From the Catholic Dictionary:
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=33756
GNOSTICISM
Definition
The theory of salvation by knowledge. Already in the first century of the Christian era there were Gnostics who claimed to know the mysteries of the universe. They were disciples of the various pantheistic sects that existed before Christ. The Gnostics borrowed what suited their purpose from the Gospels, wrote new gospels of their own, and in general proposed a dualistic system of belief. Matter was said to be hostile to spirit, and the universe was held to be a depravation of the Deity. Although extinct as an organized religion, Gnosticism is the invariable element in every major Christian heresy, by its denial of an objective revelation that was completed in the apostolic age and its disclaimer that Christ established in the Church a teaching authority to interpret decisively the meaning of the revealed word of God.
GNOSTICISM
Definition
The theory of salvation by knowledge.
Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Seeking direct knowledge of God is discouraged by way of the scary, pagan-esque word gnosticism, that way the folks defer to the self-appointed keepers of knowledge who are threatened by independent-minded students. The Establishment scam is up across the board, regardless of the particular man-made Establishment. "D.C." has been connected to "David's Capital" for a reason.
The Bible describes a simple, kind, industrious Messiah who has a broad every-man knowledge-base of practical skills, a righteous work ethic, and a vast capacity to love. He's the blueprint of salvation.
Like he cares about all the bling and blather that has been generated "in Jesus' name" for Jesus. Materialists giving gifts to a materialistic Jesus, not the real one who just wants to love and heal people. Worship of superficial nonsense has got to be right up there on the list of the social diseases that he needs to cure. There's the salvation by knowledge. It's not a theory.