Religion Final Exam
Jains have become one of the wealthiest groups in modern India because of their emphasis on truthfulness and their reputation for being a. excellent businesspeople. b. successful farmers. c. highly educated. d. lawyer/barristers.
A
One thing the Daoists absorbed from the Buddhists was a. the pattern of monasticism. b. the pattern of asceticism. c. vegetarianism. d. a belief in nature's power.
A
Shinto continues to exist today due to a. private donations. b. governmental support. c. international support. d. a renewed interest in faith healing.
A
The Cultural Revolution repressed a. all religions. b. no religions. c. only native Chinese religions. d. only Western religions.
A
The Wintu tale in the text details a. the Europeans' irreverence when it came to the natural world. b. how the Europeans brought disease to America. c. Native Americans' plans to keep away from white people. d. Native Americans' plans to begin a war with Europeans.
A
The ancient Chinese tradition of heating a tortoise shell and interpreting its cracks is an example of a. divination. b. totem. c. sacrifice. d. taboo.
A
The caste system a. was outlawed by India's constitution in 1948. b. developed into its modern form in the seventh century C.E. c. has roots in the Bhagavad-Gita. d. exists in Pakistan but not India.
A
The teachings of the Buddha are called the a. Dharma. b. Bodhisattva. c. Samsara. d. Sangha.
A
This core Daoist principle can be translated as "non-action" or "effortlessness." a. wu wei b. Li-poh-yang c. Shangdi d. yinyang
A
Traditional Native Americans believe that the soul exists in the land of the dead a. for as long as the living remember the deceased. b. until the deceased's last ancestor has passed. c. until the deceased is seen in a vision quest. d. always.
A
What effect did the death of Mao have on religious practices in China? a. The government became more open to religions. b. It had no effect on religious practices in China. c. Confucianism proliferated. d. Catholicism became the predominant religion of China.
A
What is one thing that celebrants do during the Festival of Souls? a. They perform elaborate rituals for the dead. b. They fast and meditate. c. They wash statues of the Buddha. d. They present robes to the Buddhist missionaries.
A
What is the name for individuals achieving Nirvana? a. arhat b. Buddha c. Kabira d. sangha
A
Why did the fourth-century Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi turn down the prince's offer to appoint him to the position of prime minister? a. He, like many Daoists, had contempt for rank and wealth. b. He did not think he was offered enough money to take the position. c. He did not like the politics of Prince Wei. d. He was old and didn't want to work anymore.
A
Why is peyote a part of some Native American religious ceremonies? a. because of its profound sensory and psychic experiences b. because of its anti-anxiety properties c. because of its ability to be inhaled easily d. because the High God requires that it be used
A
William Carey, a nineteenth-century British missionary, objected to the practice of surviving Indian widows dying on their dead husbands' funeral pyres called a. suttee b. Holi c. Dasehra d. varnas
A
According to Confucius, if the principles of li and ren were present and operative in a person, the end product would be a. Nirvana. b. the superior human being. c. yinyang. d. total balance.
B
According to many African religions, the dead a. gradually fade into nothingness. b. retain an active interest in the living. c. ascend to the heavenly place of light. d. are reincarnated as animals or humans.
B
Adherents of this type of Buddhism use riddles in meditation and believe that truths come in sudden flashes of insight. a. Pure Land b. Zen c. Tendai d. Mahayana
B
Compared to Native Americans, how did Europeans who came to the Americas look upon nature and the land? a. They revered the land as much as the Native Americans did. b. They looked upon nature as something to be exploited and used. c. They were unwilling to sacrifice the beauty of the land and nature to survive. d. They enjoyed the unknowns of nature.
B
Early in its history, Japan became an object of interest to Chinese and Korean merchants and a. emperors. b. missionaries. c. invaders. d. land-owners.
B
If members of your clan hunt and eat bear, but not deer, you might believe that a. deer are evil. b. the deer is the totem of your clan. c. the bear is the totem of your clan. d. deer are supreme beings.
B
In 1949, China underwent a revolution and became the People's Republic of China, under the direction of what kind of government? a. fascist b. Marxist c. totalitarian d. Stalinist
B
In Japanese mythology, who is the chief of the spirits? a. Daimon b. Amaterasu c. Izanagi d. Ryobu
B
In the seventh and eighth centuries, the Japanese sought to define and celebrate their own culture and recorded this information in a book of ancient Japanese chronicles in a section called a. "Susa-No-O." b. "The Age of the Gods." c. "New Earth." d. "Teachings of Heavenly Reason."
B
In what kinds of philosophies and religious movements do non-native people express a growing interest in Native American arts and religion? a. Fundamentalist b. New Age c. Pentecostal d. Animistic
B
Most Hindus do not eat beef because cows are a. considered unclean. b. considered sacred. c. not indigenous to places where Hindus live. d. considered demonic.
B
Most Japanese think of themselves as primarily a. pacifist. b. Buddhist. c. Shinto. d. agnostic.
