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. ... This was most notable in the 3rd and 4th century with the different parts of the world recognizing different books as gospel. ... Even on its own terms, the psycho-cult explanation is barely coherent: reporters were compelled to note, almost grudgingly, that cult members die...

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

When I compare my own country to the U.S, I do not have to have read books or taken lessons to know that America is a highly religious country, and has been since its earliest days. ... The very language of the Constitution and Bill of Rights suggest that, though created with Christian morals in the back of their minds, the framers of the Constitution intended America to be a nation free from any one religious authority. ... However, to say that the colonies were free from religious persecution is far from truth. ... In 1689, Great Britain had passed a religious Act of Toleration, but this...

• Word Count: 3342
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate