If the first followers of Jesus"Gnostic" were cut from society by the sword , who used the sword, why?

Question

If the first follower of Jesus, who claimed to have the Gnos,," direct and personal knowledge of the Creator, did not have the right message. Who then gave the second set of followers the right to cut from society the Gnostics, and don't tell me it was a loving god, because they went on to bring death and suffering to millions of people!!!

Answer 1

the roman empire cut them out with the sword because they preached individuality and personal knowledge. very dangerous ideas for an empire trying to maintain control...

Answer 2

Very, very early Christianity was a trend within an overall religious philosophy in the ancient world called Gnosticism. There were Judaic and pagan brands of it and, in time, Christian and then Islamic types of it as well. Over time, as Christianity became more established and popular, other kinds of Gnosticism (including Neoplatonism and Hermeticism, which distinguished themselves from Christian Gnosticism) fell by the wayside and then a certain form of Christianity became the standard. It ,in turn, disavowed any connection to Gnosticism, Christian or otherwise. The other philosophies died out either because they were too marginal or mystical or because they were vilified and perscuted by the reigning belief system (the standardized version of Christianity). It wasn't a conspiracy--it was just cultural evolution.