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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. Ancestor worship was an important part of...
Mayan religion
Ahura Mazda
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires
Thomas Aquinas

2. Conflict over teachings within Hinduism resulted in the development of Buddhism - Sikhism - and...
The Islamic concept of the community of Muslim believers
Jainism
Can be entered by living a good life and reciting the name of Amitabha
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion

3. In the Confucian set of relationships - special importance was placed on the role of the...
Orthodox
Salvation came as a gift from God
Required obedience to a set of moral behaviors
Ruler; The ruler as the superior

4. Zeus
Transubstantiation
Magic
Episcopalians believe in scripture as interpreted by tradition - whereas Lutherans believe that scripture alone is the sole authority on which their faith is based.
The father of the gods in the Greek pantheon.

5. The Vedanta system of Hinduism is based on the...
An afterlife; Jews believe that there is an afterlife - but it does not have the physical description that Christian and Islamic heaven and hell have. Jews focus on living a good life according to God's laws rather than on punishment and reward after
Torah; The Torah scroll is kept in the ark and read from during services
Upanishads
Rejection of the caste system

6. Shamans serve as...
Is neither a life of pleasure nor one of self-denial
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.
The ultimate goal of Christians
Guides to the spirit world. Shamans functioned - and still function - in religions based on nature and spirit worship.

7. One sect of Zen Buddhism believes that enlightenment comes through...
An imperceptible presence in the universe
Improve the lives of the poor through political activism
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
Purify the body and mind.

8. The word 'Islam' means...
Benevolence
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people
Submission
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism

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

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10. The Mahdi is the Islamic equivalent of...
Reverence toward family and tradition
The dominant theme of Taoism
A messiah
Judaism

11. What statement is true about the modern Hindu caste system?
Ahura Mazda
A central principle of Hinduism is reincarnation
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
Abraham

12. According to Christian theology - Jesus was killed...
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.
Veneration of the saints
Confucianism
To redeem humankind from sin

13. What is the most accurate definition of religion?
Baal Shem Tov
Religion includes a belief in the supernatural or divine - a set of practices - and a code of ethics.
Can be entered by living a good life and reciting the name of Amitabha
Zoroastrianism.

14. The defining characteristics of the Society of Friends (Quakers) are humanitarianism - inner peace - and...
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.
Religious conduct; commercial transactions; political actions; private life
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
Pacifism

15. A difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism is...

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16. One reason that early Christians began to separate from Judaism was...
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group
The Christian belief that Jesus was the messiah
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.

17. The 'Bhagavad Gita' is important to...

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18. Ancestor veneration is NOT part of the following religion.
Eased kosher restrictions;
It has aspects of African religions as well as Islam; Voodoo has elements of Roman Catholicism - not Islam - mixed with traditional African religions.
A vision quest
Hinduism

19. Gnosticism's influence on Christianity can be seen in Christianity's...
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
Jainism
Protestant doctorine but Catholic ritual

20. The Second Truth of the Four Noble Truths.
Confer special grace on the gravely ill person
The split into Sunni and Shi'a branches of Islam
Ignorance and desire for things of this world are the cause of suffering
Baal Shem Tov

21. The Church of England/Anglican Church was a compromise that resulted in...
Salvation is achieved through faith and good works
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.
God's goodness can heal illness as well as sin
Protestant doctorine but Catholic ritual

22. 'Kami' is the name of the spirits of people - places - and nature in which religion?
Ramadan
No schools that teach religion to their followers
Shinto
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

23. Whereas original Confucian teachings dealt with the social order - Taoism...
Offered a spiritual approach to life
Helps others to find nirvana
Baal Shem Tov
A path to release the mind from distractions

24. The four stages in Hinduism are student - seeker - ascetic - and...
Householder
Orthodox
Circumcision; The ceremony of circumcision - known as brit - marks the entrance of a male child into Judaism.
Improve the lives of the poor through political activism

25. Unlike most Protestant denominations - Roman Catholics...
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group
Rely on both the Bible and Church traditions as sources of truth
Baal Shem Tov
Profess one's Islamic faith

26. The Jewish Day of Atonement is...
Monasticism
Meditation - Nonviolence - Self-Denial
Yom Kippur; Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
Rabbis - like priests - lead ritual sacrifice during the liturgy.

