denoista

Denoista is a term that can refer to a follower or adherent of Denaism, a minor Gnostic sect that emerged in the early centuries CE. The origins and precise beliefs of Denaism are not well-documented, with most information coming from the writings of its opponents, particularly early Christian theologians.

According to these sources, Denaists believed in a complex cosmology involving multiple divine emanations. A central figure in their belief system was often identified as Dena, a supreme deity whose nature and role varied in the different accounts. The sect is often described as dualistic, positing a struggle between a spiritual, good principle and a material, evil one.

The practices of Denaists are even less clear, though some polemical texts suggest they engaged in rituals that were considered unorthodox by contemporary religious authorities. The sect appears to have had a limited geographical reach and did not survive long as a distinct group, likely being absorbed into or suppressed by more dominant religious movements of the time. The term "denoista" itself is derived from the name of their perceived founder or central deity.