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DSST Introduction To World Religions

Subjects : dsst, culture

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. Harmony
The recognition of Jesus as the messiah of Israel and the savior of all peoples
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.
Yahweh's covenant with Abraham. In the covenant - Yahweh declared that the descendants of Abraham would have a special relationship with him.
The dominant theme of Taoism

2. Some authorities do not consider Confucianism a religion primarily because it does not include...
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion
A compilation of ancient Jewish oral law and rabbinical teachings
Any gods
Prayer five times a day

3. Ritual sacrifice in Theravada Buddhism...
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana
Is of little importance in achieving nirvana; Ritual sacrifice plays a minor role in Theravada Buddhism.
Native American religions.
Reverence toward family and tradition

4. What was not a teaching of Muhammad?
Christians' belief in an immortal soul; Native Americans in general believe that if people forget the dead - over time their souls will cease to exist.
Saudi Arabia; The Wahhabi movement is a conservative movement within Islam and controls Saudi Arabia through its connection to the ruling family.
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.
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.

5. Hinduism can be characterized as a religion that...
Returning to Allah what is his
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
Hindu
Has no set list of beliefs that followers must accept

6. What will you NOT see in an orthodox synagogue?
The growing materialism of Islam around the 800s
Jews
Bring the gift of God's grace
Men and women sitting together

7. In an effort to become less isolated from their non-Jewish communities - Reform Jews in the 19th century...
Eased kosher restrictions;
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
A compilation of ancient Jewish oral law and rabbinical teachings

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

9. Voodoo is an example of...
Magic
A supreme being
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.
The struggle within a Muslim to live a good life

10. 'Lotus Sutra'
Rabbis - like priests - lead ritual sacrifice during the liturgy.
The holy scripture of Nichiren Buddhism
Rite of passage
Five Pillars.

11. The goal of Zionism is the fulfillment of a dream many Jews have had since the...
Destruction of the second Temple and the end of Palestine in 70 C.E.
A path to release the mind from distractions
The caste system
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

12. The purpose of the sweat-lodge ceremony is to...
Purify the body and mind.
Description of certain ideas in terms of their opposites - such as good and evil and yin and yang
Jewish mysticism
Quality of human-heartedness. 'Jen' may also be translated as social virtue or goodness.

13. The Eightfold Path includes what?
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.
The growing materialism of Islam around the 800s
No schools that teach religion to their followers
Zoroastrianism.

14. Release from the cycle of birth - death - and rebirth in Hinduism.
Moksha
Zoroastrianism.
Helps others to find nirvana
Ahura Mazda

15. What is NOT a major doctrinal difference between Roman Catholicism and mainstream Protestant denominations?
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.
Jesus is the son of God
Sencond Vatican Council
Thomas Aquinas

16. The primary purpose of the bar mitzvah and the bat mitzvah is to...
Christians; Jews; Muslims
Magic
Recognize when a boy and a girl are considered adults in Judaism.
Shinto

17. Buddhism declined in India until...
Because he did not write down his teachings
It was absorbed into Hinduism. Over time - Hinduism adopted some of the concepts of Buddhism and Buddha became one of many Hindu gods.
Yahweh's covenant with Abraham. In the covenant - Yahweh declared that the descendants of Abraham would have a special relationship with him.
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.

18. Predicting the future through divination is an element of...
All people are created equal; The Baha'i movement preaches equality of the sexes - the importance of education - an end to prejudice - and the value of leading a good life.
Baghdad; Baghdad was an important center of Islamic power during the caliphates.
Confucianism
Desire is the cause of all suffering; The Eightfold Path; All life is suffering; The only way to end suffering is to end desire

19. The best explanation of why Muslims pray prostrate on the ground is...
Immersing adults in water
Confucianism
To show their humility before Allah
Roman Catholicism; Roman Catholics have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary that is a major difference with other Christian denominations.

20. A major cause of the schism between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Churches was the...
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.
God's mercy and love shown in the life - death - and resurrection of Jesus
Allowed subject peoples to practice their own religions
Primacy of the pope in determining matters of Christian doctrine. The Eastern Church believed that authority in matters of faith rested more with the Bible and church councils than with the pope.

