What is Gnosticism?

At the time of its founding and in the years since, Ms. Knight searched for the right term to describe Ramtha's school, frequently resorting to "esoteric" or "mystery." But finally, drawing upon Dr. Melton's observations, she labeled it "a modern Gnostic school." In so describing Ramtha's educational endeavor, she emphasizes both the fresh, unique philosophy and practice that Ramtha offers, emphasizing RSE's roots in this primary alternative religious tradition that has shared space with Christianity in Western culture.

Gnosis is the Greek word for knowledge. It is not based on doctrines or belief in dogma. Instead, Gnosticism is grounded in personal experience; it teaches that experience is the means to becoming spiritually illuminated.

Gnosticism originated in the ancient Mediterranean Basin and has passed from community to community (many of its representatives being driven underground by persecution from Christian authorities). Gnosticism found new life in the relative freedom of the Post-reformation Era and has steadily moved toward reasserting the position it once enjoyed within the larger religious community. The thread of Gnosticism can be found throughout history in such systems of thought as Catharism, the Kabbalah, or Cabala, alchemy, Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry, and Theosophy.