I can't quite see how the Gnostic gospels bring a question of the "validity of Christianity." The Gnostic gospels are certainly interesting reading, and there is much about them that is inspiring and thought-provoking; but they do not fit into the belief system that came to be called Christianity. Certain writings were accepted by Christians as sacred to them and as basic statements of their beliefs, and the Gnostic gospels were not given that status.

Gnosticism is a different system of belief, a different way of understanding that which is not understandable. It was not accepted as mainstream Christianity. The two systems of belief are different - that's all. Christianity prevailed, and Gnosticism didn't. Much of what is known about Gnosticism comes from Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons, who lived from about 130-200 AD. He wrote a five-volume work titled Against Heresies, and the chief heresy he opposed was Gnosticism. Gnostic writings were suppressed by the Christian Church, and many Gnostic groups were persecuted by the Christians. The fact that Christians persecuted Gnostics is also not proof that Christianity is wrong or invalid - but persecution of another's beliefs is certainly wrong. A number of Gnostic writings were found in Egypt in 1945, so we now know much more about Gnostic thinking that we once did.

Gnosticism is not a unified system of belief, and there has never been a unified Gnostic church. A variety of belief systems have been given the name "Gnostic" over the ages. All seem to had a "dualist" philosophy in common, looking at parallel spiritual/physical universes. As I understand it, most Gnostics did believe in Jesus as savior. Another concept common to most Gnostics is the idea of individual revelation or enlightment ("gnosis") that is received by each person who is saved from the evil side of existence.

I can't remember where I saw it, but my understanding that Irenaeus redefined Gnosticism into something that was absurd, and then proceeded to refute the ideas that he had redefined. So, I guess Irenaeus can be condemned for lack of intellectual honesty.

But that doesn't mean that Christianity is invalid - it just means that it is different from Gnosticism.

-Joe Offer-