User:SquirleyWurley

Interests

I'm particularly interested in helping to clean up pages that refer to dualism, Gnostics, certain Christian 'heresies', and some other subjects that are likely to be misunderstood or difficult to describe with accuracy and depth of insight.

Technical Corrections

When possible, I hope to help clarify what type of dualism, gnosticism, 'heresy', etc. is being discussed. I also hope to help avoid confusion in the use of such terms. I think it is very important to try to avoid sloppy conflations of terms.

Concerns About Rhetoric

I'd like to help identify questionable assumptions and speculations about groups, arguments, and movements, so that the reader can more easily sort out such ideas with reference to the evidence.

The use of language for rhetorical effect without regard for connotations or accuracy can get in the way of accurate understanding of evidence.

Background

I have a B.A. in the Humanities, programmed computers for several years (ASP, VB, SQL), play classical and jazz piano, and compose electronic music. For several years I have studied key texts in the Nag Hammadi Library and applied insights from these texts to my daily life. In the past I studied some Buddhism, and have recently been looking into the Samkhya Philosophy and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, with an interest in the possible comparisons/contrasts with ancient Gnostic teachings/practices. I have a good understanding of several esoteric theories, and insight into certain fringe movements based in close study and observation. The early Platonic/Socratic dialogs are particularly dear to me. I am familiar with the ideas of Karl Popper, Leo Strauss, Hanna Arendt, Jean-François Lyotard, Robert Jay Lifton.