Kitchen Catechism
DEFINITION OF: Gnosticism
GNOSTICISM: A Philosophic-religious movement related to the mystery religions. Claimed an esoteric wisdom, sharply distinguishing between the uninitiated and the initiated. Gnosticism stood in competition with Christianity, reaching its highest point in the latter part of the 2nd century A.D. (“Dictionary of Philosophy and Religion - Eastern and Western Thought”)
GNOSIS: Central to Gnostic teachings was the idea of ‘gnosis’, secret revealed knowledge of salvation. They claimed that the source of the ‘gnosis’ was the secret oral transmission of the knowledge by Christ, either to the Twelve Apostles or to the leader of the sect. In turn, the 'gnosis' was transmitted to select members who were determined to be worthy. ("Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Catholic History")