Global Religions
Midterm Exam
Course Introduction
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the worlds major religious traditions, including but not limited to Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, as well as indigenous and newer religious movements. Students will examine the historical development, core beliefs, rituals, ethical systems, and social influence of each tradition. Through a comparative approach, the course analyzes the ways religions address fundamental human questions, and how they shape and are shaped by cultural, political, and global forces in the contemporary world. The course encourages critical reflection on religious diversity, interfaith interactions, and the complex role of religion in issues such as globalization, conflict, and social change.
Recommended Textbook Religions of the World 13th Edition by Lewis
M. Hopfe
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12 Chapters
380 Verified Questions
380 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: Native American Religions
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Why is peyote a part of some Native American religious ceremonies?
A) because of its profound sensory and psychic experiences
B) because of its anti-anxiety properties
C) because of its ability to be inhaled easily
D) because the High God requires that it be used
Answer: A
Q2) Which of the following is true of Native American religious leadership?
A) Only priests are allowed to perform rites and rituals.
B) There is rampant use of sacrifice.
C) Native American religions do not have a priesthood.
D) Only women are allowed to perform rites and rituals.
Answer: C
Q3) The Lakota (Sioux) belief in Wakan Tanka is an example of the abstract understanding of the A) Earth Mother.
B) Holy Son.
C) High God.
D) Holy Trinity.
Answer: C
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Page 3
Chapter 2: African Religions
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) For what reason might an African religious tradition require a priesthood?
A) to maintain and control temples
B) to perform death rituals
C) to cast spells
D) to preach
Answer: A
Q2) Who are believed to enforce social and moral codes in African religions?
A) ancestors
B) children
C) female gods
D) male gods
Answer: A
Q3) A situation in which one woman is the wife of several brothers is called
A) polygamy.
B) polygyny.
C) polyandry.
D) androgyny.
Answer: C
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Chapter 3: Hinduism
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35 Verified Questions
35 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The god of fire, through whom offerings were presented to the other gods, was
A) Vishnu.
B) Lakshmi.
C) Kali.
D) Agni.
Answer: D
Q2) How do American Hindu temples differ from those in India?
A) They are smaller.
B) They are dedicated to the worship of many gods.
C) They are populated by non-Indian Hindus.
D) They are always in rural areas.
Answer: B
Q3) This god, one and undivided, is the ultimate reality at the core of Hindu thought.
A) Kali
B) Brahman
C) Ganesha
D) Lakshmi
Answer: B
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Chapter 4: Buddhism
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Recount the life story of Gautama and discuss the relationship between the events of his life and the teachings he came to profess.
Q2) What is a correct characterization of the Western world's view toward Buddhism?
A) The West is predominantly Judeo/Christian and doesn't think about Buddhism.
B) The Western world is fascinated with Buddhism.
C) Whereas the West was once fascinated by Buddhism, it is no longer.
D) The West does not support the teachings of the Buddha.
Q3) The teachings of the Buddha are called the
A) Dharma.
B) Bodhisattva.
C) Samsara.
D) Sangha.
Q4) Which of the following is the larger and more liberal sect of Buddhism?
A) Arahayana
B) Mahayana
C) Sangha
D) Theravada
Q5) What did the Buddha teach about the soul, the gods, and animal sacrifice? Explain his teachings on these points incorporating his understanding of Nirvana.
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Chapter 5: Sikhism
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Based on the religious vision of Nanak, Sikhs believe that
A) "There is no Muslim and there is no Hindu."
B) "There is no Hindu and there is no Buddhist."
C) "There is no right and there is no wrong."
D) "There are no Sikhs."
Q2) Which of the following characterizes congregational worship by Sikhs?
A) There is a caste system.
B) Women are not allowed to participate.
C) Sikh priests run the ceremony.
D) Any member of the community may lead group services.
Q3) This Sikh holiday celebrates the day on which Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa.
A) Holi
B) Divali
C) Vaisakhi
D) Langar
Q4) Discuss the origin of the Khalsa and describe the rules to which they adhered and why.
Q5) Discuss the religious practice of modern Sikhs. How do the rituals and style of worship reflect distinctive Sikh beliefs?
Page 7
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Chapter 6: Jainism
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The philosophical worldview of Jainism can be described as A) monistic.
