The doctrine of Hell may have lost some of its fire in modern Christianity, and some have even wondered if eternal damnation was ever in the minds of early Christians. But one tradition where Hell is severely lacking is in Gnosticism, at least as a literal place although very prominent as a state of being.
The Classic Gnostics, really like ancient Judaism and early Christianity, widely speculated on the possibilities of the afterlife. These possibilities ranged from the notion of reincarnation to the prospect of the complete annihilation of existence (one option Jesus offers in the Secret Book of John). But these contemplations are almost an afterthought in the Gnostic narrative—almost as if they were tacked on by later scribes—since the complete redemption of the soul while alive has always been the foremost interest in Gnosticism.
In their often baroque depictions on the soul’s adventure before and after life, the Gnostics certainly addressed the Hellenistic idea of Hades—as in a repository for souls in the underworld, with a potential of promotion depending on karmic factors. But ultimately Hades was basically academic, for in the Gnostic cosmology all states of reality were ruled by the Archons—the immortal vassals of the Demiurge or Creator God—and comprised a cosmic labyrinth that was erected to corral the soul attempting to reach the Pleroma (or Fullness of the true Divinity).
There were exceptions in Gnostic texts as to what agencies controlled the hellish fiefdoms, as in the Gospel of the Egyptians, where it is actually the fallen Sophia who is rules the planes of Hades! In the Secret Book of John, it is the Jewish demon Belial who lords over Hades. But the salient point is that Hades was just one of many negative waypoints in the grand maze that was Creation. It certainly wasn’t all that superior to the paradises, as shown in the Apocalypse of Paul, which has the Apostle Paul witnessing Archons torturing souls on their journey to the Pleroma.
The closest to the modern concept of Hell in Gnosticism may be found in the Pistis Sophia. The text has Jesus describe to Mary Magdalene an infernal dungeon—surrounded by a great dragon—where the sinful are punished depending on their earthly misdeeds. However, it is possible for the damned souls in this story to gain purgation or reincarnation, or again, complete annihilation.
The problem with the Pistis Sophia, as many scholars have noted, is that it is a likely third century scripture heavily influenced by Catholic and other Christian schools of thought. Even so, like purer Gnostic writings, it exposes all planes of existence as being ruled by lesser divine agencies. The Gnostic thrust for salvation remained the same, though: gaining Gnosis imparted by a hierophant of mysteries, while one was in the flesh, was the fundamental way to becoming free from the coils of the great dragon (representing the Buddhist Wheel of Suffering).
It should be noted that the Gnostics likely gained their theology of a “resurrection while in the flesh” from Plato’s works, like Crito—where Socrates declares that philosophy is the art of dying while still alive, in order to gain access to the Nous (the Mind of God).
The Gnostics certainly saw no problem in declaring that the world itself was Hell—the true font of suffering as long as an individual was attached to temporal constructs. Interestingly, the church father Origen also agreed with the Gnostics, proposing Earth was merely the highest plane of Hell; and also that Hell could be temporary even for Satan, if he simply repented.
Here some examples of how the Gnostics saw how Heaven, Hell, and Earth were but cornerstones for the same cosmic labyrinth:
For the Son of Man clothed himself with their first-fruits; he went down to Hades and performed many mighty works. He raised the dead therein; and the world-rulers of darkness became envious of him, for they did not find sin in him. But he also destroyed their works from among men... (The Testimony of Truth)
Arise and remember that it is you who hearkened, and follow your root, which is I, the merciful one, and guard yourself against the angels of poverty and the demons of chaos and all those who ensnare you, and beware of the deep sleep and the enclosure of the inside of Hades. (The Secret Book of John John)
Only a little while longer, and that which is visible will dissolve; then shapeless shades will emerge, and in the midst of tombs they will forever dwell upon the corpses in pain and corruption of soul. (The Book of Thomas Contender)
And he opened the gates of the heavens with his words. And he put to shame the ruler of Hades; he raised the dead, and he destroyed his dominion. (The Concept of Great Power).
If one does not first attain the resurrection, he will not die. As God lives, he would… (The Gospel of Philip).
And so he dwells either in this world or in the resurrection or in the middle place. God forbid that I be found in there! In this world, there is good and evil. Its good things are not good, and its evil things not evil. But there is evil after this world which is truly evil - what is called "the middle". It is death. While we are in this world, it is fitting for us to acquire the resurrection, so that when we strip off the flesh, we may be found in rest and not walk in the middle. (The Gospel of Philip).
The idea of Hell being a spiritual state, rather than a parallel dimension or underworld, would be borrowed from the Gnostics, to a point, by various mystic Christians throughout history, including Emanuel Swedenborg, Meister Eckhart, and even John Calvin. It was also John Milton who famously said in Paradise Lost: “The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.”
Certainly the position of a metaphoric Hell is more accepted in modernity, and even the aspect where Heaven and Hell are not just states of being, but states of being we should ultimately escape from, as depicted in the film Constantine or the comic book Spawn. And it certainly harkens to the Buddhist notions of being freed from any divine or demonic influences, once one has attained Enlightenment.
Gilles Quispel, the great Gnostic and Jungian scholar, perhaps summarized the Gnostic belief system better when he wrote that...
.
, 
.jpg)
and 
and 
University.
.
. As many have said, it's Game of Thrones with more spiritual and philosophical themes. You can find more information at 
.jpg)
,
and 
and 
. In the spirit of being 'fair and balanced', we invite the side of
Orthodoxy to present their case against Gnosticism. The floor is given
to a Calvinist, Presbyterian Minister who has studied the ancient
heretics for many years. He contends that Gnosticism is but a Pagan,
parasite ideology that incorporates many faiths but lacks any
foundation. And that ancient Gnosticism & New Age are really one and
the same.
, is now available in 
