The Gnostics

The Gnostics were ancient spiritual thinkers who believed that divine knowledge (gnosis) could lead to salvation. They perceived the material world as created by a lesser, imperfect deity called the Demiurge, and saw the true, higher God as distant and beyond physical reality. Gnostics emphasized inner spiritual insight over external rituals, seeking to awakening the divine spark within themselves. Their teachings often diverged from mainstream Christianity, highlighting themes of dualism—body versus spirit—and the importance of personal spiritual awakening to attain liberation from worldly illusions.