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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. The ten lost tribes of Israel...
Disappeared after the Assyrians captured Israel
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.
Any gods
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.

2. What is the most accurate explanation of myths as an important aspect of religion?
Movement of Jews to areas outside Palestine beginning in the eighth century B.C.E.
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group
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.
Episcopalians believe in scripture as interpreted by tradition - whereas Lutherans believe that scripture alone is the sole authority on which their faith is based.

3. Jerusalem is a holy city to...
Christians; Jews; Muslims
It taught people to accept the status quo
Eased kosher restrictions;
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.

4. The term 'kosher' refers to...
Jewish dietary laws
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Compassion
Recognize when a boy and a girl are considered adults in Judaism.

5. Twelvers believe...
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.
That the last imam will return and with him - Judgment Day
Monasticism
Martin Luther

6. Not one of the holy cities to Muslims
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism
Baghdad; Baghdad was an important center of Islamic power during the caliphates.
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
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

7. The natural world is an integrated whole.
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.
An accurate explanation of Taoist teachings
A supreme being
It is the revealed word of God; Muslims believe that God revealed his message to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.

8. Whereas original Confucian teachings dealt with the social order - Taoism...
Offered a spiritual approach to life
'Chuang Tzu'
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
Angels - heaven - and hell

9. Mahayana Buddhists believe that Gautama Buddha was not one of the following...
The Exodus
The representation of an eternal Buddha; one of many Buddhas
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.
An imperceptible presence in the universe

10. Confucian concept of 'li'

11. For Catholics - the central act of worship is...
Prayer five times a day
The replacement of a traditional language with a vernacular language.
What Allah said to Muhammad
The mass

12. What statements are true about Pentecostal churches?

13. In Zen Buddhism - 'satori' is...
Enlightenment
Bring the gift of God's grace
It is the revealed word of God; Muslims believe that God revealed his message to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
Invasion of the Holy Land by the Crusaders

14. Changes Reform Jews and the Protestant Reformation have in common.
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.
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.
The replacement of a traditional language with a vernacular language.
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.

15. Which practice of Roman Catholicism was rejected by Protestants during the Reformation?
Desire is the cause of all suffering; The Eightfold Path; All life is suffering; The only way to end suffering is to end desire
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
Monasticism
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.

16. The Mahdi is the Islamic equivalent of...
Religious practice of ancient Egyptians
A messiah
Roman Catholicism; Roman Catholics have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary that is a major difference with other Christian denominations.
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.

17. Ahura Mazda is the one and only true God of...
It is the revealed word of God; Muslims believe that God revealed his message to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.
Zoroastrianism.
The representation of an eternal Buddha; one of many Buddhas

18. During their centuries of conquest - Muslim rulers...
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).
It has aspects of African religions as well as Islam; Voodoo has elements of Roman Catholicism - not Islam - mixed with traditional African religions.
Allowed subject peoples to practice their own religions
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.

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

20. A major reason for Guru Nanak's founding of Sikhism was his...
Religious practice of ancient Egyptians
Rejection of the caste system
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced
The split into Sunni and Shi'a branches of Islam

21. A bodhisattva...
The Islamic concept of the community of Muslim believers
Recognize when a boy and a girl are considered adults in Judaism.
Helps others to find nirvana
Loyalty

22. Bodhisattvas help others to find enlightenment...
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
The struggle within a Muslim to live a good life
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana
Ritual; A code of moral conduct; An afterlife

23. The prophet and priest Ezra's contribution to Judaism was...
Movement of Jews to areas outside Palestine beginning in the eighth century B.C.E.
The first collection of Jewish laws
The concept that Judaism was based on laws that could be read and known
Fasting during the day for one month each year

24. Hinduism can be characterized as a religion that...
Who would appoint bishops
Has no set list of beliefs that followers must accept
The Hindu Festival of lights.
It has aspects of African religions as well as Islam; Voodoo has elements of Roman Catholicism - not Islam - mixed with traditional African religions.

