>>763647
Not all gnostics were like that. The error of their thinking was just seeing the "flesh"/material reality as fake or wrong (rather than "good" as God clearly did in Genesis). So some developed an ascetic outlook.. but others, viewing the flesh as meaningless, engaged in rampant hedonism.. because this life apparently didn't matter anyways. But the same underlying thinking was behind both.
Strangely, evangelical/ and many tv preachers teach a form of this latter Gnosticism themselves. Some in varying degrees. Sola Fide itself is a form of Gnosticism. Of just having one particular "special" knowledge of Jesus and being part of a club. Nothing else truly matters in the rest of their walk. They could live it up like hedonists if they really wanted to, and just ask for forgiveness. Because they have the "special connection" (gnosis/knowledge) of Jesus.
Teachers like Kenneth Copeland go even further though. He (and his cohorts) literally push a "little gods" theory that is very similar to Gnostics' "preexistence of souls" theory, It says we all have divine rights and we're ultimately spirit beings and parts of God (rather than mere creations). And from this, they teach the "Word of Faith" heresy.. the "name it and claim" crap that says you have the right to claim anything, because you are a little god on earth. If you don't have these things, you simply don't have enough faith and not part of the elite.
By this, they con the masses into thinking they got all of their riches and golden mansions because they "named it and claimed it" and are extremely blessed by God. Now the Gnostic crap especially comes in this bit: When you call them out for living rich and extravagantly, they say it doesn't matter. You can't guilt them with it. Some get busted in scams and fraud or very lurid sexual ordeals as well, but they wave that away and you'll see the Jim Bakkers and Benny Hinns back to their old tricks sooner or later, and the crowds seemingly forgiving them. Their sins don't matter, because these people are "clearly blessed" because God has rewarded them with riches and they're treated like little gods.
It's also why the evangelicals are so enamored with Donald Trump btw. Even when he says he's never asked God for forgiveness, these people treat him as a true child of god.. simply because he's rich and has been rewarded like a god on earth. How can one argue with God's annointed? (They love using the word "annointed" all the time btw.. which should ultimately refer to Christ, but they use it in blasphemous ways).
I'm rambling now. I'm not going to double check my post lol.. But I hope you made sense of some of that. They're wacky people. But my original point was that gnostics can be hedonists too.