is as busy as ever. It is my hope to use this blog to study Black Gnosticism and its impact on a grassroots global scale.

Peace,
Dr. T. Hasan Johnson

~ by lordamaru on June 27, 2008.