1) Historically, Gnosticism taught that there were two gods: The god that created the spirit, and the 'evil' god that created matter.
2) Gnostic scripture rarely offered authorship, and was written after the traditional gospels, and went against already common Christian beliefs.
Because it against the common majority belief system. Which in most cases means that it is closer to the truth....which is probably the case with Gnosticism.
The Roman Church did not like Gnostics because it gave the power to the people rather than to the church. Gnostics is not fear based so it is harder to control, such it is not popular for those who want control...so it is heresy.
HM gnostic Christianity like in all those books called Apaches that those damn catholic bishop choose to leave out when they compile5d the Bible , OH there's your answer because the RCC chooses to exclude this books from the Christan religion in their view you are committing heresy by following a non -canonical ( unofficial) scripture
Because it was the minority viewpoint. The Orthodox Christians were in the majority. They prevailed and la belled Gnostic Christianity heresy. In any conflict, history is written by the victors.
The reason Orthodox Christianity attracted the majority of believers was that it was much easier to practise and the teachings were simple. Salvation was obtained by participating in the rituals of the church, administered by priests. Gnostic Christians had to achieve salvation through their own efforts to gain spiritual knowledge - as the Bible puts it, 'Work out your own salvation' (Phil 2:12)
Orthodox Christianity developed a clear doctrine, that was imposed on everyone (sometimes by force). Gnostic Christians were free to find 'knowledge' for themselves, and, as some of their writings show, some of the ideas they developed were bizarre.
There were many doctrinal differences. Here are two.
Orthodox Christianity is comfortable with the material world, seeing it as having been created by God. Gnostics regarded the material world as evil, having been created by the Demiurge.
Gnostic Christians acknowledge that Jesus' spiritual self hood never suffered on the cross and died - only his material body did. Orthodox Christians do not differentiate between the man Jesus and his spiritual self.
Two of the biggest problems not mentioned so far are these... Gnostics preached a different Gospel, and Gnostics were very exclusive in that they did not share their beliefs unless they felt you were worthy. In Revelation 2 Jesus says this "But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." From writings we have found outside of the bible, the Nicolaitans seem to have been a forefather to gnostic teachings. So, to simplify, the felt truth should only be given to people who deserved it, and they did not preach the same message that Jesus did.
Look up the word Gnostic. The "Gnosis" is the foundation of every religion that has ever been formed or devised. It predates history and is spoken of in veiled terms by every mystery school and mystic discipline on earth. It is not in itself a religion, but rather the study of the workings of creation, as far above religion as a skyscraper is above a birdhouse. Religions are commonly founded by an adherent (called a master or an adept) who wishes to share his findings with mankind. However, the information is such that it cannot be casually transmitted because it requires a particular state of mind difficult beyond the ability of all but an elect few to attain. That's as it should be since it enables it's holder to utilize forces dangerous in the hands of any but the purest in heart. Remember the companion of Jesus who intimated that he could bring down fire from heaven. And remember that Jesus told mankind they could do any of the astonishing things he himself done. That's true. Given many names over the course of history, and attested to by the best thinkers mankind has ever produced, it is very real but self concealing. It is not however "secret", but simply the working principles of the invisible forces that animate every atom of the universe. Therein is the spirit of the supreme God, not given to a few thousand nomads in Israel as their own private god, nor to any race or species or civilization anywhere in the endless cosmos, but to every living thing in creation. It's an intelligence of terrifying scope that cannot be described, nor should any effort be made to do so. The mind of man cannot accept infinity as a reality, so he invents curved space and compressed time to save his sanity. No such limitations exist in God or his creation. Any who search for the higher Gnosis can find as much as he can accept. But be warned, once you set foot on the path all that you thought you knew will become as fairy tales. You absolutely CAN part the veil, but be prepared let go of your "religion", otherwise do not enter the temple.
why is Gnosticism Christianity considered a heresy?
