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Carpocratians
A Gnostic
sect founded by Carpocrates of Alexandria. The sect claimed that Christ
derived the mysteries of his religion from the Temple of Isis
in Egypt, where he had studied for six years, and he taught them to his
apostles who transmitted them to the Carpocratians. The members used theological
incantations, and had grips, signs and words, symbols and degrees.
Its beliefs included metempsychosis, the preexistence of the soul, but it rejected the
resurrection of the body. Some of their beliefs were held in common with
the Basilideans.
The sect endured until the sixth century. A.G.H.
Source: 9.