Gnosticism - What Is It?

The term Gnostic refers to a hugely diverse range of late antique movements. Some were serious contenders on the same stage as what ended up becoming mainstream Christianity, like Valentinianism for example. Others seem to have been tiny esoteric study circles if they existed at all beyond the imaginations of the writers of the texts. They tend to be soteriological movements, that is to say like Christianity, they see mankind as being in a fallen state and in need of supernatural redemption.