/lit/ - Literature

I don't understand the attraction of gnosticism. Christianity itself teaches knowledge of God and a way to mystical contemplation/θεωρία. But Christianity has actually produced great saints who have done and said great things. Who believes in gnosticism besides vain intellectuals?

The arguments against gnosticism are very old, she was one of the first heresies. Even the apostles saw that those ideas were "in the air" and a threat to orthodoxy. I've noticed that online pseudo-gnostics like to pretend that they're resurrecting something secret and forgotten when, in fact, every point of gnostic teaching has been covered in depth by Christians arguing against gnostics with extensive quotes. There's a morbid attraction to things that are "secret" or "forbidden". I'd encourage anyone interested in gnosticism to read Irenaeus "Against Heresies" to start.