DSST Introduction To World Religions

Instructions:

• Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
• If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
• Match each statement with the correct term.
• Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Which system of Hindu philosophy believes that only Brahman is real?
Shinto
Compassion
Pentecostals believe that they receive special powers from God.; One special power is the ability to 'speak in tongues.'; Pentecostals believe that they receive special powers from God and one of those powers is the ability to speak in tongues.
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion


2. Circumcision is a rite of passage found in which religions?
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Roman Catholicism
Purim
Connect with Brahman


3. What is NOT a major doctrinal difference between Roman Catholicism and mainstream Protestant denominations?
Jesus is the son of God
The Islamic concept of the community of Muslim believers
Reliance on magic
Torah; The Torah scroll is kept in the ark and read from during services


4. The 'Good News' of which Jesus spoke was...

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5. Religions typically do not include...
Monasticism
Orthodox
Helps others to find nirvana
Nonviolence


6. What religions justify capital punishment for major offenses?
In response to the works of scientists and philosophers like Darwin and Marx
The early followers of Jesus still considered themselves Jews.
Christians; Jews; Muslims
Islam; Christianity; Judaism; Zoroastrianism


7. Shinto is based on Four Affirmations - one of which is...
Confucianism
Reverence toward family and tradition
Respect that one person shows another; 'Li' is defined as correct behavior - or etiquette - between individuals.
Purify the body and mind.


8. In Taoism - the source of all things is...
An emphasis on monasticism; an emphasis on the compassion of Buddha; the transformation of Siddharta Gautama into an Ultimate Being - one of many Buddhas; the belief that the 'Great Vehicle' has room to transport all souls to nirvana
An imperceptible presence in the universe
Five Pillars
Asoka; Asoka - a ruler of the Maurya dynasty in India in the third century B.C.E. - converted to Buddhism and sent missionaries to convert the people of his huge empire. As a result - Buddhism is the predominant religion of Asia.


9. In the thinking of many Buddhist sects - to love any person or any thing is...
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced
The representation of an eternal Buddha; one of many Buddhas
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.


10. Theravada Buddhism does not emphasize...

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11. Does NOT accurately describe Taoist beliefs
Founder
David
The urge for spontaneity should be controlled; Taoism taught that spontaneous action that arose from being free of worldly concerns and open to the Tao - or workings of the universe - was good.
The struggle within a Muslim to live a good life


12. The Feast of Purim celebrates...
Hindus; part of the epic 'Mahabharata'
Both branches of Buddhism believe that Gautama Buddha is one of many Buddhas; Theravada Buddhists see Gautama as a saint and great teacher and Mahayana Buddhists see him as a savior who helps others to enlightenment.
The Exodus
Orthodox


13. To say the Shahadah is to...

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14. The ecumenical movement has resulted in changes within...
Hindus believe that each deity is a representation of some aspect of Brahman
Pacifism
Roman Catholicism
Right understanding - Right speech - Right livelihood; The steps of the Eightfold Path are right views - right thoughts - right speech - right action - right livelihood - right effort - right mindfulness - and right concentration.


15. The supremacy of the pope as the head of the Roman Catholic Church...

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16. What is NOT a practice of the Eastern Orthodox rites?
Mayan religion
The father of the gods in the Greek pantheon.
Marriage for the clergy
Required obedience to a set of moral behaviors


17. Islam and Christianity share a belief in...
Sencond Vatican Council
Chanukah; symbolizes the miracle of a day's cup of oil lasting for eight days.
Angels - heaven - and hell
Economics and social concerns of African Americans within an Islamic framework


18. Ka'bah
Set out a number of principles that are central to Hinduism; The Upanishads are a collection of advice from Hindu sages. Among the topics covered are reincarnation - creation - and the relationship between individual souls and Ultimate Reality.
Hasidic Jews
Jewish mysticism
What Allah said to Muhammad


19. Judaism is unique in that it...
The Islamic concept of the community of Muslim believers
Monasticism
Is as much a cultural designation as a religious one
Eating pork


