Final Study Guide
How would a Hindu describe the relationship between humans and God?
"I am God."
What does the name Laozi mean in English?
"Old Man"
Nirvana seems to come from a word that means
"blow out."
The word 'Shia' in Arabic means
"faction"
What does 'Kami' mean in English?
"that which is above"
The word 'Sunna' in Arabic means
"tradition"
When did the split between Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholicism officially occur?
1054 C.E.
What is the current year according to the Islamic calendar?
1441 A.H.
When did the Protestant Reformation begin?
1521 C.E.
In what year did Siyyid Ali Muhammad (the Bab) claim to be a messenger of God while prophesying that another messenger would come after him?
1844 C.E.
The Baha'i calendar has how many days in each month
19
Modern Israel became an independent Jewish state in what year?
1948
How much do Muslims give in Zakat?
2.5% of their total wealth & assets
How many of the 300,000 hadiths are universally accepted as legitimate and sound?
27,000
How many deities are in the Hindu pantheon?
330 million
Approximately how many people practice Buddhism today?
535 million
Estimately how many people practice Jainism today?
6 million
When was the peak of the Axial Age?
600-400 B.C.E.
When did Muhammad live?
610 C.E.
How many laws are given to Jews in the Torah?
613
In what year did the Islamic calendar begin?
622 C.E.
What year did the destruction of the Second Temple take place?
70 C.E.
Approximately how many people practice Hinduism today?
900 million
At the Kabah, what object is venerated?
A meteorite
What happened in 1274 C.E. and 1281 C.E.?
A typhoon storm destroyed the invading Mongol fleets.
The ethnic founder of Judaism is _______________.
Abraham
Who was the first Caliph according to Sunni Islam?
Abu Bakr
Who serves as the "good deity" in Zoroastrianism?
Ahura Mazda
Who was the first Imam according to Shi'ite Islam?
Ali
What do Zoroastrians believe will happen in the "end times"?
All humanity will be redeemed and live eternally with God.
Which is the highest Kami in the Shinto religion?
Amaterasu
Unitarian Universalism is the combination of which two institutions: [Check all that apply]
American Unitarian Association and Universalist Church of America
What is the Wiccan Rede?
An it harm none, do what you will.
Who serves as the "evil deity" in Zoroastrianism?
Angra Mainyu
How do animistic religions view animals in comparison with humans?
Animals are to be treated as equals to human beings.
Indigenous religions generally held which theistic position?
Animism
Which theistic view does Shinto adopt?
Animism
The term A.D. means
Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord).
The term A.D. means
Anno Domini (in the year of the Lord).
From where did Islam originate?
Arabia
In what language did Jesus most likely teach his disciples?
Aramaic
What does the title 'The Buddha' mean?
Awakened One
The Southern Kingdom of Judah was destroyed in 586 b.c.e. by ____________.
Babylonia
The founder of Baha'i was
Baha'u'llah
What title did Mirza Husayn Ali Nuri go by during his lifetime?
Baha'u'llah
Which of the following is true about the Baha'i?
Baha'u'llah continues the revelations of earlier prophets
Which Hindu teachings/practices did Buddhism retain?
Belief in the cycle of rebirths resulting from deeds in previous lives
What is the orthodox Christian view of Jesus' nature?
Both fully human and fully divine
The Absolute or Divine Reality is known as ___________.
Brahman
Which of the following are considered to be messengers of God according to the Baha'i religion? [Check all that apply.]
Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, Zoroaster, Baha'u'llah
Which of the following religions have their origins during the Axial Age?
Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Jainism
The complex system of hierarchies and inequalities that constitutes life in India is referred to by the English word __________.
Castes
From where did Daoism originate?
China
Zoroastrianism introduced beliefs that are similar to ________
Christianity, Islam, and Judaism
What does the abbreviation C.E. stand for?
Common Era
Which religion most closely identifies with pantheism?
Daoism
Which of the following is one of the basic tenets of Orthodox Christianity?
Decisions are made by a church council
The dispersion of Jews from their homeland of Israel is referred to as the
Diaspora
What is the central religious problem that Baha'i strives to correct?
