Derived from the Greek word for knowledge, this religion reached its  height under the teachings of 
Derived from the Greek word for knowledge, this religion reached its  height under the teachings of Valentinus and Basilides. Originally known only  through Christian writings against it, manuscripts were found in the Egyptian  town of Nag Hammadi. The main tennant of this religion is that the physical  world contains sparks of diety which can only be freed by knowledge that was  revealed to the spiritual elite from a messenger from the spirit world. FTP,  identify this religion, associated in legend with Simon Magus.
Derived from the Greek word for knowledge, this religion reached its  height under the teachings of Valentinus and Basilides.
Gnosticism or Gnostic