Gnosticism is a phenomenon that is related to the Judaeo-Christian tradition . This phenomenon groups together different religious systems that were considered heretical during the first and second centuries A.D. Nevertheless, they proposed different ways of understanding the nature of human beings that continue to be discussed to this day.

Next, we will review the definitions of Gnosticism, its characteristics and the practices that are most representative of this philosophical and religious doctrine.

What is Gnosticism?

Gnosticism is a term used to refer to a group of religious ideas and systems that existed between the first and second centuries A.D. Broadly speaking, the systems that are grouped within Gnosticism, propose that everything that exists in the material world is created by a God who fixes a divine spark within the body of the human being.

This spark is trapped inside that body, but it can be released. To free it, it is possible to turn to a group of sages who are the holders of “gnosis” (the special knowledge of the divine). Through this liberation, the true essence of the human being would be released and identified with God. It would also solve the problem par excellence of religious thought: where does evil come from?

This doctrine was considered heretical by the Christians of the time because it was considered an esoteric practice and far from the values of Christianity. Not only that, but it is related to Hellenic culture and Eastern religions, and thus, to the very emergence of Christianity. For this reason, Gnosticism is part of the doctrines that constituted the basis of the western worldview.

Gnosis and Knowledge of the Divine

In some contexts the words “gnosis” and “gnosticism” are used as if they were synonymous. In others, the word “gnosis” refers to “authentic Christianity.” Likewise, the word “gnostic” serves to refer to members of religious sects.

Gnosticism is a concept created in modern times, which takes up the term “gnostikoi” of those who were the compilers of the catalogues of heresies. Through this concept they wanted to designate the multiplicity of movements, sects or schools and their common features.

Gnosis, on the other hand, comes from a Greek word meaning “knowledge”, and in the context of religions it refers to a saving knowledge, which is acquired through a revelation.

According to Culdaut (1996), the historian F.C Baur (1792-1860) is the founder of research on gnosis. This author speaks of Gnosticism, not as a heresy but as a new religion that synthesizes the pagan religious forces of before Christianity .

Main characteristics of Gnosticism

According to Culdaut (1996), the movements and doctrines of Gnosticism share three characteristic features: gnosis is acquired by means of a revelation ; the basis of knowledge is dualistic; and there are mythological constructions and stories.

1. Faith versus knowledge

The knowledge of gnosis is not simply a belief. Therefore, it goes beyond the attitude that we call “faith”. The latter is considered inferior to the ability to know, so gnosis is a knowledge that is acquired by means of a revelation, and obtaining it means redemption itself .

The maximum knowledge that can be acquired is the knowledge of oneself, of the true self; for Gnosticism, this is what would bring human beings closer to God.

2. The fundamental dualism

At the base of the systems and doctrines of Gnosticism is found a dualistic interpretation of the cosmos . In this interpretation, God and the world are two opposites. God is separated from the material, he is transcendent. The material is then, anti-God.

From there it is understood that everything that is composed of matter, is evil, with which, the main task of the Gnostic practices is to liberate the “true being” from its anti-divine components (materials) .

And this is because Gnosticism opposes the figure of the Demiurge (which is the god that creates the material world), to the “true God” (which is the god of salvation), which is understood that the earthly world is the least important. What is really important is the divine ascent of the souls.

3. The mythological stories

To explain and transmit the above points, Gnosticism resorts to mythological stories. These stories are the way to understand what the “I” is , where it comes from and where it goes. Above all, to understand how the soul can return to the spiritual world and free itself from the evil of the material.

In these stories, the central theme is how to direct the destiny of the soul that has fallen to earth. In the history of Western civilization, these stories can be traced back to before the first and second centuries, in the Greek myths of Homer .

In spite of being hidden and repressed, the Gnostic movement represented an important way of exerting pressure on Christianity, which eventually influenced the shaping of Christian and Western thought.

Bibliographic references:

  • Coullaut, F. (1996). The birth of Christianity and Gnosticism. Akal: Madrid.
  • Sol, E. (2016). Gnosticism and its rituals. A general introduction. Before, 5: 225-240. https://www.ucm.es/data/cont/docs/106-2016-05-03-15.%20Elena%20SOL%20JIMÉNEZ.pdf.