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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Pagels talks about three different interpretations of the Divine - as the _______, as the Holy Spirit, and as Wisdom.

2. It is the mixing of the _________________ with normal humanity that engenders the interpretation of the birth of Jesus.

3. Valentinus described the Mother as the Grace, the Silence, the _________ and the Mother of All.

4. Who did Professor Giles Quispel persuade to try to buy the codices in order to study them further?

5. The Gnostics, some said, interpreted the resurrection to be something like an apparition that appears in a ________ state.

Short Essay Questions

1. What has created a lot of controversy when it comes to discussions between scholars of biblical texts?

2. How did Marcus the Magician relate to the idea of a feminine God or God-figure?

3. Who were the Gnostics attacked by, as revealed in the Second Treatise of the Great Seth?

4. Why was the conversion of a Christian women mentioned in a letter that Justin sent to Emperor Antonius Pius?

5. Why didn't Mohammed and his brothers want to break open the jar that they found as they were digging?

6. What did Iranaeus think about the idea of monotheism of the Valentinians and its place in the faith?

7. What does Jesus challenge his apostles to do in order to see that he has indeed resurrected?

8. What made the idea of there only being a strict and narrow path to God so attractive to the orthodox?

9. The Gnostics did not stress the idea of obedience to authority, so what did they choose to stress in their communities?

10. What are some of the roles that a masculine God might have in the prayers of Christians, Jews, and Muslims?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Gnostics seem to lean toward a dualistic form of God, with one being lighter and another being darker.

Part 1: Do you think the dualistic views of God are important? Why or why not?

Part 2: How does having more than one view of God change a belief system?

Part 3: Do you think that it's easier or better to have one God? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The Gnostic gospels seem to state that it's not that becoming a martyr will lead to Heaven each time, but that the awareness of the teachings of Christ is the reward.

Part 1: Do you think that Heaven should be seen as the ultimate reward in the Christian life? Why or why not?

Part 2: Do you believe that the awareness of Christ is something that is more important than what happens when you die? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think Christianity might change if there was no idea of Heaven or Hell?

Essay Topic 3

In the beginning, those that found the jar with the gospels in it did not want to break the jar, lest they cause harm or they have bad luck befall them.

Part 1: Why do you think that superstition still thrives?

Part 2: Do you think you would have broken the jar more quickly than those of the story did? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think that breaking open the jar was a good idea? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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