Intro into religion final exam study guide

The most popular religion in China today is Buddhism Daoism Confucianism Islam

Buddhism

Kamikaze" means a) the kami of the rice b) the "divine winds" that protected the samurai from the invading Mongolian ships c) the red sun on the flag of Japan d) the northern school of sumo wrestlers

the "divine winds" that protected the samurai from the invading Mongolian ships

"What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind." These are the words of a) Krishna b) Devi c) Asoka d) the Buddha

the Buddah

Who decided which writings would become part of the New Testament? a) the Roman Emperor Constantine b) the pope c) St. Paul of Tarsus d) the bishops that presided over various cities and regions

the bishops that presided over various cities and regions

The Divine Mother goddess in Hinduism is called a) Shiva b) Vishnu c) Devi d) Brahma

Devi

After the death of the Buddha, the person who was instrumental in spreading Buddhism throughout India and some other countries was a) King Ashoka b) Pali c) Siddartha Gautama d) one of Buddha's first five disciples

King Ashoka

A name for the Sacred is a)God b)Dao c)Great Mother d)all the above

all of the above

A symbol is "a visible representation of an invisible reality or concept". Which of the following is a religious symbol? a) a Christian cross b) a statue of the Buddha c) the space contained within the high ceilings of a Christian cathedral or within the high dome of an Islamic mosque. d) all the above

all of the above

An example of an indigenous religious ritual is a) performing a dance to bring rain b) saying prayers before hunting c) smoking a peace pipe d) all the above

all of the above

Confucius sought a way to a) put an end to the wars and chaos due to the breakdown of the feudal states in China b) create "gentlemen-scholars" or "junzi" to work in the government c) create a civilized society based on "right" relationships d) all of the above

all of the above

Some threats to the existence of indigenous religions have been or continue to be a) forced conversions by "missionary" religions b) forced removal by governments/corporations from their tribal lands, since their relationship with the land is an important part of their religion c) having their children stolen, so that their parents could not pass down their religious beliefs and practices d) all the above

all of the above

The Hindu caste system a) was/is based on a person's occupation b) helped to provide social stability in India; and was/is based on the idea of karma and reincarntion. If you do many good works in this lifetime, you create good karma and are rewarded by being reincarnated into a higher caste in your next lifetime. c) had/has four major groupings: 1. priests, 2. warriors/nobles, 3. farmers and merchants, 4. manual laborers and artisans d) all of the above

all of the above

Those who practise Shinto usually a) worship kami b) take ritual baths c) visit shrines d) all the above

all of the above

Which of the following is an example of oral tradition? a) drawing an image on the wall of a cave b) chanting c) getting a tatoo d) all the above

all of the above

A Shinto Shrine is a) a sacred place where kami are worshipped b) a place where children are blessed c) a place where priests perform rituals, including blessing any objects that people bring to be blessed d) all the above

all the above

Hinduism a) recognizes that there is truth to be found in all religions b) is described by the Supreme Court of India as a philosphy, rather than a religion c) is tolerant of many different beliefs within Hinduism and has no creed d) all the above

all the above

Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah because Jesus did not rebuild the second Temple in Jerusalem the Messiah will be a human being, not a god/God as Jesus claimed he was the Messiah will establish world peace, and Jesus did not do that all the above

all the above

Not all early Christians shared the same beliefs. An example of this is a) the belief among some Gnostic Christians that Jesus was not divine b) the Gnostic belief that only spiritually mature people could apprehend the real teachings of Jesus c) the Church in Alexandria, Egypt that believed that "Son of God" was a metaphor, and that Jesus did not have the same status as God. We are all sons and daughers of God, if we do God's will as Jesus did. d) all the above

all the above

One of the dangers of having a State religion is that in the past many State religions have a) used their power to persecute people of other religions, and to force people to convert to the official State religion b) blessed wars of aggression to take another country's natural resources c) abandoned their own teachings or distorted their own teachings in exchange for prestige, wealth and power d) all the above

all the above

Some central Jewish beliefs are a) monotheism b) belief in the sacredness of human life c) belief in the commandment to love God d) all the above

all the above

Indigenous spirituality is a "lifeway" which means a) that people are alive, but rocks and rivers are "lifeless" or inanimate, meaning that they have no sacred spirit or sacred essence in them b) that your entire approach to life is sacred. Everything that you do all day long has a sacred dimension whether it is sweeping a floor, hunting, giving birth or creating art. c) that one day a week is set aside as a sacred day for religious ceremonies and praying d) all of the above

b) that your entire approach to life is sacred. Everything that you do all day long has a sacred dimension whether it is sweeping a floor, hunting, giving birth or creating art.