B
Nirvana can be described as a. a heavenly world of peace and love among people. b. clear, rational understanding of the laws of the universe. c. an exalted state in which one becomes a god/goddess. d. having the self permanently extinguished like the flame on a candle.
B
Prior to 1889, the Tokugawa regime allowed the practice of only two religions. One was Shinto; the other was a Japanese version of which of the following? a. Islam b. Confucianism c. Jainism d. Hinduism
B
Representatives of this sect of Shinto embrace the notion of faith healing, shamanism, and divination. a. Niiname-sai b. Tenrikyo c. Shogatsu d. Ullambana
B
The Japanese adapted forms of Buddhism and developed a meditative style known as a. karma. b. Zen. c. Pure Land. d. Nichiren.
B
The bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, is an example of a. divination. b. totemism. c. anthropomorphism. d. shamanism.
B
The fundamental assumption of the Upanishads is that there is but one true reality in the universe, which is the a. Vishnu. b. Brahman. c. Shiva. d. Manu.
B
This ritual, performed by the native peoples of the Great Plains, requires self-torment or sacrifice. a. Rain Dance b. Sun Dance c. Snow Dance d. Spring Harvest Dance
B
What happened to Confucianism as a result of the birth of the People's Republic of China? a. It flourished. b. It was abandoned. c. It became illegal. d. Its influence stayed the same.
B
What is one way to recognize the deities and ancestors in African traditions? a. Wash hands before eating. b. Pour out a bit of a drink. c. Pray before eating. d. Make an extra plate of food for an ancestor or god.
B
A warrior code that combines principles of Shinto and Confucianism is called a. seppuku. b. kojiki. c. bushido. d. samurai.
C
Based on Mahavira's life, which of the following words best describes ascetic life? a. pleasure b. luxury c. deprivation d. wealth
C
Both Jainism and Buddhism rejected the Vedic system of a. asceticism. b. foundations. c. sacrifice. d. gods.
C
By the end of the sixth century C.E., this religion had gained a firm foothold in Japan. a. Hinduism b. Theravada Buddhism c. Mahayana Buddhism d. Sikhism
C
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Baha'i were brought to Africa in the nineteenth century by a. missionaries. b. lay people. c. immigrants. d. nuns and priests.
C
How many Tirthankaras preceded Mahavira in the founding of Jainism? a. Ten b. Fifteen c. Twenty-three d. Thirty-three
C
If you were part of an African religious group and got in your car to take a drive, to whom would you pray before leaving? a. Ehun b. Kamonu c. Ogun d. Nyambi
C
In early April, Chinese people celebrate this holiday that involves the ancestors as well as ritual baths and the building of new fires. a. The Dragon Boat Festival b. All Souls' Day c. Pure and Bright Festival d. Chinese New Yea
C
In early April, Chinese people celebrate this holiday that involves the ancestors as well as ritual baths and the building of new fires. a. The Dragon Boat Festival b. All Souls' Day c. Pure and Bright Festival d. Chinese New Year
C
In the Constitution of 1889, Japan decided a. to outlaw all other religious practice besides Shinto. b. to allow the practice of Buddhism in addition to Shinto. c. that in addition to Shinto, other religions would be allowed to exist. d. to ban all religious practice in the country.
C
Mahavira's life was similar to what other religious figure's life? a. the Prophet Muhammad b. Jesus Christ c. Buddha's life d. Gandhi
C
Modern Sikhs are primarily concentrated in Northern India in the region of a. New Delhi b. Bangalore c. Punjab d. Mumbai
C
Nanak was the first in a series of ten of these who led Sikhism until the eighteenth century. a. priests b. monks c. gurus d. bishops
C
Of the following, which people made great efforts to placate the deceased? a. Chinese Christians b. the ancient Japanese c. the ancient Chinese d. Homo sapiens
C
She is one of the most important female orishas and is described as beautiful and powerful. a. Kamonu b. Mother Earth c. Osun d. Ajwaka
C
Sikhs refer to their God as a. Allah. b. Jehovah. c. The True Name. d. Father God.
C
The Four Noble Truths, which form the core of Buddhist teachings, came to the Buddha through a. suffering. b. samsara. c. enlightenment. d. prayer.
C
The Lakota (Sioux) belief in Wakan Tanka is an example of the abstract understanding of the a. Earth Mother. b. Holy Son. c. High God. d. Holy Trinity.
C
The act of worshiping the gods is known as a. Yoga. b. Vedanta. c. puja. d. prasad.
C
The honorable suicide of a warrior who dies by slowly disemboweling himself is called a. hari-kari. b. kamikaze. c. seppuku. d. assisted suicide.
C
The samurai were expected to a. collect the heads of peasants. b. demonstrate self-discipline through fasting. c. show courtesy and politeness to people in authority. d. meditate and pray to the sun god Amaterasu.
