Test your basic knowledge |

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. What is NOT considered a theocracy?

2. Praying the glorious mysteries of the rosary is an act of devotion of...
Roman Catholics
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.
It is considered a holy river
Guides to the spirit world. Shamans functioned - and still function - in religions based on nature and spirit worship.

3. A 'koan' (a riddle that appears to be meaningless - but is intended to prod a student of Zen into thinking) is...
The dominant theme of Taoism
Shinto
To redeem humankind from sin
Used in Zen Buddhism to help a believer reach sudden insight.

4. As Islam spread - it made many converts primarily because...
Possession of wealth and power
Trash hauler
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.
Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations; Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations

5. A rite of passage in Judaism is...
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
Helps others to find nirvana
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
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.

6. The Ganges River is sacred to Hindus because...
It is considered a holy river
Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations; Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin
Meng-zi reinforced Confucius's teaching that people were innately good - whereas Xun-zi taught that people were innately evil.

7. The Nicene Creed ended the Arian division within the early Christian Church by reaffirming...
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.
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism
It describes Allah as a strict - distant - and unresponsive god
Luther denied the infallibility of the pope.

8. What is an accurate description of Taoism's view of government?

9. Traditional African religions DO NOT include...
A vision quest
Jewish mysticism
Political. The basis for the split was a disagreement over who would succeed Muhammad after his death.
Judaism

10. According to Christian theology - Jesus was killed...
Disappeared after the Assyrians captured Israel
Jews
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.
To redeem humankind from sin

11. The goal of liberation theology is to...
Written religious teachings; Indigenous religious practices are preliterate - so there were no written religious teachings - although modern anthropologists and similar researchers have written them down for various cultures.
Native American religions.
Improve the lives of the poor through political activism
Angels - heaven - and hell

12. The natural world is an integrated whole.
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.
The most sacred to Muslims
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism
An accurate explanation of Taoist teachings

13. Monism (belief that all things
Venerate and fear ancestors - Have healers; Are localized; Hinduism does not share any of these characteristics. The only trait that African religions have in common with Hinduism is that Hinduism and African religions are polytheistic.
Female - nurturing - and passive
Abraham
Native American religions.

14. What accurately describes the Qur'an?
Neither has priests. Neither Jewish rabbis nor Muslim imans are priests; both are teachers and leaders of services - which is not the same as a priest whose role is to make sacrifices.
It is the revealed word of God; Muslims believe that God revealed his message to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
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
Ignorance and desire for things of this world are the cause of suffering

15. The grace of Buddha Amitbha.
Relied on by the faithful of the Pure Land sect to Buddhism to enter the Land of Bliss
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism
A vision quest
Rabbis - like priests - lead ritual sacrifice during the liturgy.

16. Harmony
Ruler; The ruler as the superior
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
Is of little importance in achieving nirvana; Ritual sacrifice plays a minor role in Theravada Buddhism.
The dominant theme of Taoism

17. Hadith
Collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad
Neither has priests. Neither Jewish rabbis nor Muslim imans are priests; both are teachers and leaders of services - which is not the same as a priest whose role is to make sacrifices.
Destruction of the second Temple and the end of Palestine in 70 C.E.
The mass

18. The clover leaf is a good way to illustrate the mystery of...
The Trinity
The caste system.
Its meaning differs among the various Christian religions; various religions have different interpretations of how original sin affects human nature.
Veneration of the saints

19. Unlike most religions - Hinduism has no...
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 path to release the mind from distractions
Founder
Trash hauler

20. A common theme of the world's religions is that...
There is a connection between all things that exist
Baal Shem Tov
That the government should support religion; They believe in separation of Church and State
Enlightenment

21. What statement accurately describes Jewish worship?
The most sacred to Muslims
All Protestant denominations accept all three of the creeds
The Hindu Festival of lights.
Rabbis - like priests - lead ritual sacrifice during the liturgy.

22. Buddhism declined in India until...
Zoroastrianism
It was absorbed into Hinduism. Over time - Hinduism adopted some of the concepts of Buddhism and Buddha became one of many Hindu gods.
The Talmud is the word of Yahweh
The role of its clergy; Shi'a has a clerical hierarchy.

