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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. In Judaism - Yahweh...
Shinto
Baghdad; Baghdad was an important center of Islamic power during the caliphates.
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people
Jainism

2. What statement accurately describes Jewish worship?
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.
Rabbis - like priests - lead ritual sacrifice during the liturgy.
Jesus
Immersing adults in water

3. Shari'a deals with...
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism
Religious conduct; commercial transactions; political actions; private life
Right Views
Chanukah; symbolizes the miracle of a day's cup of oil lasting for eight days.

4. Ka'bah
Jewish mysticism
Monasticism
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.
Icons

5. A bodhisattva...
Quality of human-heartedness. 'Jen' may also be translated as social virtue or goodness.
Helps others to find nirvana
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people
Veneration of the saints

6. Huguenots
Church's selling of indulgences
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin
Enlightenment
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.

7. Islam - Judaism - and Christianity all share what?
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced
In response to the works of scientists and philosophers like Darwin and Marx
The holy scripture of Nichiren Buddhism
Belief that God will save the world from its sins by sending a messiah

8. Hadith
Collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad
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
The representation of an eternal Buddha; one of many Buddhas
Roman Catholicism

9. Jerusalem is a holy city to...
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.
The ultimate goal of Christians
Ended the practice of indulgences
Christians; Jews; Muslims

10. 'Chosen People' of God.
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).
Commemorate the Angel Gabriel's appearance to Muhammad; have one's sins forgiven; become more aware of how a person acts in life
Jews; This is the promise that Yahweh made to Abraham
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.

11. What was not a teaching of Muhammad?
The ultimate goal of Christians
Possession of wealth and power
Rabbis - like priests - lead ritual sacrifice during the liturgy.
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.

12. What man taught that humans are innately evil and must be closely controlled?
It is considered a holy river
Desire is the cause of all suffering; The Eightfold Path; All life is suffering; The only way to end suffering is to end desire
Xun-zi
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.

13. The Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century were known as...
It taught people to accept the status quo
Movement of Jews to areas outside Palestine beginning in the eighth century B.C.E.
Sephardim
A vision quest

14. The basic teachings of Islam are set down in the...
It is considered a holy river
Judaism
It removes the stain of original sin
Five Pillars.

15. What religion believes in Purgatory?
Roman Catholicism
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.
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).
Is of little importance in achieving nirvana; Ritual sacrifice plays a minor role in Theravada Buddhism.

16. The foundation of Judaism is the...
Episcopalianism
Communion
Covenant; The Covenant between Yahweh and Abraham is the foundation on which Judaism is based.
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.

17. Hinduism can be characterized as a religion that...
Xun-zi
Has no set list of beliefs that followers must accept
Belief that God will save the world from its sins by sending a messiah
Jews; This is the promise that Yahweh made to Abraham

18. Which Christian denomination believes in purgatory?
Collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad
The caste system.
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.
Roman Catholicism

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

20. What is not elements of indigenous religious practices...
The Hindu Festival of lights.
It is the revealed word of God; Muslims believe that God revealed his message to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
Experiencing a feeling of oneness with Allah; Sufism is a mystical movement within Islam that is characterized by asceticism.
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.

21. What statement accurately describes the Hasidic movement?
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.
Xun-zi
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism
In response to the works of scientists and philosophers like Darwin and Marx

22. What is the most accurate explanation of myths as an important aspect of religion?
Baal Shem Tov
Who would appoint bishops
Recognize when a boy and a girl are considered adults in Judaism.
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group

23. Janmashtami
Celebrates the birth of Krishna - the incarnation of the god Vishnu - the protector and preserver.
Reassert Church doctrine as a result of the Protestant Reformation
Because he did not write down his teachings
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.

24. What statement is true about the Indian caste system?
The caste system is both religious and social in nature.
Indigenous religions of South America
Pork
Benevolence

25. In an effort to become less isolated from their non-Jewish communities - Reform Jews in the 19th century...
Marriage for the clergy
Jainism
Had been denied an annulment of his marriage
Eased kosher restrictions;

26. Bodhisattvas help others to find enlightenment...
The holy scripture of Nichiren Buddhism
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana
Thomas Aquinas
Confucianism

27. The major issue between popes and rulers during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was...
Hinduism
Who would appoint bishops
It is considered a holy river
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.

