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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 Vedanta system of Hinduism is based on the...
Thomas Aquinas
Upanishads
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin
Judaism; Christianity; Islam

2. Taoism and Buddhism are similar in that both teach that...
Provides many people a counterweight to changing social mores
Connect with Brahman
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life
Baghdad; Baghdad was an important center of Islamic power during the caliphates.

3. African religions are unlike Hinduism in which ways?
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.
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced
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.
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).

4. An aspect of Buddhism that is less popular in the Western world is...
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.
Zoroastrianism.
Monasticism
Icons

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

6. Cult of Isis and Osiris.
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism
Xun-zi
Jesus
Religious practice of ancient Egyptians

7. The word 'Islam' means...
Jewish mysticism
Submission
The growing materialism of Islam around the 800s
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.

8. In the Roman Catholic Church - the feast of the Epiphany broadly commemorates...
Roman Catholicism
A group's identification with an animal - which is a totem
The recognition of Jesus as the messiah of Israel and the savior of all peoples
Monasticism

9. Women cannot become cantors and rabbis in which branch of Judaism?
Hinduism
Destruction of the second Temple and the end of Palestine in 70 C.E.
Orthodox
Upanishads

10. Divali
The Hindu Festival of lights.
Quality of human-heartedness. 'Jen' may also be translated as social virtue or goodness.
French Protestants who followed the teachings of John Calvin
Householder

11. Buddhism declined in India until...
It was absorbed into Hinduism. Over time - Hinduism adopted some of the concepts of Buddhism and Buddha became one of many Hindu gods.
The Hindu Festival of lights.
Men and women sitting together
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.

12. To say the Shahadah is to...

13. The primary factor that has motivated the growth of Islamic fundamentalism is the...
Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations; Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations
Transubstantiation
A path to release the mind from distractions
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).

14. What is NOT considered a theocracy?

15. Circumcision is a rite of passage found in which religions?
A messiah
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
Judaism; Islam; Traditional African religions
Zoroastrianism.

16. What religion believes in Purgatory?
An imperceptible presence in the universe
Roman Catholics
Roman Catholicism
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.

17. The purpose of the Catholic sacrament of Anointing the Sick is to...
Confer special grace on the gravely ill person
Orthodox
Desire is the cause of all suffering; The Eightfold Path; All life is suffering; The only way to end suffering is to end desire
Buddhism; Confucianism; Taoism

18. The term 'kosher' refers to...
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.
Provides many people a counterweight to changing social mores
Helps others to find nirvana
Jewish dietary laws

19. A central belief of the Roman Catholic Church NOT shared by Protestant denominations.
Hasidic Jews
Myths explain the natural world and the reasons for the religious beliefs and customs of a group
Transubstantiation
Sephardim

20. Whereas Hindus refuse to eat beef - Muslims refuse to eat...
Pork
Bring the gift of God's grace
Reverence toward family and tradition
Protestant doctorine but Catholic ritual

21. In Zen Buddhism - 'satori' is...
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
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
Enlightenment
Disappeared after the Assyrians captured Israel

22. The delivery of the Jews from Persia is celebrated during...
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.
The Exodus
Purim
Humaneness

23. What is not elements of indigenous religious practices...
Filial piety
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.
Roman Catholicism
Judaism; Islam

24. In the Confucian set of relationships - special importance was placed on the role of the...
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.
Ruler; The ruler as the superior
Law of Manu (describes the caste system and the duties of each caste).
A compilation of ancient Jewish oral law and rabbinical teachings

25. That God is all-knowing - all-powerful - all-present - and one and undivided are beliefs of both Islam and...
Right Views
Judaism
Reliance on magic
Doctrine of papal infallibility

26. What are aspects of Buddhism's Four Noble Truths?
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 concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
Vedanta; The Vedanta system holds that all the world - including humans - is an illusion
The most sacred to Muslims

27. Twelvers believe...
That the last imam will return and with him - Judgment Day
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.
The Exodus
Baal Shem Tov

28. Which Christian denomination believes in purgatory?
Officials were worried that Buddhism's popularity would affect people's loyalty to the government
Roman Catholicism
Pacifism
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not

