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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. Bishop Irenaeus wrote the book "The Destruction and Overthrow of Falsely So-Called _____________."

2. A Valentinian Exposition speaks of God as a ____________, and no one was before him, according to the text of this chapter.

3. Marcus offered the cup of wine and says into which ___________ may flow during the masses he gave.

4. The Gnostics considered themselves to be ____________, not believers and were despised by orthodox theologians.

5. In Christianity, Judaism and in Islam, God is the king, lord, master, judge, and ____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the Roman Empire seem to think of the new following of Jesus and the development of Christianity?

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

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

4. What was the vision that John had, emotionally distraught over the crucifixion in the Apocryphon of John?

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

6. What did Mohammed and his brothers do to the man who was responsible for killing their father?

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

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

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

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

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

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

The scrolls themselves became scattered around the world once people realized they were of value and began to sell them to the highest bidders.

Part 1: Why do you think that people wanted the money more than the information?

Part 2: If you were living in that time and found these scrolls, what would you have done with them? Why?

Part 3: Do you think it's a good idea to get money for priceless objects? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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