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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Pagels points out that the discussion of Gnosticism points out _____________ of great value to all believers.

2. Ignatius placed the presence of the ____________ as the legitimizing force in administering the sacrament and in holding meetings.

3. After the death of Jesus, a ______________ soldier was the one who started the riot in the Temple, causing many deaths in the process.

4. In the Gospel of Truth, there is a passage called the ____________ parable in which it's said that man acts as if he were sunk in sleep.

5. The orthodoxy tried to maintain its power and its legitimacy by striving against any _____________ criteria.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to Pagels, most of the Western religions realize that God is beyond the idea of gender.

Part 1: Do you think this it's important to determine a gender for God? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why do you think that many people believe that God is without gender?

Part 3: How do you think religion or spirituality changes when God is given a gender identity? Why?

Essay Topic 2

The Gnostics seem to have several different versions of the story of what happened to Jesus after he hung on the cross.

Part 1: Why do you think the Gnostics are fine with having multiple and varying stories?

Part 2: Do you think it's a good idea to have as many different sorts of stories as possible or to have one story? Why?

Part 3: How do you think the Gnostic person interprets the idea of the resurrection? 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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