Gnosticism is a descriptive term used to identify a common belief among various religious movements and groups that likely originated in prehistory and became most active in the first few centuries AD/CE. The key to understanding the core belief of these movements is provided by the term gnosis, a Greek word expressing a type of understanding/consciousness gained through personal experience. It is through this type of transcendental experience that followers of Gnostic belief systems ("Gnosticism") seek escape from ignorance and thus the mundane.

Throughout history, followers of various incarnations of Gnosticism (particularly Christian persuasions) were persecuted by those who held the opposing belief that salvation came through faith in particular religious concepts or figures rather than personal knowledge of them. There is no evidence that followers of these earlier Gnostic belief systems ever characterized themselves with the word 'Gnostic.'

The term has become widely used by modern scholars and others as a way to identify an emphasis placed on the salvific benefit of individual wisdom. Although many Gnostic movements identified with the teachings of Jesus Christ and were Christian by their own definition, there remains widespread variation in the particular religious orientations of many Gnostic groups. Especially notable for their extended and uninterrupted presence up until the modern era are the followers of the Persian Prophet Mani, the Manicheans; and the Pre-Christian Mandaeans who still survive in Iraq and Iran.

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Gnosticism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/3VDuu
delicious50 (Delicious Over 50) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:52:49 -0000
Gnosticism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://bit.ly/3VDuu
RT @anokte: April DeConick on Gospel of Thomas, Biblical Archaeology Review: http://bit.ly/8v3TIN #history #christianity #gnosticism
BibArch (BAS) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:21:48 -0000
RT @anokte: April DeConick on Gospel of Thomas, Biblical Archaeology Review: http://bit.ly/8v3TIN #history #christianity #gnosticism
quite inspired by Sethian gnosticism.
jeremyflores (Jeremy Flores) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:44:43 -0000
quite inspired by Sethian gnosticism.
April DeConick on Gospel of Thomas, Biblical Archaeology Review: http://bit.ly/8v3TIN #history #christianity #gnosticism
anokte (Elizabeth) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:33:07 -0000
April DeConick on Gospel of Thomas, Biblical Archaeology Review: http://bit.ly/8v3TIN #history #christianity #gnosticism
@sjerose Pagels has an agenda, and it's to overthrow orthodox Christianity in favour of gnosticism.
alexklages (Alex Klages) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:02:07 -0000
@sjerose Pagels has an agenda, and it's to overthrow orthodox Christianity in favour of gnosticism.
Im up all nite working on my thesis n Judaic Gnosticism I'm lost & late I wont b Prof.'s pet now. LOL
Regi2u (Regina Stolp) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:41:37 -0000
Im up all nite working on my thesis n Judaic Gnosticism I'm lost & late I wont b Prof.'s pet now. LOL

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