Mahayana Buddhism is known as the a) nirvana b) way of the Elders c) bigger raft, bigger vehicle, or "Great Vehicle" d) Diamond Vehicle

bigger raft, bigger vehicle, or "Great Vehicle"

How to Jews become "right with God," justified, gain salvation? by loving God and obeying God's laws by believing in a savior who saves them by worshipping in the second Temple in Jerusalem all the above

by loving God and obeying God's law

During Yom Kippur, Jews a) celebrate the Passover b) give thanksgiving for the State of Israel c) must make a pilgrimage to Israel d) confess their sins

confess their sins

A few years ago, a politician sought election to the State Senate of North Carolina. He promised that, if elected, he would make sure that Christianity became the official State religion of North Carolina. He was elected by people who wanted Christianity to become the State religion of North Carolina. You do not have to know anything about what happened after he was elected to be able to answer this question. True or False: Christianity is now the State religion of North Carolina. True False

false

A heretic is one who agrees with everything that his or her religion teaches. True or False

false

According to the Religious Studies' definition of indigenous religion, the religion called Scientology that began in the United States a few decades ago, can be called an American indigenous religion. True False

false

All indigenous religions are polytheistic. True False

false

Because Hinduism has 330 million gods and goddesses, it is classified as a polytheistic religion. True False

false

Buddha taught that if you pray to him, he will save you. True False

false

Confucius thought that performing religious rituals was a waste of time. Instead, people should worship as they wished, in a spontaneous manner. True False

false

Daoism is considered to be a patriarchal religion because the masculine Yang energy is considered to be much more powerful and important than the female Yin energy. True False

false

From a Protestant perspective the only two sacraments that Catholic Christians and Protestant Christians share are baptism and marriage. True False

false

In Chinese Daoist landscape paintings, the human being is painted as a very large figure because in Daoism people are considered to be more important than animals, trees, mountains and the rest of nature. True False

false

In Daoism and Confucianism human nature is viewed as sinful, or basically bad. True False

false

Indigenous religions have survived for centuries because they wrote down their beliefs in books. True False

false

The Dao is the Chinese name for the personal, creator God who made the world and all things in it. True False

false

The definition of Shinto is: "the religion of Japan." True False

false

There are two forms of Judaism in the world today: one is rabbinical Judaism, and the other is temple worship by the priests in Jerusalem. True False

false

A secular country is one that

has a government that does not give favor to any one particular religion

Your actions have consequences not only in this life, but also in the next life after you reincarnate. This is known as the law of a) karma b) gita c) samsara d) maya

karma

Guru a) is the Hindi word for meditation. b) means "one who removes darkness" -- a spiritual teacher. c) means someone who believes that his religion is better than another religion. d) is the Hindi word for celebrating Holi.

means "one who removes darkness" -- a spiritual teacher.

One step on the Eightfold Path is a) joining a Buddhist monastery b) praying to a Bodhisattva for help c) begging one meal a day d) meditation

meditation

The Four Noble Truths state that there is suffering/dissatisfaction. There is a cause for suffering (desire/craving). There is a cure for suffering (suffering can cease), and a) if you believe in the Buddha, he will save you from suffering. b) suffering is good for you. It is how you attain nirvana. c) you can only attain nirvana after you die -- not in this life. d) the cure for suffering is The Noble Eightfold Path.

the cure for suffering is the nible eightfold path

Atman means a) a spiritual teacher b) a path of yoga c) the deepest spiritual essence found in all human beings d) a holy day in Hinduism that is celebrated in January every year

the deepest spiritual essence found in all human beings

In Hinduism, Monism or Advaita Vedanta means a) the name of a Hindu goddess b) the philosophical position that all apparently separate realities are ultimately one -- not two; the belief that God and the universe are the same -- that the entire universe is divine c) illusion d) the afterlife

the philosophical position that all apparently separate realities are ultimately one -- not two; the belief that God and the universe are the same -- that the entire universe is divine

