Gnosticism

[Tariq Zaki]

A mystic philosophy taught by Jesus of [Nazareth]. This philosophy contains the true teachings of Jesus, who seems to have been highly influenced by Buddhist philosophy. The central book in the [Gnostic] canon seems to have been the Gospel of Thomas. The Gospel of Thomas was written somewhere between the years of 50-90 CE. Gnosticism teaches that God is only good, but that humans view Him as bad because of the delusions of error. Jesus claimed to be teaching God with these delusions removed, which show God in a much more loving and gentle light then the Jewish scriptures. Gnosticism in ancient times had [Bishops] just like [Catholicism]. These Bishops called themselves One Holy Church, just like the Catholics. It would appear that the Church hijacked many things from the Gnostics and then sought to destroy them and their texts. Gnosticism has seen a revival since the discovery of the Nag [Hammadi] library. Gnosticism is growing within Christianity at any incredible rate.

[Luis Fok]

A prominent heretical movement of the 2nd-century Christian Church, partly of pre-Christian origin. Gnostic doctrine taught that the world was created and ruled by a lesser divinity, the demiurge, and that Christ was an emissary of the remote supreme divine being, esoteric knowledge (gnosis) of whom enabled the redemption of the human spirit.

[Dave Paprocki]

a 2nd century religious movement whose followers believed that knowledge and a pure life could free people from the material world, which was created by an inferior god called a demiurge

[CarinMusic]

a religious orientation advocating gnosis as the way to release a persons spiritual element; considered heresy by Christian churches

[Anthonyacox]

A wide variety of Jewish and early Christian sects having an interest in gnosis, or divine knowledge and generally holding the belief that there is a god greater than the Demiurge, or the creator of the world.

[ArthuraCig]

Gnosticism is a collection of ancient religious ideas and systems which emphasize the pursuit of knowledge, wisdom or gnosis, often in the context of mystical and spiritual experiences. Gnosis refers to esoteric knowledge or insight into humanitys place in the universe, considered a higher level of understanding beyond intellect or faith alone. Originating in the late 1st century CE, Gnostic systems often portray the material world as flawed or even evil, created by an imperfect god, with spiritual redemption achieved through the discovery of the divine element within oneself.

[Tina]

the system of philosophy taught by the Gnostics