What does gnosticism mean?
Gnosticism is a term for a diverse collection of religious traditions, especially those prominent in the first centuries of the Common Era, that placed special importance on knowledge, or gnosis, of divine, spiritual, or ultimate realities. Different Gnostic groups held widely varying beliefs, so the word does not describe a single unified creed. Historically, Gnosticism often emphasized the contrast between the ordinary material world and a hidden divine realm, and it influenced debates about salvation, revelation, and religious authority in the ancient world. In modern philosophy, literature, and popular culture, the term has a broader meaning: it can describe an outlook that claims access to privileged, esoteric, or otherwise hidden truth. The word is therefore both a historical designation and a modern metaphor for beliefs that oppose established explanations. It is useful because it draws attention to a major ancient religious current while also showing how one historical concept can acquire wider cultural meanings.
nounGnosticism denotes a diverse set of religious traditions that treat knowledge, or gnosis, of divine or ultimate realities as central to salvation. In modern philosophical and cultural usage, it can also refer broadly to doctrines characterized by a distinction between ordinary material reality and a hidden spiritual truth.
- A diverse body of religious traditions, especially those flourishing in the early centuries of the Common Era, in which knowledge of divine or spiritual realities was considered important for salvation.
- In modern philosophical, psychological, and cultural usage, any doctrine that emphasizes an esoteric or privileged knowledge of reality as opposed to ordinary material experience.
"The exhibition explored the influence of Gnosticism on early Christian and later Western philosophical thought."
"Historians continue to debate the relationship between Gnosticism and the development of early Christianity."
"The philosopher used the term in a broad modern sense to describe a worldview built around hidden knowledge."
The plural is rare and usually occurs when different Gnostic traditions or modern interpretations are being compared.
"The study compares several gnosticisms and their different accounts of knowledge and salvation."
Gnosticism turns knowledge into a path of salvation: the word's roots literally mean 'knowledge.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gnosticism come from?
The word derives from Greek gnōstikós, meaning 'relating to knowledge' or 'intellectual,' from gnōsis, 'knowledge,' in turn associated with gignōskein, 'to know.' The related English word gnostic was used historically for members of these religious traditions, while agnostic was formed much later from the same Greek root with a contrasting meaning. The English noun Gnosticism entered use in the early 17th century and became established in scholarly discussion of ancient religion.
Related word forms
How gnosticism is actually used
The term is usually capitalized when referring to the historical religious traditions or their adherents. It may sound technical or academic in historical writing, while philosophical and popular uses can sometimes imply esotericism, mysticism, or distrust of conventional religion.
Easily confused with gnosticism
Gnosticism treats knowledge of spiritual or divine realities as central, whereas agnosticism holds that the existence of a deity or ultimate reality cannot be known or is not known.