29. 'Chosen People' of God.
Jews; This is the promise that Yahweh made to Abraham
In response to the works of scientists and philosophers like Darwin and Marx
Sign of Yahweh's presence among the Jews
Things like ambition - wealth - and power keep people from their real purpose in life

30. The best description of an arahat in Theravada Buddhism is one who has...
Collections of sayings and actions of Muhammad
Moksha
The sun goddess - believed to be the direct ancestor of the Japanese emperor - and a very important deity in Shinto.
Achieved enlightenment

31. Seeking converts is NOT an important element of...
Good government could become oppressive if it interfered too much in people's lives
Judaism
A compilation of ancient Jewish oral law and rabbinical teachings
Achieved enlightenment

32. The position of caliph evolved so that caliphs...
A messiah
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
In response to the works of scientists and philosophers like Darwin and Marx
Veneration of the saints

33. What man taught that humans are innately evil and must be closely controlled?
Moksha
Xun-zi
No schools that teach religion to their followers
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

34. What quality would best express the Confucian principle of jen?
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings
Humaneness
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
The most sacred to Muslims

35. What is an accurate description of Martin Luther's teachings?
Luther denied the infallibility of the pope.
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.
Jesus is actually present in the bread and wine in communion
Ruler; The ruler as the superior

36. An important force for Christian unity in the twentieth century was...
A compilation of ancient Jewish oral law and rabbinical teachings
Confucianism
Ecumenism.
Religious practice of ancient Egyptians

37. Agnostic
Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations; Exposure to Western culture and the growing secularization of Muslim nations
Helps others to find nirvana
A person who is not sure whether there is a supreme being or not
Hindus believe that each deity is a representation of some aspect of Brahman

38. A common theme of the world's religions is that...
There is a connection between all things that exist
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.
That the last imam will return and with him - Judgment Day
While delaying their own entrance into nirvana

39. A major difference between Tibetan Buddhism and other Buddhist sects is Tibetan Buddhism's...
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
Reliance on magic
The dominant theme of Taoism
Roman Catholicism

40. Gnosticism's influence on Christianity can be seen in Christianity's...
The concepts of purity and pollution remain the basis for the caste system.
Profess one's Islamic faith
Connect with Brahman
Emphasis on the goodness of the spirit over the evilness of the flesh.

41. To connect with the Tao - Chuang Tzu advises people to...
Roman Catholicism
Empty their minds of all thoughts and desires
Orthodox
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.

42. The Church of England/Anglican Church was a compromise that resulted in...
A distraction from seeking salvation; For these sects - any attachment is a distraction and must be renounced
Dowries were given to brides - not their fathers; Women gained property and inheritance rights; Mistreatment of wives in marriage was forbidden
Ahura Mazda
Protestant doctorine but Catholic ritual

43. Hinduism differs from Buddhism in Hinduism's acceptance of...
Filial piety
Confer special grace on the gravely ill person
In response to the works of scientists and philosophers like Darwin and Marx
The caste system.

44. The Protestant Reformation began with...
Jewish dietary laws
Hindu
Martin Luther
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.

45. Wahhabism
Just social action; Confucius taught the importance of acting justly in all social interactions.
Roman Catholicism
A conservative movement within Islam
Roman Catholicism

46. Islam is similar to Judaism in that...
Does not include worship of spirits or divine beings
Roman Catholicism
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.
Tantras of Tibetan Buddhism

47. Monasticism in the West during the Middle Ages is credited with...
Veneration of the saints
It emphasizes the joyous and ecstatic nature of Judaism
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.
The desire to convert nonbelievers and spread the religion

48. Some authorities do not consider Confucianism a religion primarily because it does not include...
'Chuang Tzu'
Any gods
Roman Catholicism; Roman Catholics have a special devotion to the Virgin Mary that is a major difference with other Christian denominations.
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.

49. The Mahdi is the Islamic equivalent of...
A group's identification with an animal - which is a totem
Roman Catholicism
Marriage for the clergy
A messiah

50. What statement about the Qur'an is not true?
Transubstantiation
It describes Allah as a strict - distant - and unresponsive god
Offered a spiritual approach to life
Provides many people a counterweight to changing social mores