What do Gnostics believe in?

Question

Just want a brief overview, thanks.

Answer 1

Gnosticism, ancient and modern:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/gnostic.htm

From that site:

Gnosticism is a philosophical and religious movement which started in pre-Christian times. The name is derived from the Greek word "gnosis" which literally means "knowledge." However, the English words "Insight" and "enlightenment" capture more of the meaning of "gnosis." It is pronounced with a silent "G" (NO-sis). Gnosticism is not factual, intellectual, rational knowledge, such as is involved in mathematics and physics; that would have been more accurately represented by the Greek world "episteme." Rather, Gnosticism involves the relational or experiential knowledge of God and of the divine or spiritual nature within us. A visitor to this web site wrote: "...we believe that gnosis-knowledge requires ultimate transcendence of the merely intellectual to be actualized."

Gnostics believe that they have secret knowledge about God, humanity and the rest of the universe of which the general population was unaware. It became one of the three main belief systems within 1st century Christianity, and was noted for four factors by which differed from the two other branches of Christianity:

Novel beliefs about Gods, the Bible and the world which differed from those of other Christian groups.

Tolerance of different religious beliefs within and outside of Gnosticism.

Lack of discrimination against women. Although Jesus treated women as equals, and Paul mostly did the same, the other Christian belief systems started to oppress women in later generations.

A belief that salvation is achieved through relational and experiential knowledge. In the words of The contemporary Gnostic Apostolic Church, humanity needs to be awakened and brought "to a realisation of his true nature. Mankind is moving towards the Omega Point, the Great day when all must graduate or fall. This day is also the Day of Judgment in that only those who have entered the Path of Transfiguration and are being reborn can return to the Treasury of Light."

Hope this helps. :-)

Answer 2

That is hard to say, because there are many versions.

Basically, the Gnostics believe in salvation by superior knowledge, because that is what the term means (a Greek word for knowledge).

The Gnostics seem to believe in many gods. They think that there was one supreme god who gave birth to lesser gods. One of these lesser gods was an evil god who imprisoned the souls of mankind within the material world (so they would view the Jewish god as the evil god who created the material universe). Needless to say, Gnosticism is usually antisemitic.

They view Jesus as another god who was trying to free us from the physical world.

Ever see the "Matrix" trilogy of movies? That was Gnosticism in a nutshell. The "architect" would be the god of the Jews, and Neo would be Jesus. "Smith" would be the gnostic version of the devil.

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...Everyone knows that "The Matrix" was a gnostic film, and "The Truman Show" too, but what about "Harry Potter", "Fight Club" or the "Ninth Gate"? Learn to see box-office blockbusters in a new light as their secret underpinnings are revealed, and discover lost classics like "Fantastic Planet", "They Live" and "Donnie Darko" for the very first time. ...

Answer 3

I'm a gnostic and I'm glad you asked. I appologize in advance if it's not that brief.
Firstly Gnostics DON'T have secret info about God, that is at best a myth.
For a Gnostic, God is found through ones personal pursuit of Truth, for to describe one is to describe the other. Beliefs are acknowledged as such and remain open to change. I understand my path to God is my own and my philosophy is bound to change as I learn knew things. I Guarantee that nobody shares my exact world view and you wouldn't hear my ideas from another. I don't borrow ideas unless I intend to build on them somehow. This makes me quite disagreeable at times, but I feel it's human nature to build on what others have accomplished.
Christian Gnostic's on the other hand draw from jesus's conception of 'the Father' who is distinctly different from the Creator. The Father, according to Jesus, was the source of the Human spirit, ineff-able, omnipresent, benevolent yet passive. The Creator as depicted in the old testament however is quite effable, and prone to fear, jealousy and, as a being, resembles what we would now call the Ego. Jesus apparently didn't take to how his people viewed God so he developed his own image of a spiritual and loving God we now know as the Father.
In Gnostic theology The Father grants the first man, Adam, gifts of Knowledge and Life in tree form so that only living things could take from them i.e. not the creator. Adam manages, with help, to obtain the first gift but the creator denies him the second. As a result, the Mother strips the creator of his former glory and confines him into the mind of man, who then takes creative authority from that point on. The Creator becomes like a demon, appearing to men who would yield to him and promising favor and salvation in exchange for the obeying of his commandments. Jesus plays the role of the 'Son of Man' who brings back the knowledge granted to the first man. He is sacrificed to Creator, for teaching thoughts apart from his own.
Despite this he survives in both spirit and message and the message spreads like wildfire. Jesus's victory is short lived however as a new covenant is established, one that shifts focus back to the sacrifice as a means to salvation, and once again mankind loses touch with the message.
A Gnostic isn't (or at least should'nt be) dependant on this theology however, but should be able to use it to articulate human circumstance.
This is Gnosis as brief as a Gnostic can make it.

Answer 4

The Gnostic circulate of the 1st century's undemanding coaching became that Jesus did no longer come interior the flesh. They taught He became in basic terms appear in spirit style. The writings of 1st, 2cnd, and third John right this moment suitable this heretical doctrine. John writes, "Our hands have dealt with, The be attentive to existence" Jesus got here interior the Flesh to sentence sin interior the flesh. all of us who says "Jesus has no longer come interior the flesh", is Anti-Christ.

Answer 5

Gnostic what...? Gnostics believe 100% in [fill in blank] being 100% true.

Answer 6

special knowledge that can only be given to those who are worthy of it. Hidden knowledge will also work.....

Answer 7

Gnos.

Answer 8

Gnomes are realy hung. Other than that, not much.

Answer 9

You can find everything on:

Answer 10

knowledge and the blood line of Jesus Christ.