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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. How do Mahayana Buddhists and Theravada Buddhists view Gautama?
Ignorance and desire for things of this world are the cause of suffering
It taught people to accept the status quo
The first week of mourning after a death
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.

2. The modern evangelical movement in the United States has been successful primarily because it...
Provides many people a counterweight to changing social mores
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.
That the government should support religion; They believe in separation of Church and State
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced

3. What is not a shared characteristics of mainstream Protestant denominations?
Veneration of the saints
Easter; Easter fulfills Jesus' promise to his followers that he will overcome death as those who believe in him will
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.
Native American religions.

4. The defining characteristics of the Society of Friends (Quakers) are humanitarianism - inner peace - and...
Officials were worried that Buddhism's popularity would affect people's loyalty to the government
Just social action; Confucius taught the importance of acting justly in all social interactions.
Pacifism
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.

5. The Kabbalah is similar to the material found in the...
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism
Jainism
Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine in communion
Desire is the cause of all suffering; The Eightfold Path; All life is suffering; The only way to end suffering is to end desire

6. The Diaspora is the term given to the...
Because he did not write down his teachings
Movement of Jews to areas outside Palestine beginning in the eighth century B.C.E.
The representation of an eternal Buddha; one of many Buddhas
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.

7. In an effort to become less isolated from their non-Jewish communities - Reform Jews in the 19th century...
Eased kosher restrictions;
Hindus believe that each deity is a representation of some aspect of Brahman
Female - nurturing - and passive
Reconcile Aristotle's work with their religions.

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

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

10. In what deities do both good and evil co-exist?
Emphasized obedience to God's law
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.
Sencond Vatican Council
Ahura Mazda

11. What statement accurately describes Jewish worship?
Rabbis - like priests - lead ritual sacrifice during the liturgy.
Angels - heaven - and hell
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.
Covenant; The Covenant between Yahweh and Abraham is the foundation on which Judaism is based.

12. Circumcision is a rite of passage found in which religions?
Founder
Loyalty
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Ecumenism.

13. A Buddhist who is proud would not be practicing which principle of the Eight-Fold Path?
Episcopalians believe in scripture as interpreted by tradition - whereas Lutherans believe that scripture alone is the sole authority on which their faith is based.
Right Views
Connect with Brahman
The first collection of Jewish laws

14. The Eastern Orthodox rites differ from Roman Catholicism in their...
Baal Shem Tov
Religion includes a belief in the supernatural or divine - a set of practices - and a code of ethics.
Monasticism
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.

15. How is the belief in God - by whatever name - similar in Christianity - Islam - and Judaism?
Torah; The Torah scroll is kept in the ark and read from during services
Baghdad; Baghdad was an important center of Islamic power during the caliphates.
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
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.

16. The delivery of the Jews from Persia is celebrated during...
To show their humility before Allah
Jesus is the son of God
Purim
The Trinity

17. What is not elements of indigenous religious practices...
Transubstantiation
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.
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.
Had been denied an annulment of his marriage

18. The purpose of the sweat-lodge ceremony is to...
Its members pray together without priests and with little ritual
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism
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.
Purify the body and mind.

19. According to Confucianism - what is the most important virtue a ruler can possess?
God's mercy and love shown in the life - death - and resurrection of Jesus
Hinduism
Benevolence
Has no set list of beliefs that followers must accept

20. Taoism and Buddhism are similar in that both teach that...
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.
God's mercy and love shown in the life - death - and resurrection of Jesus
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
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.

21. Monasticism in the West during the Middle Ages is credited with...
Offered a spiritual approach to life
Forced conversion of non-Muslims; Muhammad preached tolerance for other religions - but did impose a tax on nonbelievers.
Returning to Allah what is his
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.

22. Confucius believed that inferiors owed what to their superiors?
Helps others to find nirvana
Loyalty
Ahura Mazda
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.

23. Living a life according to 'dharma' (the concept of moral duty - or right living) will result in...
Ritual; A code of moral conduct; An afterlife
A better birth in the next cycle of rebirth - life - and death
Native American religions.
Rely on both the Bible and Church traditions as sources of truth

24. Ahura Mazda is the one and only true God of...
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.
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.
Zoroastrianism.
Filial piety

25. What events in human history resulted in the development of religions based on natural elements - such as soil fertility - the seasons - and rainfall?
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.
To show their humility before Allah
Required obedience to a set of moral behaviors
The caste system.

26. While all religions pray - what is NOT a category of prayer?
Saudi Arabia; The Wahhabi movement is a conservative movement within Islam and controls Saudi Arabia through its connection to the ruling family.
A messiah
Compassion
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.

27. What was a central element of Confucianism as Confucius taught it?
Just social action; Confucius taught the importance of acting justly in all social interactions.
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.
Orthodox
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.

28. 'Shivah' - in Judaism
Jesus is the son of God
The first week of mourning after a death
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion

29. The Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century were known as...
Movement of Jews to areas outside Palestine beginning in the eighth century B.C.E.
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.
Sephardim
Buddha's compassion for living things

30. What man taught that humans are innately evil and must be closely controlled?
'Chuang Tzu'
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.
Veneration of the saints
Xun-zi

31. What would be considered an Abrahamaic religion?
There is a connection between all things that exist
Nichiren
Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine in communion
Judaism; Christianity; Islam

32. Whereas Hindus refuse to eat beef - Muslims refuse to eat...
An accurate explanation of Taoist teachings
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).
Emphasized obedience to God's law
Pork

33. Mahayana Buddhists believe that Gautama Buddha was not one of the following...
The representation of an eternal Buddha; one of many Buddhas
Rite of passage
Five Pillars
Jews

34. The 'Book of Common Prayer' is the official liturgy of...

35. What religion believes in Purgatory?
Roman Catholicism
Upanishads
Submission
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.

36. Judaism is unique in that it...
Roman Catholicism
Episcopalianism
Is as much a cultural designation as a religious one
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.

37. The Hasidic movement was founded by...
Who would appoint bishops
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.
Baal Shem Tov
The caste system.

38. Ritual sacrifice in Theravada Buddhism...
Is of little importance in achieving nirvana; Ritual sacrifice plays a minor role in Theravada Buddhism.
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.
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not
No schools that teach religion to their followers

39. The only prophet in Judaism - Christianity - and Islam to whom God spoke directly was...
Native American religions.
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
Moses
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group

40. The basis for the split in Islam into Sunni and Shi'a was...
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion
Religious conduct; commercial transactions; political actions; private life
Political. The basis for the split was a disagreement over who would succeed Muhammad after his death.
The father of the gods in the Greek pantheon.

41. What is NOT considered a theocracy?

42. What is not a reason fundamentalist movements in any religion usually develop?
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion
Covenant; The Covenant between Yahweh and Abraham is the foundation on which Judaism is based.
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.
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.

43. Women cannot become cantors and rabbis in which branch of Judaism?
Confucianism
Nichiren
Orthodox
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life

44. The Prophetic Movement brought God's word to...
Hinduism
Jews
No schools that teach religion to their followers
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism

45. Gnosticism's influence on Christianity can be seen in Christianity's...
In a final Judgment Day; Both Muslims and Christians believe that there will be a Judgment Day when the dead will be raised up.
Economics and social concerns of African Americans within an Islamic framework
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
Emphasis on the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh.

46. What characteristic does Judaism and Islam not have in common?
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.
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin
Immersing adults in water
No schools that teach religion to their followers

47. Release from the cycle of birth - death - and rebirth is...
Saudi Arabia; The Wahhabi movement is a conservative movement within Islam and controls Saudi Arabia through its connection to the ruling family.
Moksha
Humaneness
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.

48. 'Chosen People' of God.
Christianity
Jews; This is the promise that Yahweh made to Abraham
'Chuang Tzu'
A vision quest

49. What statement is true about the modern Hindu caste system?
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
Jews
Reliance on magic
God's goodness can heal illness as well as sin

50. Sufism is characterized by...
Experiencing a feeling of oneness with Allah; Sufism is a mystical movement within Islam that is characterized by asceticism.
Baal Shem Tov
Reliance on magic
Hindus; part of the epic 'Mahabharata'