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Secret Quest: The Path of the Christian Gnostics is a three part documentary that was written, filmed, directed, and produced in 2009 by The Gnostic Movement. The Gnostic Movement was a non-profit, international spiritual organization run by volunteers. It's main activity was running free nine-week courses on topics such as Gnostic spirituality, self-discovery, and out-of-body experiences. Part one of Secret Quest, “The Path of the Christian Gnostics” follows the path of the Christian Gnostics throughout history, from the times of Jesus, to the mysterious medieval alchemists, into the modern day. Throughout time a message about the human potential for spiritual transformation can be found in sacred texts, esoteric symbols, mysterious legends, and ancient mythology. Those who discovered it have been called Gnostics. Their name derives from the Greek word “Gnosis,“ referring to a hidden knowledge that comes not from intellectual study, but through direct spiritual experience and personal contact with divinity. Within the teachings of Jesus, the ancient Christian Gnostics found the secret keys to find and walk the path of spiritual transformation and to reach the kingdom of heaven. Their quest has continued through history into modern times, as different people and cultures have discovered this knowledge and left behind clues for others searching for it. Secret Quest is a three-part series by The Gnostic Movement that traces the emergence of Christian Gnosticism from the times of Jesus to the present day. From the Gnostic gospels banned in ancient times despite containing direct teachings from Jesus, to the Medieval Alchemists and their quest to transform lead into gold, Gnostics have sought enlightenment throughout the ages. This series goes beyond an historical account of Gnosticism and delves into the mysteries of Gnosis itself, and how to attain it. It was the first of its kind where Gnostics themselves explained the spiritual practices used to attain Gnosis, walk the path to enlightenment, and reach wisdom, inner peace, and enlightenment. Within this series a journey at the heart of human destiny is uncovered, which emerges from the latent potential that is within every human being. “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven…” Jesus – Matthew 13:11 Who were the Christian Gnostics? Early Christianity was very different from what it is today. There was no bible, and many diverse texts about Jesus were in circulation. The title “Christian“ was a broad term for a range of groups that venerated Jesus. Some of them focused upon worshiping him, while others endeavored to profoundly understand what he taught and to practice his doctrine of reaching the “kingdom of heaven“ through self-knowledge and inner spiritual transformation. These were the Christian Gnostics, who were mystics seeking direct spiritual experience and personal contact with divinity. For many centuries, the mysticism of the Christian Gnostics was suppressed by those who persecuted them. Branded heretics, their texts and Gospels were banned as they were condemned by a strand of Christianity that rose to power within the Roman Empire, establishing itself as the orthodoxy. The expanding orthodoxy opposed other forms of Christianity and produced writings denouncing the Gnostics. As a result, many important teachings of Jesus were forbidden and lost for more than a millennium. Ancient Gnosticism Rediscovered With the rediscovery of Gnostic texts and Gospels in modern times, much light has been shed on the early Christian Gnostics, and importantly on the life of Jesus and his disciples. Many of these texts show private and advanced dialogues Jesus had with his disciples, which further reveal the great depth and richness of his message. Thanks to these discoveries, the full message of Jesus can be studied in a wider framework, encompassing the biblical Gospels and an array of Gnostic texts and Gospels imbued with his wisdom – texts that were, and in many cases still are, rejected. Yet so much remains unknown about the Christian Gnostics. Their ancient texts can be obscure and difficult to understand; in fact, they were misunderstood by those who rejected them in ancient times. They are obscure because they were written for people with a certain level of understanding, and one needs some understanding and spiritual experience to comprehend them. To really understand what the Gnostics taught, a person must learn how to achieve the understanding the Gnostics sought. Watch part 2 of Secret Quest here: Watch the Flight of the Feathered Serpent special feature here: For more information about what was taught during the time of The Gnostic Movement please visit:
