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. Agnostic
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not
It removes the stain of original sin
Any gods
Offered a spiritual approach to life


2. The beginning of the caste system in Indian society can be found in the...
Monasticism
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
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.
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).


3. What was NOT a concern of Taoism?
Eased kosher restrictions;
Abraham
Possession of wealth and power
The representation of an eternal Buddha; one of many Buddhas


4. 'Shivah' - in Judaism
The split into Sunni and Shi'a branches of Islam
After the Assyrians destroyed Israel; The Jewish Diaspora began after the destruction of the kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians in the 8th century B.C.E.
That the government should support religion; They believe in separation of Church and State
The first week of mourning after a death


5. What events in human history resulted in the development of religions based on natural elements - such as soil fertility - the seasons - and rainfall?
Baghdad; Baghdad was an important center of Islamic power during the caliphates.
Monasticism
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.
Sencond Vatican Council


6. Confucius believed that inferiors owed what to their superiors?
It is considered a holy river
Loyalty
Jesus
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.'


7. To connect with the Tao - Chuang Tzu advises people to...
A vision quest
Purify the body and mind.
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires
Sephardim


8. 'Chosen People' of God.
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.
Ordinary people could easily understand and practice Islam; The practices of Islam are easy to understand and to practice even by the poorest and uneducated.
Offered a spiritual approach to life
Jews; This is the promise that Yahweh made to Abraham


9. What occupation would a dalit have in India?
Trash hauler
He attempted to reconcile Judaism and Aristotelian philosophy; Like Thomas Aquinas in the Roman Catholic Church - Maimonides attempted to reconcile Aristotle's philosophy with his own belief system and caused a similar controvers.
David
Religious conduct; commercial transactions; political actions; private life


10. Talmud
Sephardim
Enter the state of nirvana - or enlightenment
Destruction of the second Temple and the end of Palestine in 70 C.E.
A compilation of ancient Jewish oral law and rabbinical teachings


11. Calling Hinduism polytheistic simplifies the religion because...
Hindus believe that each deity is a representation of some aspect of Brahman
Baal Shem Tov
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
Jews


12. What is a true statement about Confucian teachers after Confucius?

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13. What are aspects of Buddhism's Four Noble Truths?
Desire is the cause of all suffering; The Eightfold Path; All life is suffering; The only way to end suffering is to end desire
Confucianism
Trash hauler
Judaism


14. The Mishnah
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations; Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
The first collection of Jewish laws


15. Circumcision is a rite of passage found in which religions?
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
To redeem humankind from sin
Bring the gift of God's grace
Nichiren


16. The Hare Krishna movement developed from...
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism
Saudi Arabia; The Wahhabi movement is a conservative movement within Islam and controls Saudi Arabia through its connection to the ruling family.
Torah; The Torah scroll is kept in the ark and read from during services
Hinduism


17. Instead of statues - Eastern Orthodox rites use what as ornamentation in their churches?
A vision quest
Bring the gift of God's grace
Icons
Possession of wealth and power


18. In Taoism - the source of all things is...
The caste system.
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.
An imperceptible presence in the universe
Founder


19. The Jewish Day of Atonement is...
Officials were worried that Buddhism's popularity would affect people's loyalty to the government
Yom Kippur; Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
Sephardim
A better birth in the next cycle of rebirth - life - and death


20. A 'koan' (a riddle that appears to be meaningless - but is intended to prod a student of Zen into thinking) is...
Used in Zen Buddhism to help a believer reach sudden insight.
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.
Nonviolence
Episcopalianism


21. Buddhism declined in India until...
Compassion
Benevolence
It was absorbed into Hinduism. Over time - Hinduism adopted some of the concepts of Buddhism and Buddha became one of many Hindu gods.
Reconcile Aristotle's work with their religions.


22. A definition of religion would include what elements?
The ultimate goal of Christians
Transubstantiation
Possession of wealth and power
Ritual; A code of moral conduct; An afterlife


23. During their centuries of conquest - Muslim rulers...
Allowed subject peoples to practice their own religions
A central principle of Hinduism is reincarnation
Improve the lives of the poor through political activism
Five Pillars.


24. Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to protest the...