25. What man taught that humans are innately evil and must be closely controlled?
The recognition of Jesus as the messiah of Israel and the savior of all peoples
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.
Its meaning differs among the various Christian religions; various religions have different interpretations of how original sin affects human nature.
Xun-zi

26. The branch of Judaism that relies most heavily on Jewish law - ritual - and tradition in daily life is the...
Hindus; part of the epic 'Mahabharata'
Reliance on magic
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.
It taught people to accept the status quo

27. Meditation is NOT an important part of the practice 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.
Purify the body and mind.
Indigenous religions of South America
God's goodness can heal illness as well as sin

28. In Taoism - yin is...
Religion includes a belief in the supernatural or divine - a set of practices - and a code of ethics.
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism
Female - nurturing - and passive

29. The best description of why Chinese rulers tolerated and even encouraged Confucianism for 2 -500 years was because...
Submission
Nonviolence
It taught people to accept the status quo
An imperceptible presence in the universe

30. Most Protestant denominations build their services around...
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.
Angels - heaven - and hell
Communion
Martin Luther

31. What is not a reason fundamentalist movements in any religion usually develop?
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion
The caste system.
Shinto
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.

32. The Mishnah
Moksha
Icons
The first collection of Jewish laws
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism

33. What is found in an ark in a synagogue?
Collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad
Episcopal
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings
Torah; The Torah scroll is kept in the ark and read from during services

34. Which system of Hindu philosophy believes that only Brahman is real?
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion
Prayer five times a day
Hindus; part of the epic 'Mahabharata'

35. Hindus view 'dharma' as a duty - or moral code of action - whereas to Buddhists 'dharma' is...
'Chuang Tzu'
The recognition of Jesus as the messiah of Israel and the savior of all peoples
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.
The holy scripture of Nichiren Buddhism

36. Repeating the Shahadah.
Eased kosher restrictions;
The Talmud is the word of Yahweh
The First Pillar of Islam
Officials were worried that Buddhism's popularity would affect people's loyalty to the government

37. What requires a month of fasting from sunup to sundown?
Chanukah; symbolizes the miracle of a day's cup of oil lasting for eight days.
Veneration of the saints
Ramadan
The early followers of Jesus still considered themselves Jews.

38. To connect with the Tao - Chuang Tzu advises people to...
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
Humaneness
Ritual; A code of moral conduct; An afterlife
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires

39. While Westerners may think of yoga as exercise - Hindus consider Yoga primarily as a way to...
Jews; This is the promise that Yahweh made to Abraham
An imperceptible presence in the universe
Connect with Brahman
Communion

40. According to the doctrine of transubstantiation in the Roman Catholic Church...
A supreme being
Islam; Christianity; Judaism; Zoroastrianism
Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine in communion
Orthodox

41. A major cause of the schism between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Churches was the...
Judaism
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.
Economics and social concerns of African Americans within an Islamic framework
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism

42. The basis for the split in Islam into Sunni and Shi'a was...
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion
Respect that one person shows another; 'Li' is defined as correct behavior - or etiquette - between individuals.
Shinto; Shinto was - and remains - a specifically Japanese religion.
Political. The basis for the split was a disagreement over who would succeed Muhammad after his death.

43. Circumcision is a rite of passage found in which religions?
Allowed subject peoples to practice their own religions
The concept that Judaism was based on laws that could be read and known
Native American religions.
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions

44. The original teachings of Confucius do not include references to...
A supreme being
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.
Had been denied an annulment of his marriage
Moksha

45. African religions are unlike Hinduism in which ways?
Marriage for the clergy
Christians; Jews; Muslims
Any gods
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.

46. According to the Jewish Bible - Judaism began with Yahweh's promise to...
Abraham
Judaism
Shinto
David

47. Jihad refers to...
The representation of an eternal Buddha; one of many Buddhas
It describes Allah as a strict - distant - and unresponsive god
The struggle within a Muslim to live a good life
Benevolence

48. Buddhism declined in India until...
Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine in communion
Angels - heaven - and hell
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.
It was absorbed into Hinduism. Over time - Hinduism adopted some of the concepts of Buddhism and Buddha became one of many Hindu gods.

49. The Prophetic Movement in Judaism...

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