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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. A letter to the Bishop of Rome stated the difference between ________ and priesthood, defining the reality of the Roman church.

2. Tertullian was against the heretics that embraced the followings of Jesus, but who also denied the idea of _______________.

3. What did the brothers devour as a part of their avenging of the death of their father by a murderer?

4. John, emotionally distraught over the crucifixion, announces the Trinity as the Father, Mother and __________.

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. 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?

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

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

8. What are the three Gnostic interpretations of the divine that Pagels speaks of in this section of the book?

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

10. Why didn't Mohammed and his brothers want to break open the jar that they found as they were digging?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Christians often believe that one should suffer as Christ did on the cross in order to understand Christ's sacrifice for the world.

Part 1: Do you think that suffering is necessary in life? Why or why not?

Part 2: How do you think the world might be if there was no suffering?

Part 3: How do you think that suffering benefits a person? Or doesn't it? Do you think that seeing the suffering of others is a good motivator? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of having one person as God seems to also relate to that day's thoughts about government and those in power.

Part 1: Do you think that the government had a vested interested in whether there was one God or more? Why or why not?

Part 2: How does having one God figure help those who are in the government?

Part 3: Why do you think that monotheism seems to be a prevalent spiritual concept in today's society?

Essay Topic 3

It is said that the resurrection was a turning point in the history of the world, at least in the Christian world.

Part 1: Why do you think the resurrection was such a turning point in the history of the Christian world?

Part 2: Do you think that Christianity would have the power it does if the resurrection had not happened? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think the resurrection story is a metaphor or do you believe that Jesus actually rose from the dead? Why?

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