At the heart of the gnostic concern was the revelation of the hidden Gnosis (Greek meaning "knowledge"), the possession of which would free one from the fragmentary and illusory (or evil) material world (bodily existence) and teach one about the origins of the spiritual world to which the gnostic belonged by nature. ... They noted in lurid, breathless detail the bizarre practices of the faithful--their purple face-dressings, their surgical castrations their neo-Maoist uniforms and haircuts--while making only passing reference to the sect's "gnostic" or "neo-gnostic" doctrine. and, of cour...

• Word Count: 1846
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate