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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. Conflict over teachings within Hinduism resulted in the development of Buddhism - Sikhism - and...
Jainism
Jewish mysticism
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.
A better birth in the next cycle of rebirth - life - and death

2. Monism (belief that all things
Native American religions.
Ended the practice of indulgences
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
To show their humility before Allah

3. Who attempted to reconcile Aristotelian logic with the existence of God?
Thomas Aquinas
Marriage for the clergy
The recognition of Jesus as the messiah of Israel and the savior of all peoples
Improve the lives of the poor through political activism

4. The basis for the split in Islam into Sunni and Shi'a was...
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.
Political. The basis for the split was a disagreement over who would succeed Muhammad after his death.
The first collection of Jewish laws
Magic

5. Confucius believed that inferiors owed what to their superiors?
Loyalty
Description of certain ideas in terms of their opposites - such as good and evil and yin and yang
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
The early followers of Jesus still considered themselves Jews.

6. Example of the animistic theory of religion; based on worship of the spirits - known as kami - of natural objects - such as stones and trees.
Shinto
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad
Nichiren

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

8. Islam - Judaism - and Christianity all share what?
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.
To show their humility before Allah
Belief that God will save the world from its sins by sending a messiah
Destruction of the second Temple and the end of Palestine in 70 C.E.

9. Wahhabism
A conservative movement within Islam
Dowries were given to brides - not their fathers; Women gained property and inheritance rights; Mistreatment of wives in marriage was forbidden
Reassert Church doctrine as a result of the Protestant Reformation
Eased kosher restrictions;

10. Circumcision is a rite of passage found in which religions?
Founder
Both the Pentateuch and all oral and written teachings of Judaism
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Shinto

11. Elements that characterize Jainism.
Ecumenism.
Economics and social concerns of African Americans within an Islamic framework
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.
Meditation - Nonviolence - Self-Denial

12. Traditional African religions DO NOT include...
It acknowledges that everything belongs to Allah ultimately.
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.
A vision quest
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.

13. The term 'kosher' refers to...
Jesus is the son of God
Jewish dietary laws
Shinto
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin

14. One sect of Zen Buddhism believes that enlightenment comes through...
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
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).
Reliance on magic
Loyalty

15. That God is all-knowing - all-powerful - all-present - and one and undivided are beliefs of both Islam and...
Ahura Mazda
Judaism
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.
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.

16. The Council of Trent was called by the Catholic Church to...
Allowed subject peoples to practice their own religions
Meditation - Nonviolence - Self-Denial
No schools that teach religion to their followers
Reassert Church doctrine as a result of the Protestant Reformation

17. Shamans serve as...
Orthodox
Hinduism
Guides to the spirit world. Shamans functioned - and still function - in religions based on nature and spirit worship.
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.

18. Voodoo is an example of...
The caste system is both religious and social in nature.
Good government could become oppressive if it interfered too much in people's lives
Nichiren
Magic

19. What was a central element of Confucianism as Confucius taught it?
Abraham
Just social action; Confucius taught the importance of acting justly in all social interactions.
Monasticism
The first week of mourning after a death

20. What are aspects of Buddhism's Four Noble Truths?
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
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 split into Sunni and Shi'a branches of Islam
The mass

21. The Nicene Creed ended the Arian division within the early Christian Church by reaffirming...
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.
Used in Zen Buddhism to help a believer reach sudden insight.
Ignorance and desire for things of this world are the cause of suffering

22. Which religions hold similar general beliefs about heaven and hell?
Judaism - Christianity - and Islam
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana
Rejection of the caste system
Ahura Mazda

23. Ancestor veneration is NOT part of the following religion.
Hinduism
Doctrine of papal infallibility
Rejection of the caste system
Easter; Easter fulfills Jesus' promise to his followers that he will overcome death as those who believe in him will

24. The Hasidic movement was founded by...
Baal Shem Tov
Meditation - Nonviolence - Self-Denial
Torah; The Torah scroll is kept in the ark and read from during services
Rely on both the Bible and Church traditions as sources of truth

25. What is NOT a teaching of Islam?
Fasting during the day for one month each year
It is considered a holy river
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
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.

26. Which system of Hindu philosophy believes that only Brahman is real?
Rejection of the caste system
The First Pillar of Islam
Returning to Allah what is his
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion

27. The first Christians believed that...
Salvation came as a gift from God
Purim
Hindus believe that each deity is a representation of some aspect of Brahman
Because he did not write down his teachings

28. In Taoism - the source of all things is...
An imperceptible presence in the universe
Five Pillars
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
Loyalty

29. The menorah is a symbol used for which Jewish holy day?

30. In Taoism - yin is...
Female - nurturing - and passive
Roman Catholicism
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion
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.

31. Most Protestant denominations build their services around...
Communion
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
The replacement of a traditional language with a vernacular language.
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

32. Whereas Hindus refuse to eat beef - Muslims refuse to eat...
Roman Catholicism
Pork
Easter; Easter fulfills Jesus' promise to his followers that he will overcome death as those who believe in him will
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.

33. The primary purpose of the bar mitzvah and the bat mitzvah is to...
Experiencing a feeling of oneness with Allah; Sufism is a mystical movement within Islam that is characterized by asceticism.
Moses
Offered a spiritual approach to life
Recognize when a boy and a girl are considered adults in Judaism.

34. How do Mahayana Buddhists and Theravada Buddhists view Gautama?
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.
The role of its clergy; Shi'a has a clerical hierarchy.
Celebrates Muhammad's birthday
Monasticism

35. Sikhism was founded as a reaction against...
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings
Filial piety
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.
Roman Catholicism

36. Amaterasu
Roman Catholicism
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires
Right Views
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.

37. Members of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism believe that the Land of Bliss...
Filial piety
The teachings of Buddha - or religious truth.
Judaism
Can be entered by living a good life and reciting the name of Amitabha

38. What statement best describes someone who follows Taoism?
Sign of Yahweh's presence among the Jews
Pacifism
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.
Native American religions.

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

40. Taoism and Buddhism are similar in that both teach that...
Jewish dietary laws
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
Pork
Emphasis on the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh.

41. How is the belief in God - by whatever name - similar in Christianity - Islam - and Judaism?
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion
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.
Collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad

42. Seeking converts is NOT an important element of...
Respect that one person shows another; 'Li' is defined as correct behavior - or etiquette - between individuals.
Monasticism
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism
Judaism

43. In the thinking of many Buddhist sects - to love any person or any thing is...
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced
Judaism
An accurate explanation of Taoist teachings

44. According to the doctrine of transubstantiation in the Roman Catholic Church...
Moses
David
It removes the stain of original sin
Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine in communion

45. A major difference between Tibetan Buddhism and other Buddhist sects is Tibetan Buddhism's...
Achieved enlightenment
Humaneness
Reliance on magic
A messiah

46. According to the Jewish Bible - Judaism began with Yahweh's promise to...
A central principle of Hinduism is reincarnation
Abraham
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin
A group's identification with an animal - which is a totem

47. King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church because he...
Abraham
Had been denied an annulment of his marriage
Its meaning differs among the various Christian religions; various religions have different interpretations of how original sin affects human nature.
Filial piety

48. What is the most important holy day in the Christian calendar?

49. What statement accurately describes Jewish worship?
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.
Rabbis - like priests - lead ritual sacrifice during the liturgy.
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.
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion

50. Sufism is characterized by...
Experiencing a feeling of oneness with Allah; Sufism is a mystical movement within Islam that is characterized by asceticism.
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
No
Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations; Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations