Gnosis, (Greek, knowlege), is defined as the intuitive comprehension of higher spiritual truth. Many aspects of Gnostic philosophies are believed to have developed in pre-Christian times, a syncretic blend of Platonic philosophy and Pagan mystery religion. In the early days of Christianity, there was no single "Christian" group, but many competing sects with varying practices. The term "gnostic" was not used by the gnostics themselves; it was applied to various sects of Christians by opposing theologans.
Some Gnostic groups claimed to have been the original Christians, a position hotly disputed by church 'fathers.' (Ironically, Tertullian, one of Gnosticism's chief opponents, later became a Gnostic himself.) Modern scholarship lends credibility to the claim, as recent discoveries show that fragments of Gnostic texts may be the oldest existing Christian Gospels.
Gnosticism quickly faded into the background as the Roman Church and its doctrines became dominant, and state sanction led political and military power to their position. Gnostic texts were largely obliterated, and over the centuries, mostly forgotten. Occasional flare-ups of gnostic theology were put down with extreme violence- the little known first "Crusade" was undertaken for the sole purpose of destroying the Albigensian Cathars, a vibrant Gnostic community in the South of France.
