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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. Another Gnostic text, the Gospel of ____________, highlighted a relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus.

2. Jesus says that he will lead Mary, make her _______ so that she too may become a living spirit, resembling the others in the room.

3. What kind of teacher was Raghib, the man who told Muhammed that the scrolls might be worth some money?

4. The author believes that the resurrection is what sets Christianity apart from other faiths as it deals with __________, not with rebirth.

5. Valentinus speaks of a story in which the Feminine Principal, as Wisdom, tries to ____________ by itself, though this does not work.

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was the church of the Gnostics confined to, according to this section of the book?

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

3. What is the image that would infuriate the orthodox, the one that is described in Nag Hammadi's Apocalypse of Peter?

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

5. In the Testimony of Truth, what does the Gnostic author offer as components of a holy life?

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

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

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

9. What does the idea of the laughing of Jesus during his torture and flogging seem to imply to those who read it?

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

Pagels also points out that at times, beliefs that weren't logical became preeminent.

Part 1: Do you think it's dangerous for illogical beliefs to be powerful? Why or why not?

Part 2: Does it matter whether a belief is logical? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think society would change of all accepted beliefs were logical? Why?

Essay Topic 2

At some point, someone writes that Jesus was actually laughing when he was put to death on the the cross.

Part 1: How do you feel about the image of Jesus laughing as he is put to death?

Part 2: Why do you think the accounts of the crucifixion vary so widely?

Part 3: Do you think the crucifixion actually occurred? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The brothers decided to go after the killer of their father, hacking him to bits and eating his heart.

Part 1: Why do you think the brothers thought this sort of killing was necessary?

Part 2: Do you think it's ever a good idea to kill another person? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think the brothers' life will change as a result of their murderous actions?

(see the answer keys)

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