21. In Hinduism - ahimsa is the principle of...
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires
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.
Nonviolence

22. Mosques do not have representations of Allah or any living things because...

23. Is Monasticism found in Islam?
Five Pillars
No
Female - nurturing - and passive
Buddha's compassion for living things

24. In Judaism - Yahweh...
Jews; This is the promise that Yahweh made to Abraham
Ignorance and desire for things of this world are the cause of suffering
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people
The most sacred to Muslims

25. Who wrote the 'City of God' and greatly influenced the early development of Christian theology?

26. The beginning of the caste system in Indian society can be found in the...
Jewish dietary laws
Doctrine of papal infallibility
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion

27. A definition of religion would include what elements?
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced
Ritual; A code of moral conduct; An afterlife
Connect with Brahman
Marriage for the clergy

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

29. Ka'bah
The Islamic concept of the community of Muslim believers
The most sacred to Muslims
An accurate explanation of Taoist teachings
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.

30. In founding the Nation of Islam - Wallace Fard focused on...
Helps others to find nirvana
The Islamic concept of the community of Muslim believers
Economics and social concerns of African Americans within an Islamic framework
Baal Shem Tov

31. In the Confucian set of relationships - special importance was placed on the role of the...
Ruler; The ruler as the superior
Shinto
Prayer five times a day
Has no set list of beliefs that followers must accept

32. Islam - Judaism - and Christianity all share what?
Belief that God will save the world from its sins by sending a messiah
Collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad
Roman Catholicism
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana

33. Dualism (in religious terms)
Religion includes a belief in the supernatural or divine - a set of practices - and a code of ethics.
Founder
An accurate explanation of Taoist teachings
Description of certain ideas in terms of their opposites - such as good and evil and yin and yang

34. Satan explains the presence of evil in which of the following religions?
All Protestant denominations accept all three of the creeds
Thomas Aquinas
Islam
Judaism; Islam

35. The original teachings of Confucius do not include references to...
Religious practice of ancient Egyptians
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism
A supreme being
Five Pillars

36. What is not a true description of the Talmud?
Fasting during the day for one month each year
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.
The Christian belief that Jesus was the messiah
The Talmud is the word of Yahweh

37. The first Christians believed that...
A supreme being
Humaneness
In response to the works of scientists and philosophers like Darwin and Marx
Salvation came as a gift from God

38. Confucianism could be considered a philosophy rather than a religion because it...
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not
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.
Roman Catholicism
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings

39. An important force for Christian unity in the twentieth century was...
Ecumenism.
That the government should support religion; They believe in separation of Church and State
Is of little importance in achieving nirvana; Ritual sacrifice plays a minor role in Theravada Buddhism.
Christians' belief in an immortal soul; Native Americans in general believe that if people forget the dead - over time their souls will cease to exist.

40. What are aspects of Buddhism's Four Noble Truths?
Allowed subject peoples to practice their own religions
Celebrates the birth of Krishna - the incarnation of the god Vishnu - the protector and preserver.
Desire is the cause of all suffering; The Eightfold Path; All life is suffering; The only way to end suffering is to end desire
The holy scripture of Nichiren Buddhism

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

42. Most Protestant denominations build their services around...
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
Episcopalians believe in scripture as interpreted by tradition - whereas Lutherans believe that scripture alone is the sole authority on which their faith is based.
Communion
Christians' belief in an immortal soul; Native Americans in general believe that if people forget the dead - over time their souls will cease to exist.

43. The Wahhabi movement took control of the area that became which of the following nations?
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.
Emphasis on the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh.
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
Saudi Arabia; The Wahhabi movement is a conservative movement within Islam and controls Saudi Arabia through its connection to the ruling family.

44. The position of caliph evolved so that caliphs...
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
Episcopal
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.
Hindus; part of the epic 'Mahabharata'

45. Ka'bah
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings
What Allah said to Muhammad
Jewish mysticism
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.

46. The two most important works of Taoism are the 'Tao Te Ching' and the...

47. Whereas Hindus refuse to eat beef - Muslims refuse to eat...
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
Icons
Is as much a cultural designation as a religious one
Pork

48. While Westerners may think of yoga as exercise - Hindus consider Yoga primarily as a way to...
The first week of mourning after a death
The father of the gods in the Greek pantheon.
The dominant theme of Taoism
Connect with Brahman

49. The branch of Judaism that relies most heavily on Jewish law - ritual - and tradition in daily life is the...
A supreme being
A conservative movement within Islam
Hindus; part of the epic 'Mahabharata'
Orthodox branch; Orthodox Jews conform most closely to the tenets of Judaism as revealed by God. They are not concerned with adapting Judaism to the world outside of the Jewish community.

50. Which system of Hindu philosophy believes that only Brahman is real?
The most sacred to Muslims
Helps others to find nirvana
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.
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion