Final answer:
The Greek word "gnosis" means knowledge. The Gnostic Demiurge is regarded as an inferior creator of the material world, distinct from the supreme divine entity, and Gnosticism incorporates secret knowledge for salvation and transcendence of the physical reality, drawing from various mystery religions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Greek word "gnosis" means knowledge. Within the Gnostic tradition, the concept of the Demiurge is particularly significant. The Demiurge is an artisan-like figure responsible for the shaping of the material world. In many Gnostic systems, this entity is viewed not as the supreme divine being, but as a lesser, often ignorant or malevolent figure who is unaware of the existence of the higher spiritual realms. This contrasts with the benevolent creator deity of monotheistic religions. Gnostics believed that the material world is inherently flawed due to the influence of the Demiurge and that salvation involves transcending this physical reality through the attainment of secret gnosis or knowledge, purportedly revealed by figures such as Jesus.
Gnostic practices involved mystical and esoteric rituals, along with the idea that Jesus provided secret knowledge or incantations that, when properly invoked, could bestow salvation and power on earth. The Gnostic tradition borrowed elements from various mystery religions, including the Orphic and Bacchic Mysteries, and reinterpreted them to fit their beliefs. Major themes in Gnostic thought include the quest for hidden knowledge, the belief in a divine Logos, and deriving meanings from the rituals and symbols associated with various deities such as Themis.