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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. In the traditional orthodox canon, the spirit or the _____________ is gender neutral, but this is not the case everywhere.

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

3. __________ was far more recognized and abundant than previously thought, especially in the years following Jesus' death.

4. According to some of the Gnostic gospels, the Creator does not precede mankind at all - there is an immortal __________ that precedes him.

5. Paul says that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of __________" in one of his statements about the resurrection.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. When Paul is writing in his letters, he refers to something that is 'whether it is in the body or out of the body I do not know.' What is he referring to?

3. What did the Valentinians come to believe about the idea of God? What was He supposed to be?

4. Describe the idea of the social reality in which those who practice orthodox faith live.

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

6. What did Mohammed 'Ali do when he realized there wasn't any treasure in the jar that he had found?

7. What does Pagels speculate united the Gnostics, as diverse as they were in the world?

8. What is the idea that Marcion concluded about God since he found a brutal God in the Old Testament and a compassionate God in the New Testament?

9. What are some of the images of Christ that John and James witness in the Acts of John, discovered before Nag Hammadi?

10. How do the Gnostic texts portray the God that is present in the story of Adam and Eve in the tale of creation?

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 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?

Essay Topic 3

There are some who believe that man creates the world of God, and that the path of God lies within man's own mind.

Part 1: Do you believe that faith is externally based or internally based? Why?

Part 2: How do you think that religions might change if faith was not seen as something that happened outside of one's self?

Part 3: Do you think that faith is something you have or something that you need to earn? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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