Problem "gnostycyzmu" a wczesnochrześcijańska konstrukcja kategorii herezji

Abstract

Marek Woszczek – THE PROBLEM OF GNOSTICISM AND THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CATEGORY OF HERESY The article presents some significant problems concerning a definition of „Gnosticism” and suggests – in line with some proposals of K. King and M. Williams – that this term should be avoided or abandoned in spite of its wide usage in the field of early Christianity studies. Some arguments are sketched from a perspective of the sociology of knowledge which show clearly that „Gnosticism” and „Gnostics” are mainly dissimilational, rhetorical-apologetical constructs of early Christian writ-ers and cannot be used consistently by modern historians without some acute transsmission of theo-logical premises and strategies into reading of historical material, and without engaging historians in the theological project of constructing the frames of „normative Christianity” (i. e. manoeuvring them into religious identity/difference politics).