The Gnostics

The Greek word gnosis means knowledge. The Gnostics themselves used it to refer to the spiritual knowledge that would redeem them from a spiritual universe they regarded as inherently evil. As an alternative, mystical tradition within Christianity, Gnosticism suffered the official church's condemnation and persecution. This is one reason why Gnostic teaching and history continue to be little known and little understood today. The Greek word 'gnosis' means knowledge; the Gnostics themselves used it to refer to the spiritual knowledge they believed would redeem them from what they regarded as the inherent evil of the material universe. As a mystical alternative tradition within Christianity, Gnosticism suffered the hostility of the official church and, as a result, remains largely unknown or misunderstood to this day.