20. Ark of the Covenant.

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21. What is NOT true about voodoo?
It has aspects of African religions as well as Islam; Voodoo has elements of Roman Catholicism - not Islam - mixed with traditional African religions.
Thomas Aquinas
Meditation - Nonviolence - Self-Denial
Is neither a life of pleasure nor one of self-denial


22. King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church because he...
Nonviolence
Pacifism
Had been denied an annulment of his marriage
Church's selling of indulgences


23. A Buddhist who is proud would not be practicing which principle of the Eight-Fold Path?
Meditation - Nonviolence - Self-Denial
Right Views
Abraham
Returning to Allah what is his


24. Charitable giving is important to Muslims because...
There is a connection between all things that exist
It acknowledges that everything belongs to Allah ultimately.
Purim
Hindu


25. Zeus
The father of the gods in the Greek pantheon.
Hindu
Right understanding - Right speech - Right livelihood; The steps of the Eightfold Path are right views - right thoughts - right speech - right action - right livelihood - right effort - right mindfulness - and right concentration.
Female and male; Yin represents the female principle and earth. It is passive and dark. Yang represents the male principle and heaven. It is action - heat - and light. Together - they represent harmony.


26. The best description of why Chinese rulers tolerated and even encouraged Confucianism for 2 -500 years was because...
It taught people to accept the status quo
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.
Guides to the spirit world. Shamans functioned - and still function - in religions based on nature and spirit worship.
Muhammad forbade idol worship; the lack of mosques' ornamentation was a result of Muhammad's ban on idols out of fear that his followers could fall back into polytheism.


27. The Vedanta system of Hinduism is based on the...
Dowries were given to brides - not their fathers; Women gained property and inheritance rights; Mistreatment of wives in marriage was forbidden
Upanishads
Founder
An imperceptible presence in the universe


28. The natural world is an integrated whole.
An accurate explanation of Taoist teachings
Ecumenism.
Disappeared after the Assyrians captured Israel
Movement of Jews to areas outside Palestine beginning in the eighth century B.C.E.


29. Janmashtami
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people
Loyalty
The caste system is both religious and social in nature.
Celebrates the birth of Krishna - the incarnation of the god Vishnu - the protector and preserver.


30. In Taoism - yin and yang represent...
Icons
Modern Iraq; A theocracy is a government in which the power and authority comes either because the ruler is considered a god (Egypt under the pharaohs) or a representative of God on earth (John Calvin's Geneva and Massachusetts Bay).
Householder
Female and male; Yin represents the female principle and earth. It is passive and dark. Yang represents the male principle and heaven. It is action - heat - and light. Together - they represent harmony.


31. What religion believes in Purgatory?
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.
God's mercy and love shown in the life - death - and resurrection of Jesus
Christianity
Roman Catholicism


32. A major difference between Native American religions and Christianity is...

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33. The Diaspora is the term given to the...
Quality of human-heartedness. 'Jen' may also be translated as social virtue or goodness.
That Jesus was both human and divine; Arius taught that Jesus was not equal with God the Father and eternal. The Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicea to deal with the issue - which was dividing the early Church.
Movement of Jews to areas outside Palestine beginning in the eighth century B.C.E.
The split into Sunni and Shi'a branches of Islam


34. Satan explains the presence of evil in which of the following religions?
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Judaism; Islam
God's mercy and love shown in the life - death - and resurrection of Jesus
Its members pray together without priests and with little ritual


35. The Apostles Creed - Nicene Creed - and Athanasian Creed do NOT what in common?
All Protestant denominations accept all three of the creeds
Used in Zen Buddhism to help a believer reach sudden insight.
Moksha
Its meaning differs among the various Christian religions; various religions have different interpretations of how original sin affects human nature.


