Gnosticism (from gnostikos, "learned", from Greek: γνῶσις gnōsis, knowledge; Arabic: الغنوصية) is the thought and practice, especially of various sects of late pre-Christian and early Christian centuries, distinguished by the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis (knowledge).
Gnosticism was primarily defined in a Christian context. Some scholars have claimed that gnosticism pre-dated Christianity. Such discussions have included pre-Christian religious beliefs and spiritual practices argued to be common to early Christianity, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions, Zoroastrianism (especially Zurvanism), and Neoplatonism. The discussion of gnosticism changed radically with the discovery of the Nag Hammadi library and led to revision of older assumptions. Although some scholars still postulate pre-Christian gnosticism, no evidence has been found to date. It is now generally accepted that gnosticism developed into a coherent movement only in the second century CE.
Read more about Gnosticism: Common Characteristics, The Term "Gnosticism", Major Gnostic Movements and Their Texts, Important Terms and Concepts, Buddhism and Gnosticism, Christianity and Gnosticism, Judaism and Gnosticism, "Gnosticism" As A Potentially Flawed Category, Gnosticism in Modern Times