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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. Marcus the ______ received his visions in feminine form and in his Gnostic masses represented her blood as wine.

2. What was the color of the earthenware jar that the Arabs in the area found to contain momentous records of early Christianity?

3. While the scrolls were taken to the Coptic museum for safekeeping, _______ of the codices were smuggled out of the country.

4. After the death of Judas, the only real candidate for succession was ____________ who had also walked with Christ.

5. Where did members of the Egyptian government eventually spot the papyri that Muhammed had given away?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Pagels suggest that perhaps there was a social aspect to the way the Church wanted to function?

2. What is a possible explanation for the burial of the sacred texts in the jar that Mohammed 'Ali found?

3. When Jesus tells Peter that he will lead her in order to make her male so that she too may become a living spirit, to whom is he referring?

4. What is the tradition that developed, though not completely logical and contradicted by two other gospels?

5. What are the three Gnostic interpretations of the divine that Pagels speaks of in this section of the book?

6. After the death of Judas, the only true candidate for succession was which apostle?

7. To whom did one's real allegiance belong, according to the ideas of Valentine?

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

9. What was the debate the gnostic teachers had about the idea of the Dyad in the relationship of God?

10. What was one of the most important archaeological events that took place in December of 1945?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is also some debate that the Gnostic gospels were not necessarily written by the actual apostles to whom they are ascribed, but rather that they are written in the spirit of these apostles.

Part 1: Why do you think that some felt it necessary to point out the possible difference in the authors?

Part 2: Do you think it matters who wrote the gospels which were found? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think the Gnostic viewpoint might change if it were proven that none of the gospels were written by the actual apostles? Why?

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

Looking at the Bible in a different way is not always something that people are willing to do.

Part 1: Why do you think people are resistant to seeing the Bible in a new way?

Part 2: Do you think that it's a good idea or a bad idea to look at new perspectives in the Bible? Why?

Part 3: How do you think religion might change if the gnostic gospels were considered to be true? Why?

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