36. What events in human history resulted in the development of religions based on natural elements - such as soil fertility - the seasons - and rainfall?
Neolithic Revolution; The Neolithic Revolution marks the change from hunting and gathering to settled farming as a way of life. Groups developed religions to appeal to the deities in nature for help.
The role of its clergy; Shi'a has a clerical hierarchy.
It removes the stain of original sin
Confucianism


37. Confucius's emphasis on respect for parents is known as...
It has aspects of African religions as well as Islam; Voodoo has elements of Roman Catholicism - not Islam - mixed with traditional African religions.
Filial piety
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin


38. Shamans serve as...
It was absorbed into Hinduism. Over time - Hinduism adopted some of the concepts of Buddhism and Buddha became one of many Hindu gods.
Guides to the spirit world. Shamans functioned - and still function - in religions based on nature and spirit worship.
The holy scripture of Nichiren Buddhism
The first collection of Jewish laws


39. Sikhism was founded as a reaction against...
Islam and Hinduism; Nanak - who founded Sikhism in northern India in the late 15th and early 16th centuries - was born a Hindu and studied Islam - but could not find spiritual peace in either.
Judaism; Islam
The caste system.
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not


40. The Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century were known as...
Sephardim
The first week of mourning after a death
Augustine; Among Augustine's contributions to Christian thought are the doctrine of original sin and the description of 'caritas -' or Christian love - the love of God and the love of one another.
Use of Latin for the Bible and for church services; One of the changes of the Reformation was the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages and their use in church services. The Roman Catholic Church continued to use Latin for church service


41. What was not a result of the Council of Trent - which was convened during what is known as the Counter-Reformation?
Hindu
The growing materialism of Islam around the 800s
Ended the practice of indulgences
The caste system


42. According to the doctrine of transubstantiation in the Roman Catholic Church...
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism
Chanukah; symbolizes the miracle of a day's cup of oil lasting for eight days.
Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine in communion
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).


43. Confession of one's sins to a priest or minister is part of Roman Catholicism - Eastern Orthodox rites - and...
Christians; Jews; Muslims
Prayer five times a day
Episcopalianism
Roman Catholicism


44. Emphasis on the proper relations between individuals as a means to perfection is the central element of...
Nichiren
Only those times when he invokes the authority of 'ex cathedra'; 'Ex cathedra' is the authority of the pope based on his position as teacher and pastor of Christians. When the pope speaks 'ex cathedra' on a doctrine of faith and morals - he is kept f
Sudden illumination; The Renzai - or Intuitive - school of Zen Buddhism believes that rational thought will not bring illumination. One must think anti-rationally and go behind reason before enlightenment will come - and then it will come suddenly in
Confucianism


45. What quality would best express the Confucian principle of jen?
Humaneness
Buddha's compassion for living things
Modern Iraq; A theocracy is a government in which the power and authority comes either because the ruler is considered a god (Egypt under the pharaohs) or a representative of God on earth (John Calvin's Geneva and Massachusetts Bay).
The growing materialism of Islam around the 800s


46. Mariology refers to devotion to the Virgin Mary in...
Roman Catholicism; Roman Catholics have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary that is a major difference with other Christian denominations.
The role of its clergy; Shi'a has a clerical hierarchy.
Anglicans; Thomas Cranmer - who was the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury and a leader of the English Protestant Reformation - wrote the 'Book of Common Prayer -' which remains the official liturgy of the Anglican communion of churches.
Baal Shem Tov


47. Members of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism believe that the Land of Bliss...
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires
Can be entered by living a good life and reciting the name of Amitabha
Compassion
Developed over time; he doctrine of papal supremacy was first declared by Pope Damasus I who reigned in the 4th century. He based his declaration on Jesus' words - 'Thou are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my church.'


48. The Baptist denomination baptizes members by...
Preserving Greek and Roman civilization and learning in general; Monks in monasteries and nuns in convents kept learning alive through their copying of Greek and Roman writings and by teaching.
Immersing adults in water
Religion includes a belief in the supernatural or divine - a set of practices - and a code of ethics.
Sign of Yahweh's presence among the Jews


49. Whereas original Confucian teachings dealt with the social order - Taoism...
Belief that God will save the world from its sins by sending a messiah
Offered a spiritual approach to life
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Judaism; Judaism is a religion and Zionism is a political movement begun in 1896 to establish a Jewish state in what the Jews consider the 'promised land.'


50. While all religions pray - what is NOT a category of prayer?
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
A messiah
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Compassion