Difference between Gnostic Christianity and Christian Mysticism

The primary differences between a classical Gnostic and a classical Christian spirituality are:

(1) Gnostics believe we each contain a "Divine Spark" while Christians believe we do not.

(2) This "Divine Spark" is to be liberated from the gross physical body, while Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is to be infused in our physical body, which is resurrected on Judgement Day.

(3) Gnostics hold themselves as supreme authorities while Christians hold the Body of Christ (i.e. the Church) as the supreme authority...source: Difference between Gnostic Christianity and Christian Mysticism

You said, "I mean much of the works attributed to the Demiurge and archons serve essentially the same purpose as the Devil and demons. In fact the two seem to be the same in the early writings." I disagree and would say any resemblance is purely superficial.

The Gnostics identified the Demiurge with YHWH, not Satan. For them there was a fundamental dualism between YHWH of the Old Testament and the Father of the New Testament. They distanced themselves from Judaism and the Old Testament in a way Christian mystics never did. At it most extreme this even led them to rewrite Genesis with the snake (the Father) as the hero instead of YHWH (the Demiurge). If that's not a fundamental conflict I don't know what is. Ultimately it led them to an emanationist understanding of creation, with multiple godforms involved, rather than creation by one and only one Creator. Christians, mystics and otherwise, have always rejected such Gnostic teaching which denies YHWH and the Father are one....source: Gnosticism versus Christian Mysticism (scroll down!)

The discovery of new gospels bring to light information on some early Christians who believed faith was more than believing doctrines and beliefs but a vital and honest spiritual relationship with Christ....source: Gnostic Christians

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