Does anyone knows what Gnostic means???

Answer 1

From the Greek "gnosis" or "knowledge" - to have special knowledge.

Answer 2

Gnosticism (from Greek gnosis, knowledge) is a term created by modern scholars to describe a diverse religious movement often associated with Christianity, although textual evidence for the movement contains distinctly non- and anti-Christian elements, as well as anti-Judaic elements. These beliefs had largely syncretistic origins in that they were often based on various influences from such idea systems.

Several Gnostic texts appear to have no Christian element at all. Because the textual evidence comes from the first few centuries AD, many scholars have assumed that Gnosticism did not predate this period, but earlier historians of religion saw it as an outgrowth of ancient mystical traditions in Asia, especially Iran.

Answer 3

It means knowledge. It is also referres to the esoteric path of philosphy and spirtual wisdom. The gnostics are Christian Mystics that hold many of the same principles as buddhists and other eastern religions, but come from the middle east and europe, they Pre-date Christianity which means that many of their beliefs come from other religion...probably, maybe it's just universal spirtual wisdom, i don;t know...It's a difficult path to follow since their own 'brothers - Christians look down on them even though they live a more 'holy' and spiritualy enlightened lifestyle.

Answer 4

Gnostics belived in the "Secret Knowledge" and that is what it means. They were common about 200 years after Jesus died and have some strange texts such as the Gosples of the Cross, Mary and Judas. They have Jesus glowing and laughing on the cross, Judas given secret knowledge and women (Specifically Mary Magdellan) not allowed into Heaven but Jesus would turn them to men.

Answer 5

It means that everything on this earth is either material or spiritual. The spiritual is good, and the material is bad. The problem is, Gnostics deny that Jesus the Son of God came in teh flesh because flesh is evil and God is purely spiritual and good.

Answer 6

The doctrines of certain pre-Christian pagan, Jewish, and early Christian sects that valued the revealed knowledge of God and of the origin and end of the human race as a means to attain redemption for the spiritual element in humans and that distinguished the Demiurge from the unknowable Divine Being.

Answer 7

The Gnostics were a religious group living in Turkey about 100-200 years after Jesus died. They wrote their own body of religious literature in competition with the growing Christian churches around Cilicia, Galatia, Pontus and the so-called "seven churches" of Asia.

Answer 8

It's an umbrella term that coivers a variety of heretical sects and ideas. It originated around 400 A.D. as a rebellion against Christianity, and sought to combine Paganism with Christianity, more or less.

The Mandeans--Originating in the 2nd century A.D., along with the Yezidis, it is one of two ancient Gnostic sect that made it into the 21st century. The Mandeans live in South Iraq and South Western Iran. The Mandeans reject Jesus as the Christ and are hostile towards him. They believe that John the Baptist was the true messiah. They practice frequent baptisms in their rituals.
The Yezidis--Perhaps not a true Gnostic sect, but so similar that many modern authorities are reclassifying the Yezidis as Gnostic. A sect of Kurds that worship Satan in the form of a Peacock, called Melek Taus who they believe created the universe, and is a god of good. They worship Satan along with Jesus, who they consider to be a human prophet. There are currently 30,000 living in Germany. They number about 800,000 worldwide and live thorough out Turkey, Armenia, Iraq and Iran. The Marcionite Church--The founder was Marcion (100-160 A.D.), a ship owner who lived on the Black Sea. He is considered the first Gnostic Church father. Marcion taught that the God of the Old Testament (Jehovah), the Demiurge, was a false god. Jesus was sent by the real god to rescue mankind from false teaching and destroy the Demiurge. Marcion was excommunicated from the Christian church for adultery and later started his own Gnostic church.
The Manicheans --This sect revered a Persian named Mani, who believed he was the incarnation of the Holy Ghost. Started in 230 A.D. in Persia (Iran), it spread throughout the Roman Empire. It survived in Tajikistan until the 13th century. Mani, the founder of the sect was killed by Zoroastrians in 276 A.D. Manicheans practiced abstinence, and believed that all matter was evil but inside each person was imprisoned a soul, a spark of the “divine light”. Only after many incarnations could a person achieve salvation. Manicheanism influenced many later dualistic heresies. The sect was divided into a priestly level, and a layman’s level that took care of the needs of the priestly level.
The Sethians-- Said to be similar to the Cainites in some ways.
The Ophites --This sect worshipped the serpent of Genesis, whom they believed brought mankind enlightment, rather than his fall. This would technically make them the first Luciferians.They were said to have a very elaborate theology. The Ophites are an inspiration for many occult groups, from Theosophy to Satanism.
The Cainites --The Cainite sect was a good example of Biblical character inversion by Gnostics. They take their name from Adam’s son Cain who they believed was actually a virtuous person, rather than cursed by god for killing Abel. They also believed Judas, the Sodomites, and every villain of the Bible were virtuous people as well, since they were the enemies of “the Demiurge (Jehova)”, Writers such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Epiphanus have all stated the Cainites were lawless, and tried to break every taboo. Among their scriptures was a forgery called The Gospel of Judas.
The Bogomils/Cathars/Albigenses --A medieval Gnostic sect. It started in Bulgaria as a movement in the 11th century and spread to Western Europe. In the 12th century the grouped flourished in Southern France and Italy and were called Albigenses. The sect lived in open defiance of the Pope and and was wiped out by the Inquisition in the 14th century. The group was divided into two levels, “the perfect” and “the believers”. The perfect lived in celibacy and regarded marriage as evil. Hetrosex was evil, since it created children. The sect is also said to have practiced homosexuality, since it didn’t create children. The vulgar term for anal sex, “bugger”, comes from the word “Bogomil”. The sect rejected many Biblical doctrines, including the divinity of Christ, regarding him merely an angel. The sect influenced Jewish though in 12th century France, and thus led to the Jewish-occult system of philosophy called “Cabala”.

Answer 9

Wikipedia is a good place to find answers fast.

Answer 10

Check it out