Em busca de si: um estudo com ex-membros do Movimento Gnóstico

Abstract

This article aims to understand and analyze the motivations that led some people, former members of the Universal Christian Gnostic Movement of Brazil in the New Order in the city of Santa Maria-RS, to seek and adopt the Gnostic Knowledge in their way of thinking, acting and consequently of living. This article also intends to approach key issues related to Gnosticism and also briefly explore the reasons that, in contemporary times, would lead a growing number of individuals to search of doctrines which help at self-knowledge. The research was made for conducting ethnography in a space in which the group meets to talk about Gnosis and topics related to this knowledge, and by analysis of the answers present in semi-structured questionnaires applied to a corpus of four volunteers. In addition, a participant observation was conducted on a public course to teach elements of Gnostic practice and knowledge. It is important to note also as fundamental understanding of the proposed object, it was necessary to contact with the Gnostic literature itself, based on the reading of books and articles related to Gnosis. This study was conducted in Santa Maria-RS, period from April to November of 2011.