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When I was younger I had a hard time understanding why gnosticism was designated as a heresy in the Church. After all, Christ sure seemed to display strong gnostic tendencies, and aren't we supposed to emulate Christ?

After reading all of your engagements with modern day gnostic folks, the reason has is considered a heresy been very made very clear to me.

Gnosticism appears to cause the retardation of certain areas of the human brain that render the person pretty much incapable of extended thought and reason. I haven't figured out how it works, but it's very apparent gnosticism causes some sort of mental illness or brain damage.

I can find no other reason why seemingly intelligent people have such a difficult time answering your precise and simple to understand questions. Not only do they refuse to answer you, they feel compelled to attack you. It's all very fascinating.

After reading all of your engagements with modern day gnostic folks, the reason has is considered a heresy been very made very clear to me.

Unfortunately, the Church herself has demonstrated (from outside the clergy) some evidence of Gnosticism to the exterior witnesses. The doctrine of the Trinity, for instance. Any of the great prounouncements. The selection of Scripture - and the particular version of each book of Scripture - and so on.

There is not a good explanation for it to the laity. A bunch of bishops disappear for a fortnight, and come out with the results of the latest Council. I'm not suggesting that they do other than what they do, but they do provide some examples to the heretic and the separated brethren. I understand that the separated brethren do not have the qualifications or the authorization that the Church does, but think of a 6 year old kid, watching his father go to the ATM and pull money out. That kid would give anything to be able to do the same, not realizing the whole business behind being able to pull money out of the ARM.

Right on both accounts. Jesus is, after all, portrayed as a man who knew too much (cf Mat 11:27). I think one of the most compelling Gnostic verses in the NT is Luke 8:10 "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God".

John's very spiritual Gospel appealed to Gnostics, as did Paul. Even one of the most orthodox early Church Fathers, St. Ignatius, is decidedly Gnostic in his views (at the turn of the century this has not yet become a particular problem for the Church, at least for another 80 or so years).

Christ particularly well agrees with the idea of the Gnostic Demiurge, a Platonic concept of a creator eity (also identified as a Mind or Logos, the Word by nbeoplatonsiosts), which was dear and near to early Greek Christians. He is also a visible, human-like God not unlike so many Greek gods. To the Jews, a "viisble" and especially a man"who is in a form of God" as Paul says is completely alien and blasphemous on the other hand.

It is no wonder then that among the greatest early Christian theologians (Origen, Tertullian, Valentius, and others) Gnosticism prevailed. And it is telling that Marcion, a Gnostic, had such affinity for Paul.

I haven't figured out how it works, but it's very apparent gnosticism causes some sort of mental illness or brain damage

Most absolutists theories and dogmas tend to do that. And religion, by definition, is absolutist.

I can find no other reason why seemingly intelligent people have such a difficult time answering your precise and simple to understand questions

I don't know. Why don't you ask them? :) I wonder if they would answer yours?

Not only do they refuse to answer you, they feel compelled to attack you.

Yes, that is curious.