23. Taoism and Buddhism are similar in that both teach that...
Upanishads
Roman Catholicism
Hinduism
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life

24. Why was Confucius similar to Gautama Buddha?
Because he did not write down his teachings
Sencond Vatican Council
The Hindu Festival of lights.
Returning to Allah what is his

25. What quality would best express the Confucian principle of jen?
Reliance on magic
Is as much a cultural designation as a religious one
Fourth Commandment; The Fourth Commandment - Honor thy Father and thy Mother - applies not only to relationships within the family unit - but to the relationship between civil authority and members of the civil society.
Humaneness

26. What is the most accurate explanation of myths as an important aspect of religion?
Judaism; Christianity; Islam
Reliance on magic
Both the Pentateuch and all oral and written teachings of Judaism
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group

27. Satan explains the presence of evil in which of the following religions?
In a final Judgment Day; Both Muslims and Christians believe that there will be a Judgment Day when the dead will be raised up.
Venerate and fear ancestors - Have healers; Are localized; Hinduism does not share any of these characteristics. The only trait that African religions have in common with Hinduism is that Hinduism and African religions are polytheistic.
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced
Judaism; Islam

28. The branch of Judaism that relies most heavily on Jewish law - ritual - and tradition in daily life is the...
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism
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.
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people
Ruler; The ruler as the superior

29. Not one of the holy cities to Muslims
Baghdad; Baghdad was an important center of Islamic power during the caliphates.
A messiah
Judaism
Magic

30. While Westerners may think of yoga as exercise - Hindus consider Yoga primarily as a way to...
Chanukah; symbolizes the miracle of a day's cup of oil lasting for eight days.
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
Jewish mysticism
Connect with Brahman

31. The ten lost tribes of Israel...
It describes Allah as a strict - distant - and unresponsive god
Neither has priests. Neither Jewish rabbis nor Muslim imans are priests; both are teachers and leaders of services - which is not the same as a priest whose role is to make sacrifices.
Disappeared after the Assyrians captured Israel
Who would appoint bishops

32. What is not a shared characteristics of mainstream Protestant denominations?
Communion
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people
Veneration of the saints
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.

33. The predominant culture in India is...
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not
Is neither a life of pleasure nor one of self-denial
Hindu

34. Charitable giving is important to Muslims because...
It acknowledges that everything belongs to Allah ultimately.
Reconcile Aristotle's work with their religions.
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism
A supreme being

35. The Church of England/Anglican Church was a compromise that resulted in...
Protestant doctorine but Catholic ritual
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group
The mass
Economics and social concerns of African Americans within an Islamic framework

36. The Eastern Orthodox rites differ from Roman Catholicism in their...
Enter the state of nirvana - or enlightenment
Lack of hierarchical structure; Unlike the Roman Catholic Church that has the pope at its head - Eastern Orthodox churches are ruled by a network of patriarchs.
It acknowledges that everything belongs to Allah ultimately.
It taught people to accept the status quo

37. What is NOT a teaching of Islam?
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
The Talmud is the word of Yahweh
Fasting during the day for one month each year
Improve the lives of the poor through political activism

38. Who attempted to reconcile Aristotelian logic with the existence of God?
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people
Ignorance and desire for things of this world are the cause of suffering
Thomas Aquinas

39. Calling Hinduism polytheistic simplifies the religion because...
Moksha
Emphasis on the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh.
Hindus believe that each deity is a representation of some aspect of Brahman
It is the revealed word of God; Muslims believe that God revealed his message to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.

40. Marriage is an example of which basic characteristic of religion?
Judaism
The struggle within a Muslim to live a good life
Rite of passage
The role of its clergy; Shi'a has a clerical hierarchy.

41. The modern evangelical movement in the United States has been successful primarily because it...
Can be entered by living a good life and reciting the name of Amitabha
Provides many people a counterweight to changing social mores
Belief that God will save the world from its sins by sending a messiah
Hindus believe that each deity is a representation of some aspect of Brahman

42. Which of the following Buddhist sects is credited with instilling the idea of nationalism among the Japanese?
Reliance on magic
Nichiren
Celebrates the birth of Krishna - the incarnation of the god Vishnu - the protector and preserver.
Moksha

43. The first Christians believed that...
Salvation came as a gift from God
Five Pillars.
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.
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).

44. Religions typically do not include...
The replacement of a traditional language with a vernacular language.
An imperceptible presence in the universe
Monasticism
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.

45. What belief systems are neither monotheistic nor polytheistic?
Is as much a cultural designation as a religious one
God's mercy and love shown in the life - death - and resurrection of Jesus
In a final Judgment Day; Both Muslims and Christians believe that there will be a Judgment Day when the dead will be raised up.
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism

46. What is found in an ark in a synagogue?
Disappeared after the Assyrians captured Israel
Torah; The Torah scroll is kept in the ark and read from during services
Reverence toward family and tradition
A conservative movement within Islam

47. What was adopted as the state religion in Japan in the Meiji Restoration of 1868?
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
To redeem humankind from sin
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.
Five Pillars

48. What events in human history resulted in the development of religions based on natural elements - such as soil fertility - the seasons - and rainfall?
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.
Written religious teachings; Indigenous religious practices are preliterate - so there were no written religious teachings - although modern anthropologists and similar researchers have written them down for various cultures.
Eased kosher restrictions;
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.

49. What would be considered an Abrahamaic religion?
The replacement of a traditional language with a vernacular language.
Judaism; Christianity; Islam
The mass
Native American religions.

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