Ancient Order

The Ancient Order stretches back thousands of years into the distant past, its origins so obvious and yet so obscure that even lifelong members of the Chapter are mystified by its complexity. The Ancient Order is one of the Ecclesiastical Chapters and is the international Chapter for all forms of Gnosticism.
The Ancient Order has its strongest following among the more mystical elements of the Divine Order, the Heretical Orders and the Arcane Orders.
AKA: The Gnostics.
Status: Unknown.
== Facts: ==
-The Ancient Order seems to have always existed since variations of it have popped up across the centuries. From the Nag Hammadi Library in ancient Alexandria to the Cathars of medieval France, to modern spiritualist groups and Johannitte churches, the Ancient Order through them is spread out across the world.
-The Ancient Order is quite exceptional in that it has always managed to absorb and operate within new cultures without losing the essence of its own teachings. The primary teaching of Gnosticism is that this material world is evil or at least is not of God. Salvation from this material world is attained through special knowledge, mystical knowledge given through spiritual struggle and metaphysical insight known as Gnosis. This Gnosis raises the soul above this world, allowing it to escape back to the true God after death.
-The Ancient Order believes that it was not God or the Supreme Being who created our material world, but a secondary, lesser creator they call the Demiurge. The Demiurge is not quite the same as the Devil in classic Judeo-Christian theology, but he is an adversary who rules this world and seeks to keep souls trapped within it.
-Gnosticism has evolved within other organizations and belief systems. As such, the Ancient Order has strong ties to many other groups. The Cathars (and through them the Heretical Orders), the Children of the Nile, the early Christian churches (Christian Coalition), the Fraternal Order of Builders, the Hermetic Society, the Occult Underground, even the Knights Templar and Hashashin! 
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== References: ==
-http://www.thesongofgod.com/tgc/gnostic-differences.html
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosticism
Category:Gnostic
Category:Chapter