The "Three Marks of Existence" that Buddha taught are: there is suffering/dissatisfaction; there is no eternal self (anatta); and a) nirvana b) emptiness c) The Triple Gem d) there is constant change/impermanence

there is constant change/impermanence

Buddhism is a non-theistic religion. This means that a) all Buddhists must reject all forms of the supernatural b) all Buddhists must worship only the Buddha c) all Buddhists must take the Bodhisattva vow d) there is no personal God who creates the world and to whom prayers can be directed

there is no personal God who creates the world and to whom prayers can be directed

The core of Jesus' interpretation of the Torah was a) the Holy Spirit b) to love God, and to practice love and compasion toward others c) the doctrine of the Trinity d) keeping the 613 laws

to love God, and to practice love and compasion toward others

According to President Madison, the purpose of Separation of Church and State is a) to persecute Christians b) to promote Deism c) to prevent bloody religious wars, similar to those that took place for over a hundred years among Christians in Europe d) There is not such thing as Separation of Church and State.

to prevent bloody religious wars, similar to those that took place for over a hundred years among Christians in Europe

The Hebrew prophets said that it was not enough to make animal sacrifices and to pray and to worship in the Temple, but that all Jews must also a) treat others in a just and ethical manner b) make animal sacrifices in their homes c) wear prayer shawls d) pray six times a day

treat others in a just and ethical manner

"The Three Baskets" are the sacred texts of Buddhism. True False

true

A universalist believes that truth can be found in all religions. True False

true

After the Bible, the Tao te Ching/Dao de jing is the most translated book in the world. True False

true

An avatar is God/Brahman taking on human form in order to help humanity. True False

true

An example of a kami is the spirit in a tree, but also the power that makes the tree and all things grow. True False

true

As in Confucianism, Daoism and indigenous religions, Shintoists venerate their ancestors. True False

true

Because State Shinto had used the power of religion to support the Japanese war effort, the Allies demanded that State Shinto be abolished as a condition for the peace treaty which ended WWII. Shinto can still be a religion in Japan, but never the official State religion. True False

true

Both Hinduism and Buddhism believe in karma. True False

true

Buddha means the one who woke up from his ignorance about the nature of reality. True False

true

Climbing a mountain is a sacred practice or ritual in Shinto True False

true

For the Jews, circumcision is a religious ritual and is a sign of the covenant that God established with Abraham and the descendants of Abraham. True False

true

Hallucinogenic plants, such as peyote, are still used in many indigenous religions in order to alter consciousness so that tribal members will be better able to communicate with the spirit world. True False

true

Hindus do not want to reincarnate because every life contains much suffering. True False

true

In Hinduism, doing yoga postures (action yoga) is not just a way to exercise, it is a religious ritual. True False

true

Karl Marx believed that religious leaders and politicians used religions as a tool to control and oppress the poor; therefore, religion should be abolished. True False

true

Some forms of Judaism ordain women as rabbis. True False

true

Tanakh refers to the Hebrew Bible. Early Christians decided to keep it as part of their sacred text, and called it the Old Testament. True False

true

The Functional Perspective is that religions exist because they are useful in that they serve many human needs, and help to provide the glue that holds societies together. True False

true

The indigenous religion of Dahomey originated in Africa. True False

true

The purpose of using water in a Shinto purification ritual is to cleanse the body of physical impurities and to cleanse the spirit of spiritual impurities. True False

true

The red circle or rising sun on the Japanese flag symbolizes the sun goddess, Amaterasu. True False

true

The sangha means the community of Buddhists. True False

true

To proselytize means to try to convert someone to your religion. True False

true

In the Shinto creation myth, a) two cosmic parents (kami) stirred up the ocean to create the islands of Japan. b) one male kami used clay to create the islands of Japan. c) Shinto has no creation story. d) Amaterasu created the islands of Japan.

two cosmic parents (kami) stirred up the ocean to create the islands of Japan.

The Buddha left the palace and saw Four Passing Sights: an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a a) yoga teacher b) man who had attained nirvana c) wandering holy man d) woman with a bowl of rice

wandering holy man

The idea that the universe expresses itself in opposite but complementary principles (light and dark, day and night, hot and cold) is known as the principle of a) the Dao b) yin and yang c) wu wei d) Laozi

yin and yang

1. Polytheism 2. Myth 3. Religion 4. Monotheism 5. Absolutist

1. Belief in many gods 2. a story with a purpose. It tries to explain the way the world is. Even though the events are not usually historically true, it tries to send a message that has an important social or religious meaning 3. the joining or connecting of our natural everyday world to the sacred world; the joining or connecting of people to God/Ultimate Reality 4. the belief in one God 5. someone who believes that the holy scriptures and teachings of his/her religion are completely true, and therefore, the holy scriptures and teachings of other religions are false.

1. Torah 2. rabbi 3. passover 4. covenant 5. diaspora

1. the first five books of the Tanakh 2. a Jewish teacher who is an expert in the 613 laws 3. a Jewish festival that recalls and celebrates the Exodus from slavery in Egypt 4. the holy agreement or contract that God established with Abraham and his descendants 5. "scattering" - the expulsion of the Jews from Israel by the Romans

1. gospel 2. incarnation 3. creed 4. messiah

1. the good news of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus 2. the Christian belief that God assumed human flesh in the man Jesus 3. a formal statement of the beliefs of a particular religion 4. In Christianity, it means Jesus.

Water is an important symbol in _____ because water is both gentle and powerful. Also, our lives should flow as effortlessly as water. a) Hinduism b) Buddhism c) Daoism d) Confucianism

Daoism

What religion stresses the importance of seeing patterns in nature, and then basing our behavior on the patterns of nature, such as quietness and receptivity? a) Daoism b) Hinduism c) Buddhism d) Confucianism

Daoism

"The Three Doctrines" of China refer to a) Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism b) the symbols of water, woman and child c) martial arts: t'ai chi; kung fu; judo d) the three creation myths of China

Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism

Pakistan was partitioned from India after WWII. The main religion of Pakistan is a) Jainism b) Hinduism c) Indigenous d) Islam

Islam

A ________ acts as an intermediary between the visible, ordinary world and the spirit world.

Shaman

Who theorized that belief in a God or gods closely resembles mental illnes? Immature people invent a loving and a punitive God. The loving God helps them to feel safe, just as their parents made them feel safe. But this God also has a punitive side. God will also punish them when they misbehave, just as their parent did.

Sigmund Freud

A Materialist Perspective concerning the origin of religions means that humans invented gods/God and the supernatural. True False

True

A ritual is a repeated, patterned religious act. True False

True

Carl Jung is an example of a psychiatrist who believed that the Sacred really exists, therefore, he is an example of someone with the "Faith Perspective" as to why religions exist. True or False

True

In Daoism, the weeping willow tree survives by bending during a storm. This teaches us that we should not have rigid, inflexible opinions because such thoughts creates stress, and stress shortens our lives. True False

True

A torii is a) a gateway to a Shinto shrine b) the name of a Shinto purification ritual c) the Japanese word for one who worships the emperor d) the kami of the ocean

a gateway to a Shinto shrine

A Bodhisattva is a) a Buddhist form of yoga b) a helpful heavenly being or a person who helps you to attain nirvana. c) the name for Buddhist prayer beads d) the co-founder of Buddhism

a helpful heavenly being or a person who helps you to attain nirvana.

"Patriarchy" means a) a political, social or religious system created by men for the benefit of men. Women have few, if any rights and are excluded from leadership positions. b) a secret society of men that focuses on hunting rituals c) the mysterious essence of the universe d) a sacred ritual in Hinduism

a political, social or religious system created by men for the benefit of men. Women have few, if any rights and are excluded from leadership positions.

The Five Great Relationships signify that each person must live up to his or her social status. An example of this is a) a son must obey his father b) a husband must obey his wife c) the father, wife and children must obey Confucius d) all the above

a son must obey his father

Before they were exposed to European religion, an example of an indigenous religion's sacred place is a) a waterfall b) a church building c) a sacred pipe d) all the above

a waterfall

The United States is a secular country with a secular Constitution because a) it does not grant favor to any particular religion b) it has law courts that are governed by religious laws c) the country is losing its Judeo-Christian values d) all the above

a) it does not grant favor to any particular religion

The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice is a) creating good karma b) nirvana -- the end of suffering/dissatisfaction c) to reincarnate as a human d) meditation

nirvana -- the end of suffering/dissatisfaction

Mohatma Gandhi's _________ techniques, which included marches, hunger strikes and demonstrations were adopted by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's. a) puja b) disruptive c) yoga d) non-violent

non-violent

Most indigenous religions have cosmic tales of their ______.

origins

Although there are many ways to worship Brahman/Ultimate reality, most Hindus believe that the best way to unite with Brahman (not just worship Brahman) is to a) perform puja, a riitual offering such as offering flowers or food b) become vegetarians c) practice one of the four yogas d) bathe in the holy river Ganges

practice one of the four yogas