The possibility of liberation

Escaping the world as a realm of illusion or entrapment

Gnostic cosmology is a complex, mystical worldview that seeks to explain the nature of reality, the origins of the material world, and humanity's journey toward spiritual liberation. In contrast to traditional religious cosmologies, Gnostic thought often presents the material world as a realm of illusion or entrapment, created by a lesser divine being. Here’s a deeper look at the key concepts and entities within Gnostic cosmology:

The Monad: The Source of All

• At the heart of Gnostic cosmology is the Monad, the ineffable, infinite, and unknowable Source. This ultimate divine reality is often referred to as The One, The All, or The True God. The Monad exists beyond duality, thought, and form—it is pure, transcendent, and without characteristics that human minds can fully comprehend.

• From the Monad emanates all things, but it is distinct from them, existing as the timeless, unchanging origin of all existence. In Gnostic tradition, the Monad represents unity and fullness, a state of complete…