Gnosticism is a general term for a variety of religious mov…

Gnosticism is a general term for a variety of religious movements that were popular in the late Roman empire. These movements have in common the idea of a "true world" that exists beyond the physical world which initiates can gain knowledge of and the idea that our real existence is degraded. Gnostics promoted asceticism and even self-harm as a way to connect with the true world. The Timeus was an important source for the Gnostics except that the demiurge was seen not some rational philosopher but as a malevolent, corrupt, or even foolish. Of course this has much in common with Plato but is far more covert narcissist than Plato could even dream of being. The gnostics' sense of superiority could only be realized in the afterlife. The way the gnostics interpreted the Bible was interesting: the New Testament and Old Testament gods were understood as different dieties. The Old Testament god was identified with the demiurge and the New Testament god was identified with Aristotle's god. While this interpretation is superficially plausible, it is really just anti-life.