Library - Theology - Gnosticism (Gnosis)

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Gnosticism (a word that means "having mystical knowledge") is also the name of a monotheistic religion that originated in the first or second century CE.  It is a dualistic belief system that rejects the material world and embraces the spiritual realm.

Deities:		Supernatural agents:		Beliefs:		Traditions:
Yaldabaoth (the name of the Demiurge, which is an artisan-like figure responsible for fashioning and maintaining the physical universe, created when Sophia {one of the lesser aeons} tried to emanate without her counterpart)		Abraxas (in charge of 365 spirits) Aeon (various eminations of God) Archon (angel and demon servants) Demiurge (creator of the universe) Sophia (wisdom, and lowest emanation of God)		God is unknowable (before death)		Fasting rituals (no food or water)