Gnosticism - An Introduction
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Gnosticism
generally emphasized one's individual pursuit of spiritual knowledge and
personal experience with the Holy Spirit, over the established beliefs,
or dogma, propagated by the Church. Those practicing Gnosticsism apparently
rejected the Church doctrines of blind faith and the belief that accepting
Jesus Christ as the Savior was the sole source of salvation. Gnostics
appeared to perceive Jesus as an enlightened Spiritual Master, or God
Man, who showed the way to salvation by providing a means of attaining
Gnosis, or experiential knowledge through his Grace. More than just believe,
you had to realize God to be saved. Gnostics sought freedom from the illusory
material world by way of spiritual insight and development of their inner
awareness.
 The Nag Hammadi documents present a significantly different interpretation
of Christian theology, which accounts for the Gnostics being so heavily
persecuted by the churches and almost all the Gnostic writings being destroyed.
These esoteric documents give new accounts about Adam and Eve's discovery
of knowledge in Eden; the inner light of God (which is something actually
experienced, not just a metaphor); meditation techniques; experiences
of leaving the physical body and traveling to the heavenly spheres and
returning again; and various other esoteric teachings. It suggests the
possibility of attaining a realization of God through techniques that
Jesus himself taught, through self-inquiry and personal experience.
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