Gnosticism: The History and Legacy of the Mysterious Ancient Religion

Gnosticism is one of the great mysteries in the history of Western religion. At its core is an ancient Greek word, gn¿sis, a word prominent in the writings of Plato which refers to a deep personal knowledge or understanding that often transcends the physical world.[1] The Gnostics painted a picture of a fallen, broken world in which physicality was a product of a lesser deity. This deity was created in defiance of the One and in order to trap humans and blind them to the truths of their pr...