C
This Sikh holiday celebrates the day on which Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa. a. Holi b. Divali c. Vaisakhi d. Langar
C
This group blends Christianity and the peyote cult and boasts 225,000 members. a. Sioux Church of North America b. Native American Congress c. Native American Church d. Church of Latter-Day Saints
C
What does Hinduism share with most religions today? a. issues over population control b. issues over revitalizing the religion c. issues over modernity d. issues over immigration
C
What does the word Dao mean? a. the life b. the force c. the way d. the truth
C
What is a medicine bundle? a. herbs and teas wrapped in canvas that are used during healing rituals b. a talisman given to young men heading into battle c. a collection of animal hides and bones, plants, and minerals that are believed to be a source of spiritual power d. a fetish carried by medicine men
C
What is one value of religious myths in societies that do not rely on the written word? a. Myths make people feel better about believing in a religion. b. Myths explain why certain figures are more prominent than others in a religion. c. Myths explain and transmit stories about a religion from one generation to the next. d. Myths explain why it is important to believe in a higher being.
C
What is the Adi Granth? a. a collection of myths b. a collection of teachings c. a collection of the official scriptures d. a collection of laws
C
What was the name of the legendary founder of Daoism which, when translated, also means "Old Master" or "Old Boy"? a. Confucius b. Shangdi c. Laozi d. Siddhartha
C
Which of the following was a transformative moment in Nanak's life? a. the death of his wife b. the death of one of his sons c. a vision from God he received while meditating in the forest d. the flight of his traveling companion, Mardana, from India
C
According to Jain teachings, all living beings owe their present form to their own a. moksha. b. parents. c. ancestors. d. karma.
D
Based on the supernaturalist understanding of the cosmos, many religions have a. worshiped only the stars. b. worshiped only the Earth. c. worshiped only animals. d. openly worshiped nearly everything in nature.
D
Often used to explain the whys and hows of the world, one characteristic common to almost all religions is a. sacrifices. b. rites. c. legends. d. myths.
D
Our strongest source of knowledge about the past is a. burial sites. b. temples. c. egaliths. d. the written record.
D
The god of fire, through whom offerings were presented to the other gods, was a. Vishnu. b. Lakshmi. c. Kali. d. Agni.
D
The most popular Hindu festival is celebrated to welcome spring. a. Kali b. Divali c. Dasehra d. Holi
D
The ritual in which a young person is sent into the wilderness alone to seek a vision from the spirit world is known as a a. baptism. b. confirmation. c. rite of passage. d. vision quest.
D
The teachings of Confucianism are based on certain central themes, including this one, which when translated translated loosely means "propriety" or "rites." a. jen b. ren c. yinyang d. li
D
To Sikhs, the word guru means a. teacher. b. priest. c. follower. d. leader.
D
What Chinese holiday is celebrated continually until the full moon of the first month of the year? a. Pure and Bright Festivals b. Dragon Boat Festivals c. Autumn Harvest Festivals d. Chinese New Year
D
What is the most widely celebrated holiday in Japan? a. Buddha's birthday b. All Souls' Day c. Autumn Festival d. Japanese New Year
D
Which of the following characterizes African-initiated churches? a. Christian churches that have their origins among European missionaries b. Christian churches that have their origins among North American missionaries c. Christian churches that proliferated at the end of World War II d. Christian churches that have their origins among Africans
D
Which of the following contrasts is part of the concept of yinyang? a. happy and sad b. rest and work c. truth and falsity d. moon and sun
D
Which of the following is true of Confucianism? a. It has an extensive priesthood. b. Its sacred writings were written after a divine revelation. c. It embraces asceticism. d. It has no doctrine of an afterlife.
D
Which of the following is true of puja? a. It is never practiced by men. b. It occurs only in Hindu temples. c. It is never practiced by women. d. It occurs in households and Hindu temples.
D
Who was the founder of Buddhism? a. Buddha b. Mahavira c. Mohammed d. Siddhartha
D
According to Native American belief, the land of the dead is often portrayed as a. a continuation of this current life on another plane of existence. b. an exalted heavenly place. c. an eternal punishment in hell. d. reincarnation in another creaturely form.
A
Among some societies and religions having to do with the supernatural, why are the homes of the deceased burned after they die? a. to discourage their return to earth b. to make sure not another living soul moves into the home c. to avoid sibling disputes d. to avoid vandalism
A
An act, person, or place to be avoided to prevent the spirit world from releasing harmful consequences is called a a. taboo. b. totem. c. fetish. d. shaman.
A
Based on the religious vision of Nanak, Sikhs believe that a. "There is no Muslim and there is no Hindu." b. "There is no Hindu and there is no Buddhist." c. "There is no right and there is no wrong." d. "There are no Sikhs."
A
Because of their doctrine of ahimsa, Jains are a. vegetarians. b. farmers. c. soldiers. d. biologists.
A
Central to domestic Shinto is the "god-shelf," or a. kami-dana. b. kojiki. c. shogatsu. d. ullambana.
A
For what reason might an African religious tradition require a priesthood? a. to maintain and control temples b. to perform death rituals c. to cast spells d. to preach
A
Islam first came to Africa during a. the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. b. the nineteenth century. c. the twentieth century. d. the first wave of European colonization.
A
