Choose a topic from Vol 2:
Gnosticism arose in the second century, being a blend of Greekphilosophy and pagan mythology with Christian doctrine. It split upinto many independent heresies such as Marcionism and Montanism,and lingered on until about the seventh century. The history ofmost of these heresies is much the same. Protected by civilauthority in many cases, each became fairly widespread, or evenvery widespread; then split up into warring sections, andeventually died out, or lingered on in a state of stagnation.