Gnosticism refers to a collection of mystical, often countercultural spiritual traditions that arose in Late Antiquity. Rather than a single religion, it is a family of related movements sharing several core ideas: Hidden salvific knowledge (gnosis)attained through personal revelation. Sharp spirit/matter dualism, viewing thematerial world as flawed or corrupt, oftenstemming from a divine mishap. Existence of a Demiurge—a creator figureseparate from the highest transcendentGod (the Monad). An emanationist hierarchy of divinebeings (Aeons) linking the unknowableGod to the material realm. A Saviour/revealer descending from thedivine realm (Pleroma) to impart gnosisand liberate humanity. Belief that each person contains a divinespark (Pneuma), a fragment of the divinelonging to return to its spiritual source. Scholars view Gnosticism as a stage in religious development that moves from mythic unity, through revelation that … Continue reading Gnostic Resources