Discrimination and prejudice
Which of the following commandments was considered to be unforgivable according to the Jews?
Do not take the Lord's name in vain.
Which branch of Christianity removed their statues in 787 A.D.?
Eastern Orthodox
Who believes that religion binds people together in community?
Emile Durkheim
Which of the three Marks of Reality encapsulates the Buddhist doctrine of anatman?
Emptiness
Indigenous religions make clear distinctions between the sacred realm and the secular or non-religious realm.
False
In what language was the majority of the New Testament scriptures originally written?
Greek
What do the first six months refer to in our calendar system?
Greek and Roman gods
What is the name for a Hindu spiritual teacher?
Guru
Which of the following did Alexander the Great do during his reign as emperor? [Check all that apply.]
He taught everybody the same language, He taught everybody the same culture, He made everyone worship his gods
Which religious movement led to 39 people committing suicide in 1997 in order to join the "mother ship" with Jesus?
Heaven's Gate
Arabic is very similar to what other language?
Hebrew
In what language was the majority of the Old Testament scriptures originally written?
Hebrew
Sikhism can be seen as a combination of
Hinduism and Islam
Which two religions celebrate New Years in the fall? [Check all that apply.]
Hinduism, Judaism
Which two religions existed before the Axial Age and were changed by it?
Hinduism, Judaism
What topic did Jesus talk the most about in the four gospels?
How to handle your money
Which of the following is true about Islam?
Iconography is forbidden.
From where did Buddhism originate?
India
From where did Jainism originate?
India
From where did Sikhism originate?
India
What was the ethnicity of the founder of Buddhism?
Indian
The Shinto religion emerged out of
Indigenous religions
Which of the following is not one of the three evils found in Buddhism?
Injustice
Which of the three Marks of Reality embodies the Buddhist doctrine of dukkha?
Insatiability
From where did Zoroastrianism originate?
Iran
What modern day country did Zoroastrianism originate from?
Iran
Baha'i emerged out of
Islam
How do Buddhists view karma differently than Hindus?
It applies to one's thoughts and intentions.
Which of the following is one of the basic tenets of Roman Catholicism?
It emphasizes the authority of the Pope
What was the significance of this new commandment?
It established Jesus as an iconic figure for all to emulate.
What was the significance of this new commandment?
It established Jesus as an iconic figure for all to emulate. ????
Which of the following is a basic tenet of Protestant Christianity?
It rejects tradition in varying degrees, It rejects papal authority, It claims to recapture the essence of the early church by focusing on the scriptures
Which of the following statements is true about the Jain religion?
Jains regard exaggeration as a form of lying, Jains believe that rocks are capable of suffering.
Which book of the New Testament did the Ebionites use to justify their theology?
James
___________ is the name of their morning prayer.
Jap Ji
From where did Shinto originate?
Japan
What are the three most important cities in Islam? [Check all that apply.]
Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina
Who believes that religious experience is proof that religion is true?
Joachim Wach
Which of the following gospels is not a synoptic gospel?
John
How would Jesus's name be translated into English if taken directly from the Hebrew language?
Joshua
Which of the following religions is not one of the top five largest religions in the world today?
Judaism
The model of a noble person in ancient Chinese civilization was known as a
Junzi
Who believes that religion is just used for manipulation and oppression?
Karl Marx
What are the primary scriptures in Baha'i called?
Kitab-i-aqdas
Which of the following was the given name for the individual known commonly as Confucius?
Kong Fu-zi
Scientology was founded by ______________.
L. Ron Hubbard
What religion did the Qin Dynasty practice during their reign?
Legalism
What new commandment did Jesus give his disciples at the very end of his ministry?
Love one another as I have loved you.
What was the new commandment that Jesus gave his disciples at the very end of his ministry?
Love one another as I have loved you.
Which commandment did Jesus say was the greatest?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart.
Who believes that religion projects human qualities onto nature?
Ludwig Feuerbach
What is the most common title for the founder of Jainism?
Mahavira
Currently, the largest sect of Buddhism is __________.
Mahayana
When did most cultures celebrate New Years day?
