religion Classical religion Gnostic religion http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85055466 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Gnosticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48420 A collection of religious ideas and systems which originated in the first century AD among early Christian and Jewish sects. These various groups emphasised personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) over the orthodox teachings, traditions, and authority of the church. Viewing material existence as flawed or evil, Gnostic cosmogony generally presents a distinction between a supreme, hidden God and a malevolent lesser divinity (sometimes associated with the Yahweh of the Old Testament) who is responsible for creating the material universe. Gnostics considered the principal element of salvation to be direct knowledge of the supreme divinity in the form of mystical or esoteric insight. Many Gnostic texts deal not in concepts of sin and repentance, but with illusion and enlightenment. BT1390 B638 Gnosticism