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

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

3. "I believe in One God, Father Almighty, _________ of Heaven and Earth" is the Christian creed.

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

5. The resurrection, Pagels speculates, helps to _____________ the authority of those who believed literally in the resurrection.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. In the trinity of Christianity, only one of the three principals is genderless, which one?

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

7. Why did the orthodox preserve Christianity, according to the logic of Pagels?

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

9. What did Professional Giles Quispel find so startling about the Coptic Museum's codices when he read them?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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