Back during Spring break, I found myself diving down a strange rabbit hole of religion and philosophy, exploring a strange yet interesting side of Christianity that is less prominent or mentioned when Christianity is brought up in both today’s world and in the past. Gnosticism, a diverse philosophical and religious belief, teaches salvation through a path known as “gnosis,” or esoteric knowledge, rather than through devout faith in one being, god, or gods.
The history of Gnosticism is said to date back to the mid-first century, around 100 to 150 CE, during which it was more widely known and recognized as a philosophy prevalent throughout Ancient Egypt’s society. However, it wasn’t until the mid-second century that Gnosticism seemed to fully develop among sects of Christianity, as well as other faiths developing during that time.
Gnostics believe there’s one “supreme” god or high being. A second inferior God who is ultimately responsible for humanity’s issues and problems is known as the Demiurge. The Demiurge basically uses humanity as its plaything. Higher beings from a higher plane of existence known as the Pleroma are actually in charge. They also created the corrupt higher being that now rules with an iron fist over the universe and world outside of the Pleroma.
This corrupted being, now having access to the universe and everything outside of the Pleroma, decided to create humanity and manipulate, as well as play a role in the events described in the Old Testament and New Testament.
This sect of Christianity offered a more expansive view on the teachings and philosophies than other sects of this religion offered; however, it was met with extreme scrutiny and disapproval from more known and “traditional” practices of Christianity, like Protestant and Catholic. They believed Gnostic beliefs painted God too much in a negative light. The Romans disregarded and persecuted any practice of Christianity in the first place. So many ancient Gnostic texts were burned or destroyed, and believers or followers of the sect were subjected to harsh punishment or even death as they were labeled “heretics”. So the modern interpretation, due to the lack of texts, is varied.
But even with the lack of texts and information, the Gnostic belief provides us with a wider perspective of Christianity and religion as a whole. Normally, especially in today’s Christian culture, there is only one divine being highlighted: Jesus and God. These higher characters within this are the only ones mentioned to oversee the world and universe.
Gnostics, however, take this and broaden it, painting and showing different angles that shine light towards something far more complex and diverse. It teaches that enlightenment can and should be achieved through esoteric ways rather than placing all of your faith into one divine being or one prophet that walked the Earth almost 2,000 years ago.
I feel that’s why this has resonated with me. This point of view of religion has some similarities to Buddhism and Hindu-Buddhist ideas that I’ve known and jived with ever since I was younger. Perhaps bias clouds my judgement a bit when it comes to faith and religion, but I believe that there is a way of life that’s both meaningful, fulfilling, and enlightening when practicing one that doesn’t color your every regret and mistake as a grave sin. But as a lesson that’s meant to be learned from, and once those lessons have been experienced and learned, you grow and expand your consciousness in a way that provides light in your world.
Gnosticism teaches that you’re rewarded for figuring everything out. You’re not expected to understand everything all at once, but being open to life and its lessons can show you paths that can expand your journey and show you true, transformative experiences.