28. Muslims and Christians both believe...
In a final Judgment Day; Both Muslims and Christians believe that there will be a Judgment Day when the dead will be raised up.
What Allah said to Muhammad
Political. The basis for the split was a disagreement over who would succeed Muhammad after his death.
Meng-zi reinforced Confucius's teaching that people were innately good - whereas Xun-zi taught that people were innately evil.

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

30. The Eightfold Path includes what?
Humaneness
Who would appoint bishops
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.
Purim

31. In the Confucian set of relationships - special importance was placed on the role of the...
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not
Householder
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings
Ruler; The ruler as the superior

32. What is found in an ark in a synagogue?
That the last imam will return and with him - Judgment Day
Jainism
Torah; The Torah scroll is kept in the ark and read from during services
Zoroastrianism.

33. The goal of liberation theology is to...
Ahura Mazda
Episcopal
Improve the lives of the poor through political activism
Islam; Christianity; Judaism; Zoroastrianism

34. What events in human history resulted in the development of religions based on natural elements - such as soil fertility - the seasons - and rainfall?
Jews
It taught people to accept the status quo
Loyalty
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.

35. Living a life according to 'dharma' (the concept of moral duty - or right living) will result in...
Rely on both the Bible and Church traditions as sources of truth
The Hindu Festival of lights.
A better birth in the next cycle of rebirth - life - and death
Dowries were given to brides - not their fathers; Women gained property and inheritance rights; Mistreatment of wives in marriage was forbidden

36. The dogma of papal infallibility refers to...

37. A major difference between Buddhism and Hinduism is Buddhism's rejection of...
Eating pork
Celebrates Muhammad's birthday
The caste system
Hinduism

38. Almsgiving is one of the...
Dowries were given to brides - not their fathers; Women gained property and inheritance rights; Mistreatment of wives in marriage was forbidden
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.
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.
Five Pillars

39. In Taoism - the source of all things is...
An imperceptible presence in the universe
Five Pillars.
Sephardim
Jewish dietary laws

40. Twelvers believe...
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.
That the last imam will return and with him - Judgment Day
Jewish mysticism
Achieved enlightenment

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

42. The Nicene Creed ended the Arian division within the early Christian Church by reaffirming...
Provides many people a counterweight to changing social mores
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.
Because he did not write down his teachings
Good government could become oppressive if it interfered too much in people's lives

43. The beginning of the caste system in Indian society can be found in the...
Orthodox
Religious conduct; commercial transactions; political actions; private life
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).
Celebrates Muhammad's birthday

44. What is NOT true about voodoo?
Required obedience to a set of moral behaviors
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
It has aspects of African religions as well as Islam; Voodoo has elements of Roman Catholicism - not Islam - mixed with traditional African religions.
Baal Shem Tov

45. According to the Jewish Bible - Judaism began with Yahweh's promise to...
Abraham
It describes Allah as a strict - distant - and unresponsive god
Judaism; Islam
A central principle of Hinduism is reincarnation

46. NOT a basic principle of Buddhism
Prayer five times a day
Shinto
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).
Fasting during the day for one month each year

47. Changes Reform Jews and the Protestant Reformation have in common.
Monasticism
Indigenous religions of South America
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.
The replacement of a traditional language with a vernacular language.

48. Does NOT accurately describe Taoist beliefs
Can be entered by living a good life and reciting the name of Amitabha
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.
Improve the lives of the poor through political activism
Judaism

49. What statement is true about the modern Hindu caste system?
Protestant doctorine but Catholic ritual
Meng-zi reinforced Confucius's teaching that people were innately good - whereas Xun-zi taught that people were innately evil.
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
The recognition of Jesus as the messiah of Israel and the savior of all peoples

50. Gnosticism's influence on Christianity can be seen in Christianity's...
Emphasis on the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh.
Required obedience to a set of moral behaviors
Had been denied an annulment of his marriage
An imperceptible presence in the universe