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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. Why does the author claim Jesus' followers developed stories about what happened to Jesus' body?

2. Complete the following sentence: "for the faith that was there before, despite, or even because of..."

3. What disease of contemporary society does the author talk about in this section?

4. What does the author define disease as?

5. Which authority figure does the author describe as charming?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the author think Jesus' followers developed stories about what happened to Jesus' body?

2. What does the author say about Paul's revelation of Jesus' power and truth?

3. What does the quote at the beginning of part six comment on?

4. In what way could Christians have a problem with the author factualizing the crucifixion?

5. Why does the author think crucifixion was the ultimate form of punishment?

6. What does the author think Jesus was an individualist?

7. What influence does the author suggest that the Cynics had on Jesus' teachings?

8. Why does the author quote extensively from the gospel of St. Luke?

9. Why did Jesus' followers reinterpret history to suit their own purposes?

10. What was Jesus' opinion of Bethany?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the author think the gospels used the Old Testament and its prophecies for the New Testament? What are the arguments for and against the gospels mining the Old Testament for information?

Essay Topic 2

How does the author think the gospels used myth New Testament? What are the arguments for and against the gospels use of myth?

Essay Topic 3

What are your views on Christianity after reading the book? What are the argument for and against for and against the book being anti-Christian? What are are your views on the author's argument in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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