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Quiz about Gnosticism
Quiz about Gnosticism

Gnosticism Trivia Quiz


With the popularity of "The Da Vinci Code" and recent publication of English translations of "The Gospel of Thomas," Gnosticism is increasingly re-entering the public arena. Who were the Gnostics, and what did they believe?

A multiple-choice quiz by skylarb. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
skylarb
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
192,779
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
2126
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 85 (8/10), PurpleComet (7/10), Guest 50 (5/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Although labeled as heretics by Orthodox Christians, all Gnostics considered themselves to be true Christians.


Question 2 of 10
2. Gnostics maintained that salvation comes through what? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In the Gnostic view, creation is what? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Until the discovery of original Gnostic writings in Nag Hammadi, our only source of information on the Gnostics were attacks written by the church fathers. When were these Gnostic writings re-discovered? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Most Gnostic systems were dualistic.


Question 6 of 10
6. Most Gnostics believed that Christ was fully human.


Question 7 of 10
7. In Gnostic mythology, the true God propagated other gods. What were these deities called? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Gnostics believed that all would be saved and enjoy the afterlife.


Question 9 of 10
9. Most Gnostics were incredibly licentious and engaged in lewd sexual practices and orgies.


Question 10 of 10
10. The Gnostic gospels pre-date the four gospels in the Bible canon by at least fifty years.



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Although labeled as heretics by Orthodox Christians, all Gnostics considered themselves to be true Christians.

Answer: False

While some Gnostics considered themselves to be Christians, others did not. Some Gnostic groups grew independently out of Judaism, some from paganism. The term "Gnosticism" is used to lump together a variety of different groups that shared certain features, such as a belief in secret knowledge and the evil of the material world.

In the Christian Gnostic systems, Christ was the divine being that came to impart the secret knowledge of where the divine spark within human beings comes from and how to liberate it.
2. Gnostics maintained that salvation comes through what?

Answer: Knowledge

The term Gnostic comes from the Greek word for knowledge, "gnosis".
3. In the Gnostic view, creation is what?

Answer: Evil

In contrast to the Orthodox Jewish and Christian views of creation as good (see Genesis 1), the Gnostics believed creation--and physical matter--to be inherently evil. The material world, therefore, was portrayed as a prison for the divine sparks, and the goal of Gnosticism is to see those sparks liberated.

Indeed, the creator-God of Genesis is portrayed in certain Gnostic systems as an imperfect, fallen deity who created the world as an act of evil, not good.
4. Until the discovery of original Gnostic writings in Nag Hammadi, our only source of information on the Gnostics were attacks written by the church fathers. When were these Gnostic writings re-discovered?

Answer: 1945

The discovery was made by six camel drivers digging for fertilizer. The thirteen volumes were dated to the fourth century and contained gospels attributed to Thomas and Philip, mystical reflections, and more.
5. Most Gnostic systems were dualistic.

Answer: True

Gnostics believed in the dualism of matter (evil) and spirit (good).
6. Most Gnostics believed that Christ was fully human.

Answer: False

Most Christian Gnostics were separationists, which means they perceived Jesus as human but Christ as fully divine.
7. In Gnostic mythology, the true God propagated other gods. What were these deities called?

Answer: Aeons

The "aeons" as a whole made up the divine realm, or "Pleroma".
8. Gnostics believed that all would be saved and enjoy the afterlife.

Answer: False

The Gnostics believed that only they had the "divine spark" and would enjoy the best afterlife. Some people were mere animals and would not enjoy any afterlife, while others could still enjoy a lesser afterlife by the practice of faith and good works.
9. Most Gnostics were incredibly licentious and engaged in lewd sexual practices and orgies.

Answer: False

In fact, many Gnostics, it turns out, were quite the opposite--ascetics and celibates. There were some, however, who took the flesh/spirit dualism as an excuse for licentious behavior.
10. The Gnostic gospels pre-date the four gospels in the Bible canon by at least fifty years.

Answer: False

The four Gospels that made it into the Christian canon were written earlier than the Gnostic Gospels. The canon was not officially determined until the fourth century AD, so both the soon-to-be-canonical writings and other writings were circulating among various groups claiming to be Christians.

The choices made at the Synod of Hippo became orthodox Christian belief, and Gnosticism was largely supplanted, though it has had wide spread influence in Judaism, Christianity, and neo-paganism, and it may be on the rise again today.
Source: Author skylarb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ArleneRimmer before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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