I like your point about “semi-brow” culture and Gnosticism, can’t say I ever examined the “why” myself. I suppose for the creative types who write these things, the knowledge- and self-oriented teachings of the Gnostic Christ have plenty of appeal.

@The Sojourner
It’s true too that just creating a little mystery and the hint of a reality/factual/theological basis for your story is enough to intrigue people, especially if it’s one they’re not super familiar with.

@OGT
The whole “this world is a lie and created by an inferior being, and Jesus was sent by the True God” was pretty much the central concept I felt was expressed by the show and hopefully I conveyed that in the post somewhat. Anyway, it was much more Gnostic than the Matrix and people cite that shit all the time.

As for the Manglobe Clause, I’m well of aware that it exists for you but it doesn’t make me understand it. I’ll never try to convince you otherwise because if Bebop can’t do it then Ergo certainly will not.

Well, yes, there ARE certain conventions, but there were a quadrillion Gnostic sects (and a quadrillion other sects–anyone who says that Christianity, at one time, was a unified whole, is utterly insane and also wrong), and they each had their own beliefs. The only thing I am pretty sure was agreed upon was the Demiurge/True God deal. Everything else might have had widespread, but Gnosticism was pretty much “this world is a lie and created by an inferior being, and Jesus was sent by the True God”. As animekritik said.

I avoided Ergo Proxy (invocation of Manglobe Clause and also the trailer caused me to roll my eyes in dismay all those years ago) so I’ll just shut up now.

Great post, I love theology!! Anyway, in Gnosticism there is a higher god behind the Demiurge. Sure the Demiurge is flawed, but the higher god isn’t, and he’s the one that sent Jesus to Earth to tell the people about the true god BEHIND THE DEMIURGE’S BACK!! Pretty good plot right there.

Anyway, I’ve always been very curious about the fascination with Gnosticism in semi-brow (as in between high and low-brow) pop culture. I think OGT’s point about the DIY friendliness of Gnosticism is spot on. But I’m still curious, because at heart Gnosticism is about despising matter and glorifying spirit, which is not exactly what pop culture goes for…

@ghostlightning
The “even a perfect God’s creation can’t be perfect” thing, I dunno, I don’t think I buy it myself.

This was used by theist apologists to justify the existence of suffering in creation. God is good and created ‘the best of all possible worlds’ and even such a world can never be perfect.

The Gnostics on the other hand, nipped that in the bud a thousand years ago by declaring God flawed, and kind of an asshole to boot. And in the context of Ergo… well, I don’t think anyone will argue that the Proxies are perfect.

@Muse
Thanks for the good word, I appreciate you stopping by. And I’m glad I could help your understanding, although my understanding of both Gnosticism and Ergo Proxy is far from solid. gnosis.org is a great source of info on the former, though.

… and now I’m actually quite curious about gnosticism because it bothers me how little I know on the topic XP

really interesting post dude

A flawed creator can only create flawed things. The Statues actually tell Re-L that they’re all the flawed products of a flawed creator. This theme continues to trickle down to the AutoReivs, the flawed creations of humans.

I forgot if it was Leibniz who asserted that perfection is a unique attribute to God. There is no other possible perfection – perhaps following a logic of ‘if one is inferior to something else, that is a lack of something (the number one spot) — an inferiority, therefore not perfect.’

Following this, anything other than God, including creation can never be perfect.

This was used by theist apologists to justify the existence of suffering in creation. God is good and created ‘the best of all possible worlds’ and even such a world can never be perfect.