March 21st
How does the Jain understanding of karma differ from Hindus and Buddhists?
Material residue accumulates on our soul as we act and think.
Where was Muhammad born?
Mecca
How did the Ebionite Christians view the nature of Jesus?
Merely human
The region of Baha'i first developed in
Modern day Iran.
From where did Baha'i originate?
Modern-day country of Iran
From where did Christianity originate?
Modern-day country of Israel
The Baha'i faith is
Monotheistic
The religious founder of Judaism is _______________.
Moses
Who is traditionally thought to have written the Torah?
Moses
Who was the 12th Imam according to Shi'ite Islam?
Muhammad al Mahdi
What event occurred that marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar?
Muslims fled out of Mecca to find refuge in Medina
The founder of Sikhism was
Nanak Dev
What do the days of the week refer to in our calendar system?
Norse gods
How is the path of Jnana Yoga practiced in Hinduism?
One must realize one's identity as Brahman.
Which of the five Great Relationships does Confucius believe is the model for all other relationships?
Parent/Child
In India, Zoroastrians are called
Parsis
Jesus died at the time of what religious festival?
Passover
Who considered himself to be the 'Greek missionary' in early Christianity?
Paul
Eckankar was founded by ___________.
Paul Twitchell
How did Baha'u'llah die?
Peacefully in his bed while under house arrest
Who considered himself to be the 'Hebrew missionary' in early Christianity?
Peter
Which branch of ancient Judaism later became Rabbinical Judaism?
Pharisees
Which branch of Christianity endorses the authority of sola scriptura - scriptures alone?
Protestant
How is this religious goal attained for the Shinto? (i.e., What is the religious solution?)
Purification rituals
Which contemporary branch of Judaism attempts to modernize Judaism by adding choirs, shortening the Sabbath service and translating it into the vernacular?
Reform
Which commandment from the Jewish scriptures was Jesus frequently accused of breaking?
Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
Which branch of Christianity endorses the authority of the Pope?
Roman Catholic
In Jesus' time, what power controlled Israel?
Rome
Who described encounters with transcendent reality as fear and fascination?
Rudolf Otto
Which of the following is not a contemporary branch of Judaism today?
Sadducees
When the Assyrians destroyed the northern tribes of Israel and mated with their women, who were their offspring known as?
Samaritans
How would a Hindu refer to their religion if they gave it a name?
Sanatana Dharma
In what language are the Hindu scriptures and ceremonies written/spoken?
Sanskrit
Muhammad is referred to as the "_____________________"
Seal of the Prophets, Trust worthy One
What were the militant Jews called during the Roman occupation?
Sicarii-ote
Who was the founder of Buddhism?
Siddhartha Gautama
Which of the following is NOT true about Sikhism?
Sikh rituals must be performed precisely.
What is the fifth largest religion in the world today?
Sikhism
The Buddha's first sermon
Taught Four Noble Truths.
Who defeated the Assyrian empire?
The Babylonians
The most beloved scripture in the Hindu religion is called
The Bhagavad Gita
Which is true about Zoroastrianism?
The God allows Zoroastrians to think for themselves and choose what is right and wrong
Which dynasty began teaching Confucianism as part of its government policy?
The Han Dynasty
Where does the word 'Hindu' come from?
The Indus Valley region
What does Bhakti Yoga mean in English?
The Way of Devotion
The word Theravada literally translates into English as
The Way of the Elders.
The word 'Shinto' means _________ in English.
The Way of the Gods
What is samsara—transmigration of the soul?
The belief that the soul is incarnated an infinite number of times into many other life forms
'Al Jahiliyyah' refers to _____________.
The days of ignorance
When did Sikhism begin as a religion?
The fifteenth century C.E.
What does the Canaan Land refer to in Judaism?
The land promised to Abraham by God
What do the nine points of the Baha'i symbol represent?
The nine major prophets that have brought a new message from God
What time period do most scholars place the life of Abraham?
The nineteenth century B.C.E.
When did Baha'i begin as religion?
The nineteenth century C.E.
How does Rabbinical Judaism differ from Biblical Judaism?
