Gnosticism Trivia Quiz

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.

Answer: Knowledge

The term Gnostic comes from the Greek word for knowledge, "gnosis".

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.

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.

Answer: True

Gnostics believed in the dualism of matter (evil) and spirit (good).

Answer: False

Most Christian Gnostics were separationists, which means they perceived Jesus as human but Christ as fully divine.

Answer: Aeons

The "aeons" as a whole made up the divine realm, or "Pleroma".

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.

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.

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.