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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. What were Muhammed 'Ali and his brothers digging for?

2. What did Muhammed believe might be in the jar that he and his brothers found?

3. In Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, North American Indian, and other faiths, the ____________ is a conspicuous component of the faith, sometimes to the exclusion of the masculine.

4. What happened to some of the papyri when it was taken home by Muhammed, though he did not understand their value?

5. The Gnostic texts call God _________ for punishing Adam and Eve for obtaining spiritual wisdom from a serpent.

Short Essay Questions

1. When one looks at the gnostic groups, what is the one thing which remains certain, according to the author?

2. What did Tertullian find so horrible about those who claimed the secret gnosis?

3. What are the two occasions described in the Bible in which the reappearance of Jesus might be called into question?

4. What does Pagels want to express in terms of relationship to the Gnostic gospels?

5. What was the primary goal of the Valentianians in the way they lived and followed their beliefs?

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

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

8. What kind of suffering was focused on in the Gnostic path and the belief system?

9. What kind of criteria would the Gnostics give as being the true definition of a Christian?

10. What are some of the explanations that the Gnostics offered for the resurrection stories of Jesus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

In many modern Christian religions, it seems that the feminine aspect is not as widely addressed or celebrated as the male aspect.

Part 1: Why do you think that the male gender is one which is celebrated more than the female?

Part 2: Do you think that having a hierarchy of genders within religions is helpful or hurtful?

Part 3: How do you think that that society's view of religions would change if there was no focus on gender?

Essay Topic 3

In the end, it seems unclear as to what a true Christian might look like or believe.

Part 1: Do you think there should be only one definition of what a Christian is? Why or why not?

Part 2: How do you think that religion would change if there was only one definition of a Christian?

Part 3: Why do you think it's important for some to have a definition of what a Christian is?

(see the answer keys)

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