There are no priests to perform the sacrificial worship.
What is the relationship between science and religion according to the Baha'i?
There is no distinction between them
How do Baha'is view women?
They are to be given the same opportunities and respect as men
Which of the following is not true of Shinto?
They derive their spiritual truths from scriptures and revelation.
How do Zoroastrians traditionally dispose of corpses?
They light the body afire on a funeral pyre
In 1054, what happened between the Eastern (Greek-speaking) Church and the Western (Latin-speaking) Church?
They split apart.
Which of the following is true about Sufism? [Check all that apply.]
They value deliberate simplicity, They reject going through the motions without involving one's heart, They are known as "the heart of Islam."
What happened to the previous gurus before Gobind Rai?
They were tortured and killed by the ruling Muslims of their time.
Eckom Kar Sat Naam means "there is but one God, and his name is __________."
Truth
Who wrote the Qur'an?
Uthman
Which branch of Buddhism is the most liberal in its theology?
Vajrayana
Which Hindu god is associated with balance and order?
Vishnu
To what Hindu caste did this founder belong?
Warrior-noble
What social caste was the Buddha born into?
Warrior-noble
Which caste in Hinduism is most likely to adopt the path of Karma Yoga?
Warrior-noble
Confucius was born into a family with prominent ancestors who lost their political struggles during the _____________ dynasty.
Zhou
Which dynasty of China focused their religion around the concept of Tian?
Zhou
What religion was prominent through the Persian empire?
Zoroastrianism
Which one of the following was not one of the "four passing sights?"
a blind person
What changed during and after the Axial Age?
a cultural shift toward individualism
Which of the following is NOT part of the Sikh clothing requirement?
a face-veil
The Khalsa was created to be
a protective military organization.
Which of the "four passing sights" affected Buddha the most?
a sannyasin
What do Unitarian Universalists usually combine their celebration of Christmas eve with?
a winter solstice rite
The ideal of causing no harm to anything that can suffer is______.
ahimsa
How do the teachings of Baha'u'llah describe the place of the great world religions?
all are manifestations of one God
Religious Pluralism is the view that
all religions are equally valid or true.
Applying the notion of yin and yang, Daoism shows a special love for
allowing things to develop naturally.
Claude "Rael" Vorilhon believes that Elohim refers to __________.
an advanced race of extraterrestrials
The Sadducees were
an aristocratic, priestly party centered in Jerusalem.
What does 'Caliph' refer to?
an elected political leader of Islam
What is the typical greeting in Arabic?
as-Salaam Alaikum
The Hindu term for the divine nature of each person is
atman
Most ancient and indigenous religions believe that innocent blood must be spilt for ____________.
atonement
Superstition was defined in class as
attributing a causal relations to things that are not causally related.
Why were two million Sikhs forced to emigrate in 1947?
because India and Pakistan were partitioned
Why does Sikhism refuse to acknowledge the caste system?
because all people are to be treated equally
Why was Guru Gobind Singh the last Guru?
because he transferred his authority to the Adi Granth
Why do Jains practice strict vegetarianism?
because killing higher life forms brings heavier karmic burdens
Why did Shi'ites break away from the Sunni majority?
because of opposition to the elected successors to Muhammad
Why did the twelve tribes of Israel leave Canaan and settle in the land of Egypt, according to the Tanakh?
because there was a famine in the land
Why were certain books referred to as synoptic gospels?
because they present similar stories about Jesus
Which of the following is NOT typical of Islam?
belief in a Trinity
Which of the following is not one of the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism?
belief in the eternal damnation of hell
An Atheist is a person who
believes that God does not exist.
The Confucian virtue ren basically means
benevolence
How does the Baha'i religion attempt to resolve the contradictions between various religions?
by claiming that other religions have been corrupted over time
What was Muhammad's occupation before becoming the prophet of Islam?
caravan driver
What prompted the tradition of April Fools Day?
changing New Years day to January 1st
"Orthodoxy" literally means
correct belief.
"Orthopraxy" literally means
correct practice.
