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This discussion will explore the Gnostics, in general, and then in more detail two specific Gnostic groups called the Sethians and the Valentinians

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This discussion will explore the Gnostics, in general, and then in more detail two specific Gnostic groups called the Sethians and the Valentinians. 

The following are the readings you will need to do. Remember to look at the discussion questions for each reading below before you begin reading so that the questions can help guide your reading so you do not miss anything important for the group discussion.

· "  In the Know   " by David Scholer 

· "  The Silenced Voice   " chapter 1 from The Thirteenth Apostle, by April DeConick 

· "  Gnostic Christian Texts: Introduction   " (from chapter 6 of After the New Testament) by Bart Ehrman 

· "  Gnosticism   " by Stevan Davies (this is focused on the Secret Gospel of John)

· "  The Gospel of Truth   " an excerpt from Lost Christianities, by Bart Ehrman

The Research Panel Discussion will have two parts to it. First, there will be a Reading Review Phase, where you will answer questions, chosen at random from a pool of questions which are provided below. These questions will help the rest of the class enter the discussion and understand the situation, as well as learn new things about the topic. Second, this will followed by a Panel Discussion Phase, where you will discuss a discussion question or two with your group members. This comprises 75% of your grade on the assignments. The other 25% comes from attending other panel discussions and submitting notes.

Grading Rubric:

Your Written Submission (before the Research Panel Discussion date)

You are required to submit your detailed research notes (uploaded on Moodle as a Word Doc,) 7 days prior to the Panel Discussion date (therefore, this is due: Wednesday, October 27, by 11:59 PM, PST). This will be checked and returned before the discussion date along with any feedback, if necessary. This component is worth 5% of your grade and will be graded out of 25 marks.

· There isn't a specific word count for the Reading Review Phase, it should have responses or answers to all the questions and they should be detailed enough to show that you've done the readings. These questions will comprise the pool of possible questions you'll be asked during the reading review phase of the presentation.

· Your notes will also include your detailed responses to the Panel Discussion Phase. This is meant to be more of a personal position, but informed by the evidence included in the readings. As such, this should be 400 words minimum per question.

· Your grade will consist of:

· Reading Review Phase (10 marks)

· Accuracy to the readings (are your answers correct) (10 marks)

· Panel Discussion Phase (15 marks)

· Length is acceptable (400 words minimum per question in the Panel Discussion Phase) (5 marks)

· Use of readings in response (10 marks)

· Argument of position (is it supported, clearly expressed) (10 marks)

 

 

Your Presentation (during the Research Panel Discussion date)

This component is worth 10% of your grade and will be out of 50 marks. First, the Reading Review Phase. The questions will be asked exactly as they are below. This phase helps the audience understand the content, so think of this time as a chance to instruct the audience. (Hint: the questions should serve you as a reading guide, helping you focus on what parts of the readings are important for the assignment.) You will be allowed to have your pre-prepared research notes with you as a guide. You will be graded on:

· the clarity with which you present your answers.

· the ability to utilize the content of the reading material in your responses.

· 20 marks

Second, the Panel Discussion Phase. Next, we enter into more of a back-and-forth discussion. Disagreements are expected and encouraged. I recommend that each of you come prepared with questions to ask group members.

· the clarity with which you present your reflections/responses or ask your questions.

· the ability to utilize the content of the reading material in your responses/reflections or questions.

· the quality of the question(s) asked (does the question further the discussion?)

· 30 marks

* The idea here is to have a good discussion where each group member can showcase what they've learned from the readings, and voice their questions to one another. The higher the quality of the discussion, the more useful the discussion will be to the rest of the audience.

Third, the very end of the discussion will see some time set aside for the classmates watching to ask the panel group of students their own questions.

READING REVIEW QUESTION POOL

· In the Know 

· The main part of this article to focus on is the last section: "What is the Attraction?" which is a good thought provoker for the final part of the written (essay) component. 

· According to the author, which modern group(s) are most similar to ancient Gnostics?

· Did Gnostics call themselves "Gnostics"? What did they call themselves? 

· Who was the "father" of Gnosticism (see Acts 8)?

· What was the Gnostic attitude toward women as compared to the Apostolic church or Proto-Orthodoxy?

· Why were early Christians attracted to Gnosticism? 

· The Silenced Voice  

· The main thing from this reading is to get a sense of the variety of Christian "churches" and how they differed from one another. Focus especially on the differences between the apostolic church and the Gnostic Sethians and Valentinians.

· What is the apostolic church? Was it the same as Paul's church(es)? How was it different from the earliest church communities?

· What contributed the most to the Proto-Orthodox church's success in supplanting the other movements?

· What was the Marcionite church?

· What was the Ebionite church?

· Who were the Montanists? 

· With the Gnostics, who were the Valentinians? What was their relationship to the Apostolic Church?

· This is important for the essay: how were the Valentinians different from other Gnostic groups?

· Who were the Basilidians?

· Who were the Sethians? What was their relationship to the Apostolic Church? 

· Gnostic Christian Texts: Introduction 

· This reading gives you a good overview of Gnostic beliefs, but also how the Sethians and Valentinians are different. Focus on how they are different. 

· There are four features of Gnosticism mentioned in the third paragraph, what are they?

· Did Gnostics read the Jewish Scriptures? Did they read them similarly to how the NT authors read them?

· Who were the Sethians?

· What was their main writing? 

· Which Greek philosopher were they most influenced by?

· What is the goal of Sethian religion?

· Note how Sethian myth or theology portrays god or the gods, Jesus, salvation, purpose, and humanity.

· Who were the Valentinians?

· What was their main text?

· How did the Valentinians differ from Sethians?

· The Thomasine group is not important for this assignment. But you might enjoy learning about them.

· Gnosticism 

· This article focuses on the Apocryphon of John or as it is also known, the Secret Book of John. And so it provides more of a case study on the Sethian Gnosticism. 

· What is the answer to Salvation from what? 

· What is the answer to knowledge of what?

· What is the "classic" Gnostic myth as told in the Secret Book of John (Apocryphon of John)?

· What is the role of God? Who is the god of the Old Testament?

· What is the role of Jesus?

· The Gospel of Truth 

· How was this Gospel's depiction of Jesus different from the Proto-Orthodox one?  

PANEL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 

· Were the Gnostics actually Christians? If not, then why are they not Christians? What makes a Christian a Christian back in the first 3 centuries CE? If you argue they are Christians, then how are they Christians? What makes them Christians? 

· Why do you think Gnosticism (either in a Sethian or Valentinian form), was attractive for people in the first few centuries CE? What drew people to it? Is there anything about it that would draw you to it or other people nowadays? 

Extra Materials

Sean Martin "The Gnostics" gives a brief description of the Secret Book of John and the Gospel of Truth  Link 

Bart Ehrman's, The Other Gospels, a book that has translations and introductions to many of the Christian Apocrypha.  Link 

Elaine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels, a full book that introduces the Gnostic writings  Link 

"The Gospel of Truth" full translation  Link 

"The Secret Book of John" (Apocryphon of John) full translation  Link