GNOSTICISM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Gnosticism mean? 

• GNOSTICISM (noun)
  The noun GNOSTICISM has 1 sense:

1. a religious orientation advocating gnosis as the way to release a person's spiritual element; considered heresy by Christian churches

  Familiarity information: GNOSTICISM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GNOSTICISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A religious orientation advocating gnosis as the way to release a person's spiritual element; considered heresy by Christian churches

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("Gnosticism" is a kind of...):

heresy; unorthodoxy (a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion)

theological doctrine (the doctrine of a religious group)

Domain member category:

aeon; eon ((Gnosticism) a divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme Being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "Gnosticism"):

Mandaeanism; Mandeanism (a Gnostic religion originating the 2nd and 3rd centuries that believes John the Baptist was the Messiah and that incorporates Jewish and Christian elements into a framework of dualistic beliefs)