What are Wiccan congregations referred to as?
covens
What is the religious problem according to Buddhism?
dissatisfaction and sorrow
The Jain worldview holds that a Creator
does not exist.
What time period marks the peak of the Axial Age?
fifth and sixth century B.C.E.
When did the founder live?
fifth and sixth century B.C.E.
What is the meaning of the word "Baha'i?"
follower of Baha'u'llah
What is the religious solution in Buddhism?
following the eight-fold path
What kind of transformation does Frederick Streng believe occurs when people become more religious?
from self-centeredness to others-centeredness
Daoists believe that humans are naturally __________.
good
What literature preserves stories of the words and deeds of Muhammad?
hadith
Non-theism is the belief that
has no regard for God's existence.
What happened to the twelfth Imam, according to "twelver" Shi'a?
he passed into the spiritual realm and went into hiding
What was the theistic position of the Shang dynasty?
henotheistic
way-power-classic.
human manipulation
The term maya may be translated as ______________.
illusion
Polytheism is the belief
in many gods.
Most indigenous religions believe that everything in nature has ____________.
intrinsic value
The law of moral cause-and-effect is called the law of _________.
karma
The Greek word gnosis means _________ in English.
knowledge
At the end of his life, Laozi is said to have
left China riding on an ox.
To lessen suffering, the Buddha recommended
lessening desire.
What is the religious solution in Daoism?
letting nature take its course
Buddhism focuses especially on
maintaining inner peace.
What solution does Baha'i recommend to solve their religious problem?
making education available for all people
When did the Baha'i religion begin?
mid-nineteenth century
The goal of ultimate liberation from egotism and from rebirth is called __________.
moksha
Which of the following theological positions describes the Baha'i religion? [Check all that apply.]
monotheistic, universalistic
The Guru Granth Sahib is the
most important Sikh scripture.
Holism is the view that
nature consists of interconnected parts.
The notion of wu wei is
no unnecessary action.
What does the Yule holiday refer to in Wicca?
one of the eight Sabbats
The god Krishna is described in Hinduism as
one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu.
In Hinduism, dharma refers to
one's social duty.
Wiccans prefer to be thought of as _________.
pagans
Ancient religions generally held which theistic position?
polytheism
What is not a characteristic of ren, according to The Analects?
public recognition
What do the elements of fire and water symbolize in Zoroastrianism?
purification
The Silver Rule, What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others, is embodied in which Confucian virtue?
reciprocity
Qur'an is an Arabic word that means ____________.
recitations
Nanak, like the Hindus, believed in
reincarnation and karma.
One of the primary purposes of Scientology's training routines is to _________.
release the person from emotionally crippling past experiences
What is the religious problem in Sikhism?
religious persecution
What is the meaning of the word "Sikh?"
seeker of truth
What is the religious goal of Confucianism?
social harmony with others
The Passover occurs at what time of year?
spring
In what year did the Islamic calendar begin?
strict monotheism
The dharma of a brahmin priest is to_________.
study
Islam literally means ___________.
submission
The Islamic Sabbath is kept from
sunset Thursday to sunset Friday.
Pantheism is the belief
that all reality is divine.
What did the Buddha realize as he lay near death while fasting under the Bodhi tree?
that extreme asceticism could not lead to enlightenment
When did Zarathustra live?
the 18th century B.C.E.
What are the primary Confucian scriptures called?
the Analects
What holiday do the Baha'is celebrate on October 20th?
the Bab's birthday
What was the name of the first battle Muhammad fought and won against the Arab polytheists?
the Battle of Badr
Buddhism nearly died out in India because
the Buddha was eventually regarded as one of the incarnations of Vishnu.
Which perspective asserts that the spiritual realm exists?
the Faith perspective
Which perspective is only concerned with the usefulness of religious teachings and practices?
the Functionalist perspective
Which perspective is unconcerned whether the teachings are true or false?
the Functionalist perspective
What does the Bab mean in Arabic?
the Gate
Who defeated the Persian empire?
the Greeks
What is the pilgrimage to Mecca called in Islam?
the Hajj
What is Naam?
the Holy Name of God
In 1993, Scientology ended a 26-year battle with ___________ to be recognized as a legitimate religious organization.
the IRS
The destruction of the Second Temple changed the nature of the Hebrew religion in that afterward
the Jews began to focus on the teachings of the rabbis.
