I have a problem with any religion in which a higher salvation is reserved to those who have "higher knowledge."

As I understand it, Gnosticsm was the base of the Albegensian movement of Provence. In that, a "Perfect" rejected self, sex, most foods, and went about instructing others. While I admit that there have always been those more spiritually "advanced" than most, I have a hard time with the concept of "secret" religious teachings available only to those "advanced" enough for them.

In short, from what I know of the teaching of Yeshua of Nazareth, he made his teachings available to those who would tale the trouble to think about them, not to a select few who had a "secret and higher knowledge."

Gnosticism, from what I've learned of it, smacks of elitism.