Religions Midterm Review Questions 2022
Explain Buddha's Four Noble Truths of Suffering.
the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering
What is the religious significance of Sundance?
to reunite and reconnect with the earth and the spirits.
Explain the different waves of religions in its historical development.
Hinduism (1750 - 500 Bc), Jainism (5c7 Bc), Buddhism (500 Bc), Judaism (500 Bc), Confucianism (425 Bc), Christainity (30 CE), Taoism (142 CE), Islam (611CE), Sikhism (1499), Baha'i faith (1844)
What are the main parts/components/ contents of the Vedas?
Hindus believe that the Vedas texts were received by scholars direct from God and passed on to the next generations by word of mouth. Samhitas, Aranyakas, Brahmanas, and Upanishads
Compare the following concepts: karma, samsara and moksha.
Karma is universal law by which good or bad actions determine the future modes of an individual's existence, samsara is reincarnation, the idea that after we die our soul will be reborn again in another body reincarnation, the idea that after we die our soul will be reborn again in another body, and moksha is liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth
What is the Buddhist's concept of An-atman?
Most Buddhist traditions and texts reject the premise of a permanent, unchanging atman (a persons soul)
Explain briefly the Origin of Hinduism.
Most scholars believe Hinduism started somewhere between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley, near modern-day Pakistan. But many Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always existed. Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one founder but is instead a fusion of various beliefs.
State some reasons or factors that enabled the absorption and subtle disappearance of indigenous sacred ways
Native Americans were forced onto conservations and lost their religions when they were forced to convert because of settlers
State the different etymological meanings of Religion.
Religion came from the latin words "religare" which means to bind and "religio" which means obligation or bond
Explain the importance of Rituals in Religion and Human Life
Rituals in families can help ease difficult transitions, heal relationships, and celebrate life
Trace from the life of Buddha how he came up with an ideology and eventually how Buddhism turned into a religious system.
Sidhartha Guatama grew up upper class, he saw the suffering of the world when he was 29. He renounced his family and wealth and began learning meditation and eventually mediated under a tree for 49 days where he saw the four noble truths which started his religion
What are the different understandings of Sacred Reality?
The sacred reality found in Hinduism is the Brahman. The sacred reality in Buddhism is Nirvana
Explain the different roles or functions of religious leaders in indigenous sacred ways.
The spiritual leaders of the Native American Indians were the medicine men and women of the village or tribe. These men and women often used herbs to help heal sick people. They also called on the spirits to help the tribe asking for assistance in areas such as healing, good weather, and help in battle.
What is Zoroastrianism?
a monotheistic pre-Islamic religion of ancient Persia founded by Zoroaster in the 6th century BC
What is the "vision quest" in native Indian American Religions?
a spiritual journey belonging to Indigenous cultures in which participants, often adolescents, are said to receive sacred knowledge and strength from the spirit world
State the different symbols and meanings of the Sacred Pipe.
communication between humans and sacred beings
What is the Hindu's philosophical view of the human condition?
if one's thoughts and deeds are kind and compassionate, the "soul" will reap positive results
What are the different ways of interpreting religious traditions?
literal, moral, allegorical, and anagogical.
Explain the reason why philosophical materials are important in Hinduism.
Because they do not have a god to believe in
What is the relationship between Atman and Brahman?
Brahman is the universal soul and the atman of the individual soul, atman and Brahman are part of the same substance; atman returns to Brahman when the atman is finally liberated and is no longer reincarnated. This return, or reabsorption into Brahman, is called moksha
What particular Hindu teachings did Buddha reform or revise in Buddhism?
Buddhism challenged Hindu traditions through its rejection of the religious authority of the Brahmins (highest in caste system)
Distinguish the Western concept of Religion from the Eastern Concept of Religion.
Eastern religions are polytheistic, whereas the Western religions are monotheistic, worshiping, and serving only one God
Why is native Indian American religion animistic?
And it is true that most or perhaps all Native Americans see the entire universe as being alive—that is, as having movement and an ability to act.
Describe death and life after death in Native American religious practice.
1. each tribe has its own specific traditions regarding death rituals and funerals. 2. One common aspect is the idea that the spirit of a person lives on after their physical death and journeys into the afterlife, 3. although there is no concept of heaven and hell
Compare Buddhism from Jainism and Sikhism.
They all believe in reincarnation