Jainism is named after
the Jina—the conqueror.
The cube-like structure in Mecca is called
the Ka'bah
Which perspective sees religion as the product of the imagination?
the Materialist perspective
The Romans were successful because they maintained control over _________.
the Mediterranean Sea ????
Who defeated the Babylonian empire?
the Persians
The religion of Sikhism first developed in
the Punjab region of India and Pakistan.
The word 'China' originally comes from
the Qin Dynasty.
Which of the following religions is considered to be a "UFO cult"?
the Raelian Movement
Who defeated the Greek empire?
the Romans
What are commentaries on the Jewish scriptures called?
the Talmud
The sacred symbol for Shinto is
the Torii gate
What was happening in China during the Axial Age?
the Warring States period
How was what later became the Qur'an first revealed to Muhammad?
the angel Gabriel insisted he recite it
The Buddha opposed
the caste system.
What is the Shahada?
the declaration of faith
Rabbinical Judaism refers to the period of time between
the destruction of the second temple to the present.
What century does the year 1776 A.D. belong to?
the eighteenth century
What does Ramadan refer to?
the fast during the ninth month
What is the Islamic calendar based on?
the first assassination attempt on Muhammad
The Torah refers to
the first five books of the Tanakh.
Approximately when did Moses live?
the fourteenth century B.C.E.
What century does the year 386 B.C.E. refer to?
the fourth century B.C.E.
What does word 'gospel' mean?
the good news
Biblical Judaism refers to the period of time between
the life of Abraham and the destruction of the second temple
What did the words 'yin' and 'yang' originally refer to in the Chinese language?
the light and dark side of a hill
'Philosophy' comes from the Greek words which literally means
the love of wisdom
What happened in 627 C.E.?
the people of Mecca invaded the city of Medina
How are other religions portrayed by Baha'i teachings?
the same God of Baha'u'llah is to be found within them all
How are other religions portrayed by Sikh teachings?
the same God of Sikhism is to be found within them all
The two dots of contrasting color inside the light and dark commas of the yin/yang symbol represent
the seed of its opposite.
The term 'Jihad' is best translated in Islam as
the struggle to live virtuously
Which of the following is not one of the twelve principles of Baha'i?
the trinitarian view of God
Chinese philosophers developed the concept of the yin and the yang to explain the true nature of what?
the universe
Animism holds the belief that
there are living spirits in every part of the universe.
Henotheism is the belief that
there are many gods, but only one is worthy of worship.
What is the Scientologist word for the human soul?
thetan
How did the Babylonians avoid starvation when an invading army surrounded their city?
they built their city over a river
What is the goal of Daoism?
to achieve balance in nature
What is the ultimate goal of life for Baha'is?
to achieve world peace
What is the central religious goal in Shinto?
to establish harmony in nature
What important task was assigned to Moses by God, according to Biblical and Jewish tradition?
to lead the Jewish people out of bondage in Egypt
Why did Guru Gobind Rai replace everyone's last name with the name 'Singh'?
to remove their caste names
Why did Constantine convene the council of bishops at Nicaea?
to settle the question of Jesus' relation to God
Which direction must Muslims face while praying nowadays?
towards the Kabah in Mecca
What are "engrams"?
traumatic events stored as images in the subconscious mind
A sannyasin is a
wandering holy person.
In Daoism, the ideal image of the Dao is _________.
water
Literally, Daodejing means
way-power-classic.
Hard Agnosticism is the view that
we cannot know whether or not God exists.
Soft Agnosticism is the view that
we should suspend our belief about the existence of God.
In Hinduism Dharma is determined by all of the following except ________.
wealth
Which of the following practices describes the religion of Wicca?
worshipping deities associated with natural forces
Laozi taught his followers to favor which side of the Dao?
yin
The aspect of reality that expresses itself in silence, receptivity, and darkness is called ___________.
yin
