Gnosticism

Derived from the Greek word for 'knowledge'.

A movement that originated in the Middle East and Greece during pre-Christian times, comprising of many groups with differing beliefs. One common concept is that there are two Gods: one Supreme Father who is from the 'good' spirit world, and one Demiurge (the Yahweh/Jehovah in the Bible) who created the evil material world. Salvation comes through knowledge and liberation from the material, earthly world to attain a higher level of spirituality.

Christian Gnosticism was one of the three main movements in early Christianity; the other two being Jewish and Pauline Christianity. Many Gnostic sects were the victims of genocide by the early Christian Church. The movement has survived to the present day and is rapidly growing in numbers.