Gnosticism's influence on Christianity can be seen in Christianity's

• A. Emphasis on the authority of the Church
• B. Emphasis on ritual purity
• C. Emphasis on social justice
• D. Emphasis on the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh

Answer: (D)

Gnosticism is known for its dualistic view that the true essence is spiritual and good, while the material world is flawed or evil. Salvation comes through inner, salvific knowledge that awakens the divine spark within. When you see Christianity emphasizing the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh, you’re seeing this Gnostic influence: a focus on inner, spiritual liberation rather than on external, material or ritual benchmarks. The other ideas—church authority, ritual purity, or social justice—reflect different lines of development in Christian history and aren’t the distinctive mark of Gnostic thought.