27. The Ganges River is sacred to Hindus because...
Benevolence
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.
It is considered a holy river
Xun-zi

28. Praying the glorious mysteries of the rosary is an act of devotion of...
Chanukah; symbolizes the miracle of a day's cup of oil lasting for eight days.
Judaism
Roman Catholics
Religious conduct; commercial transactions; political actions; private life

29. Whereas Hindus refuse to eat beef - Muslims refuse to eat...
Pork
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana
Emphasis on the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh.
Developed over time; he doctrine of papal supremacy was first declared by Pope Damasus I who reigned in the 4th century. He based his declaration on Jesus' words - 'Thou are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my church.'

30. As Islam spread - it made many converts primarily because...
Orthodox
Is of little importance in achieving nirvana; Ritual sacrifice plays a minor role in Theravada Buddhism.
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.
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.

31. Which system of Hindu philosophy believes that only Brahman is real?
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion
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
No
Native American religions.

32. Mennonites do NOT believe...
Roman Catholicism; Roman Catholics have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary that is a major difference with other Christian denominations.
That the government should support religion; They believe in separation of Church and State
God's mercy and love shown in the life - death - and resurrection of Jesus
Political. The basis for the split was a disagreement over who would succeed Muhammad after his death.

33. 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.
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
Returning to Allah what is his

34. Buddhism's 'middle path' is best explained as a way of life that...
Destruction of the second Temple and the end of Palestine in 70 C.E.
Is neither a life of pleasure nor one of self-denial
Hinduism
Transubstantiation

35. Gain salvation.
The ultimate goal of Christians
Both the Pentateuch and all oral and written teachings 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.
Judaism; Islam

36. Shari'a deals with...
Moses
Had been denied an annulment of his marriage
Religious conduct; commercial transactions; political actions; private life
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.

37. Ritual sacrifice in Theravada Buddhism...
Developed over time; he doctrine of papal supremacy was first declared by Pope Damasus I who reigned in the 4th century. He based his declaration on Jesus' words - 'Thou are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my church.'
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.
Is of little importance in achieving nirvana; Ritual sacrifice plays a minor role in Theravada Buddhism.
Is a righteous God who demands moral and ethical behavior from people

38. Charitable giving is important to Muslims because...
A Taoist endeavors to live a simple life. Taoism teaches inaction as the highest principle of being.
It acknowledges that everything belongs to Allah ultimately.
Monasticism
The mass

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

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40. According to Confucianism - what is the most important virtue a ruler can possess?
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
Benevolence
Both the Pentateuch and all oral and written teachings of Judaism
Used in Zen Buddhism to help a believer reach sudden insight.

41. What is taboo for Jews?
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires
Eating pork
Episcopalians believe in scripture as interpreted by tradition - whereas Lutherans believe that scripture alone is the sole authority on which their faith is based.
Meng-zi reinforced Confucius's teaching that people were innately good - whereas Xun-zi taught that people were innately evil.

42. Calling Hinduism polytheistic simplifies the religion because...
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.
Orthodox
Hindus believe that each deity is a representation of some aspect of Brahman
Upanishads

43. Most Protestant denominations build their services around...
Communion
Offered a spiritual approach to life
Reverence toward family and tradition
Religious conduct; commercial transactions; political actions; private life

44. Agnostic
Monasticism
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not
Officials were worried that Buddhism's popularity would affect people's loyalty to the government
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.

45. A Buddhist who is proud would not be practicing which principle of the Eight-Fold Path?
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.
The Christian belief that Jesus was the messiah
Connect with Brahman
Right Views

46. The delivery of the Jews from Persia is celebrated during...
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana
Meng-zi reinforced Confucius's teaching that people were innately good - whereas Xun-zi taught that people were innately evil.
Purim
Native American religions.

47. What is not a reason fundamentalist movements in any religion usually develop?
The growing materialism of Islam around the 800s
'Chuang Tzu'
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion
Rite of passage

48. King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church because he...
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
Confer special grace on the gravely ill person
Salvation came as a gift from God

49. Who united the Israelites into a single nation?
The struggle within a Muslim to live a good life
David
Meng-zi reinforced Confucius's teaching that people were innately good - whereas Xun-zi taught that people were innately evil.
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings

50. Not one of the holy cities to Muslims
Veneration of the saints
Baghdad; Baghdad was an important center of Islamic power during the caliphates.
The first week of mourning after a death
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism