CLASSIFICATION OF GNOSTIC DOCTRINES: METHODOLOGY PROBLEM
This article provides an overview of different approaches to classification and systematization of Gnostic doctrines. There were specified the main difficulties for typology of gnosis: weak institutionalization of Gnostic communities, the fragility of their existence and the lack of unified doctrine. The author identifies several types of classifications of Gnostic doctrines based on territorial (M. Posnov, A. Losev), chronological (M. Posnov, A. Losev) and philosophical criteria (V.Bolotov, V. Soloviev), and indicates their advantages and disadvantages. The author comes to the conclusion that a complete systematization of Gnosticism is possible by combining the above criteria. The author provides a classification based on the combined use of ontological, anthropological and ethical criteria. The author refers to a number of contemporary authors (H. Jonas, Edwin M. Yamauchi) to correct the wrong ideas about the historical Gnostic doctrines supported by the classical scholars of Gnosticism.