Gnosti-What?

Gnosticism (Greek: γνῶσις gnōsis, knowledge) A diversity of pre-Christian and early-Christian beliefs. A central tenet is the corruption of the physical world, and the ability of some to transcend it through acquisition of esoteric spiritual knowledge.
— National Geographic

A philosophical and religious system (1st to 6th century) teaching that knowledge rather than faith was the key to salvation — Theological Dictionary

Gnosis: While the literal translation for this word is “knowledge”, it’s meaning is closer to “insight” or, to use a more modern concept, “enlightenment”. Rather than purely an intellectual understanding then, it is a “knowledge of the heart” (which is not meant to imply mere emotionalism) or wisdom. It is the complete comprehension that comes from both rational and intuited means.
Gnostic: Both a specific sect mentioned by heresiologists, and a category for a number of sects that believed “Gnosis” had a salvational purpose.
Gnosticism: the word was created by modern scholors to refer to the sects of the Late Antiquities that shared a similar cosmology and soteriology. More recently the definition has been widened in some circles to mean any form of mysticism or esotericism. However, this has largely happened as a result of ignorance as to the technical purpose of the term. — From a Gnostic Glossary

So, as you can see, even the interwebz cannot fully agree on what the definition of a Gnostic or Gnosticism is. A few infer that it is a purely knowledge-based route of attaining salvation while others claim a Gnostic shuns the physical world as it is corrupted and beyond help. I don’t shun the world. I love the world.

Personally, I like “it is a “knowledge of the heart” (which is not meant to imply mere emotionalism) or wisdom. It is the complete comprehension that comes from both rational and intuited means.” Bluntly put, it takes out the middle-man. I don’t require a priest to tell me what the Divine is saying. I learn my UPG (personal gnosis) from me and my experiences. It crosses religious borders and stirs up my inner spiritual fire. Yes, there are some books which make great compasses, but they are not instruction manuals to be clenched stubbornly and never to be questioned. Questioning is good. Questioning percolates brain cells and forces one to actually stop and ask, “What do I truly believe?” Questioning allows one to expand and no longer constrict. And there are a lot of folks out there who despise people who question. Let’s make them squirm shall we?