Gnostics believe that they have secret knowledge about God, humanity and the rest of the universe of which the general population was unaware. It became one of the three main belief systems within 1st century Christianity, and was noted for four factors by which differed from the two other branches of Christianity:

	Novel beliefs about Gods, the Bible and the world which differed from those of other Christian groups.
	Tolerance of different religious beliefs within and outside of Gnosticism.
	Lack of discrimination against women. Although Jesus treated women as equals, and Paul mostly did the same, the other Christian belief systems started to oppress women in later generations.
	A belief that salvation is achieved through relational and experiential knowledge. In the words of The contemporary Gnostic Apostolic Church, humanity needs to be awakened and brought "to a realisation of his true nature. Mankind is moving towards the Omega Point, the Great day when all must graduate or fall. This day is also the Day of Judgment in that only those who have entered the Path of Transfiguration and are being reborn can return to the Treasury of Light." 2

The movement and its literature were essentially wiped out before the end of the 5th century CE by  Catholic heresy hunters and the Roman Army. Its beliefs are currently experiencing a rebirth throughout the world, triggered in part by the discovery of an ancient Gnostic library at Nag Hammadi, Egypt in the 1940s, and the finding of the Gospel of Judas at El Minya, Egypt, in the 1970s.

	History of Gnostic Christianity. Sources of information
	Gnostic beliefs and practices
	Gnostic leaders. Interaction between Gnostic & Pauline Christianity
	Books on Gnosticism
	Links to Gnostic web sites

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