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Gnosticism is a collection of religious ideas and systems which emphasize the importance of gnosis, or secret knowledge. This knowledge is said to liberate the soul from the material world and lead to spiritual enlightenment. Gnostic thought is diverse, but it often includes the belief that the divine is separate from the physical world, and that salvation comes through revealed knowledge rather than through faith or obedience. In the context of Christianity, Gnosticism can be seen as an alternative interpretation of the religion, one that places a greater emphasis on individual spiritual experience and direct revelation. It is distinct from Agnosticism, which holds that the existence of God, of the divine or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable, while Gnosticism posits the existence of a higher, transcendent God beyond the material world.