Who were the Christian Gnostics and what were their beliefs?

There seem to have been many Gnostic Christian sects. New sects kept forming because of the belief that all the initiated were entitled to find knowledge ( gnosis ) about Christianity. Quite early sects include the Sethians and Mandians, who may also have been the Nazarenes.

The most important early Gnostic Group was Manichaeanism. The Cathars arose in western Europe in the twelfth century, but was put down some two hundred years later. The modern Bosnians are believed to be descendants of the followers of Bogomil Each sect had its own specific beliefs, but they shared some in common.

Most believed that the harsh and merciless God of the Old Testament was a lesser god, the Demiurge who created the world, unaware of a transcendental, loving God who sent his son, Jesus, to save us from the Demiurge. Many believed that the Demiurge had trapped holy Light that must be freed to return to God's heaven so that the world can end. Most Gnostics were vegetarians, at least in the higher ranks of the faith.

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