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25. Conflict over teachings within Hinduism resulted in the development of Buddhism - Sikhism - and...
Hindu
Were political rulers; The caliphs were considered successors to Muhammad - but after the first four - caliphs were political - rather than both political and religious - leaders
Roman Catholicism; Roman Catholics have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary that is a major difference with other Christian denominations.
Jainism


26. The modern evangelical movement in the United States has been successful primarily because it...
No schools that teach religion to their followers
The father of the gods in the Greek pantheon.
Provides many people a counterweight to changing social mores
Buddha's compassion for living things


27. A difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism is...

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28. One reason that early Christians began to separate from Judaism was...
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.
Reconcile Aristotle's work with their religions.
The Christian belief that Jesus was the messiah
Nichiren


29. Conflict over Muhammad's successor led to...

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30. Unlike most Protestant denominations - Roman Catholics...
Roman Catholicism
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group
Returning to Allah what is his
Rely on both the Bible and Church traditions as sources of truth


31. The Feast of Purim celebrates...
The Exodus
The dominant theme of Taoism
The split into Sunni and Shi'a branches of Islam
Protestant doctorine but Catholic ritual


32. An important force for Christian unity in the twentieth century was...
Prayer five times a day
Episcopal
Disappeared after the Assyrians captured Israel
Ecumenism.


33. A Buddhist who is proud would not be practicing which principle of the Eight-Fold Path?
Roman Catholicism
He attempted to reconcile Judaism and Aristotelian philosophy; Like Thomas Aquinas in the Roman Catholic Church - Maimonides attempted to reconcile Aristotle's philosophy with his own belief system and caused a similar controvers.
Right Views
The role of its clergy; Shi'a has a clerical hierarchy.


34. In addition to Muhammad - Muslims consider as prophets Abraham - Moses - and...
A group's identification with an animal - which is a totem
Episcopalianism
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.'
Jesus


35. Ark of the Covenant.

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36. What contribution did Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon) make to Jewish thought?

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37. What religions justify capital punishment for major offenses?
It was absorbed into Hinduism. Over time - Hinduism adopted some of the concepts of Buddhism and Buddha became one of many Hindu gods.
Chanukah; symbolizes the miracle of a day's cup of oil lasting for eight days.
Jews; This is the promise that Yahweh made to Abraham
Islam; Christianity; Judaism; Zoroastrianism


38. Twelvers believe...
Episcopalianism
That the last imam will return and with him - Judgment Day
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism
Jesus is the son of God


39. The Qur'an contains...
Zoroastrianism.
Relied on by the faithful of the Pure Land sect to Buddhism to enter the Land of Bliss
What Allah said to Muhammad
Respect that one person shows another; 'Li' is defined as correct behavior - or etiquette - between individuals.


40. Maimonides and Thomas Aquinas both attempted to...

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41. How is the belief in God - by whatever name - similar in Christianity - Islam - and Judaism?
God is the creator of the world; All three religions believe that God is the creator of the world - and is all knowing - all powerful - and all present.
Jesus is the son of God
A group's identification with an animal - which is a totem
The struggle within a Muslim to live a good life


42. Huguenots
Any gods
Shinto; The Japanese government set up national shrines - mandated the teaching of Shinto in schools - and used State Shinto to further its military aims. It was banned after World War II.
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin
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).


43. Who attempted to reconcile Aristotelian logic with the existence of God?
David
Its meaning differs among the various Christian religions; various religions have different interpretations of how original sin affects human nature.
Thomas Aquinas
A group's identification with an animal - which is a totem


44. In the Confucian set of relationships - special importance was placed on the role of the...
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.
Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine in communion
Ruler; The ruler as the superior
Zoroastrianism


45. A major difference between Buddhism and Hinduism is Buddhism's rejection of...
The caste system
That the government should support religion; They believe in separation of Church and State
Yom Kippur; Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
Moses


46. The Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century were known as...
Men and women sitting together
Sephardim
Islam
Submission


47. The best explanation for the government persecution of Buddhists during the Tang Dynasty in China was that...

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48. What is a major difference between Episcopalians and Lutherans?
Achieved enlightenment
Episcopalians believe in scripture as interpreted by tradition - whereas Lutherans believe that scripture alone is the sole authority on which their faith is based.
The caste system
Desire is the cause of all suffering; The Eightfold Path; All life is suffering; The only way to end suffering is to end desire


49. Who united the Israelites into a single nation?
David
Yom Kippur; Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.
Doctrine of papal infallibility


50. Monism (belief that all things
Can be entered by living a good life and reciting the name of Amitabha
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.'
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.
Native American religions.