Do you think Gnostic Christians of the second and third century were heretics?

Question

The early Catholic Church authority seemed to think so.

Answer 1

With all the problems in the modern world, we have to worry about whether Gnostics were heretics eighteen hundred years ago. If we all thought they were, what would that change? If we all thought they weren't, what would be the difference ?

Answer 2

In those days the Roman Catholic religion did not exist. They were heretics in the sense that they deviated from basic Christian teaching. The Roman Catholic religion, over the centuries, allowed different elements (but not all) of gnosticism to become ingrained in their belief system.
Gnosticism taught that there was a basic opposition between what is spiritual and material, that the two could not meet, and that what is material is basically wrong. This led to two different opposing practices among different gnostics. Some gnostics felt that if what is physical is inherently evil, then they should become very legalistic, and abstaining from everything they could abstain from and still survive. Other gnostics decided that if there was no relationship between the physical and spiritual, they could practice anything they wanted in their physical life, and that had no effect on their spiritual life.
Christians, of course, had serious problems with both extremes.
The heresy part, however, refers to how they viewed the person of Jesus Christ. They could not accept that He was God and Man at the same time, that He could be both spiritual and physical. So the whole idea of the cross and redemption lost its meaning for them. This is the main aspect of gnosticism that was rejected by the christian councils.
It is important to know that gnosticism originated outside of Christianity, but started to infiltrate some Christian circles in the centuries you mention.

Answer 3

Catholics ( I believe are wrong at virtually every aspect of their dogmas and practices ) have no authority in my life.
But if you actually read the Gnostic Scriptures, they are one of the closest religions to God ( I believe anyways ) for they preach love, and do not condemn ANYONE> their beliefs are based on further knowledge of God, and Catholics seek themselves for knowledge. "What will make us more powerful? How can we get the whole world to commit to us and us alone? How can we completely scare them into submission?" These are my views on Catholicism. But Catholics like the rest of us are judged on their works and devotion to God, not just what religion we're part of. I suppose not every Catholic is a child molestor.
All religions are heretic, literally.