B) polytheistic.
C) dualistic.
D) singular.
Q2) Which group of people characterizes the ideal life of a Jain?
A) nuns
B) priests
C) brothers
D) monks
Q3) What are the five vows Jain monks take to guide their lives? Explain the reason for each vow and how it represents the ideal life of a Jain.
Q4) How many Tirthankaras preceded Mahavira in the founding of Jainism?
A) Ten
B) Fifteen
C) Twenty-three
D) Thirty-three
Q5) Discuss the basic Jain teachings. Give examples of them in the life of Mahavira.
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Chapter 7: Chinese Religions
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 1949, China underwent a revolution and became the People's Republic of China, under the direction of what kind of government?
A) fascist
B) Marxist
C) totalitarian
D) Stalinist
Q2) What effect did the death of Mao have on religious practices in China?
A) The government became more open to religions.
B) It had no effect on religious practices in China.
C) Confucianism proliferated.
D) Catholicism became the predominant religion of China.
Q3) In early April, Chinese people celebrate this holiday that involves the ancestors as well as ritual baths and the building of new fires.
A) The Dragon Boat Festival
B) All Souls' Day
C) Pure and Bright Festival
D) Chinese New Year
Q4) Describe the basic philosophy of the Daodejing and discuss how this text developed over centuries.
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Chapter 8: Shinto
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/75059
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is part of domestic Shinto practice?
A) keeping a household altar
B) performing a solemn seppuku ceremony
C) reading the Kojiki
D) praying at the family's sacred ossuary that contains the names of their ancestors
Q2) Most Japanese think of themselves as primarily
A) pacifist.
B) Buddhist.
C) Shinto.
D) agnostic.
Q3) The honorable suicide of a warrior who dies by slowly disemboweling himself is called
A) hari-kari.
B) kamikaze.
C) seppuku.
D) assisted suicide.
Q4) What are the three forms of Shinto and how are they similar? Different?
Q5) What are the challenges to the practice of domestic Shinto in contemporary Japan, and how is this religion surviving in response to those challenges?
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Chapter 9: Judaism
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33 Verified Questions
33 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 922 B.C.E., a rebellion split the nation of Israel into two nations. Which one survived?
A) Judah
B) Israel
C) Jerusalem
D) Palestine
Q2) A number of explanations for the Nazi Holocaust have been suggested. What are they? What were both the immediate and long-lasting results of this event?
Q3) In the years following the death of Muhammad, Muslims treated Jews and Christians better than they did other non-Muslims under their control because A) they were part of the Abrahamic faiths.
B) of the similarities in their respect for the prophets of Israel.
C) these two faith traditions were kind and charitable to the young Muhammad
D) their faith was God-given.
Q4) The Ten Commandments, which are basic to Jewish life, were given to
A) Jeremiah at Passover.
B) Moses on Mt. Sinai.
C) Solomon at Purim
D) Isaiah at Sukkot.
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Page 11
Chapter 10: Christianity
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38 Verified Questions
38 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is one problem facing the Catholic Church in the twenty-first century?
A) low church attendance
B) difficulty finding priests to serve the lay communities
C) large, diverse parishes
D) declining enrollment
Q2) This type of Christianity appeals to Americans who live in complex and often alienating environments.
A) Pentecostalism
B) Mormonism
C) Evangelicalism
D) Methodism
Q3) To remember the wise men who came to Bethlehem to find the infant Jesus, Western Christianity celebrates
A) Advent.
B) Christmas.
C) Pentecost.
D) Epiphany.
Q4) Discuss the growth of Christianity in the modern era, detailing the various Protestant denominations and how they came into being.
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Chapter 11: Islam
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34 Verified Questions
34 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The words and acts of the Prophet Muhammad and his close companions are known as
A) jihads.
B) hadith.
C) hajj.
D) imams.
Q2) The word Qur'an literally means
A) Revelation.
B) Recitation.
C) Holy Book.
D) Word of God.
Q3) An imam is chosen because of his A) piety and knowledge.
B) ability to fast and pray.
C) asceticism.
D) complete submission to God.
Q4) Those things that one must do to be a good Muslim are referred to as A) Ramadan.
B) the Five Pillars.
C) zakat.
D) salat.
Page 13
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Chapter 12: Bahai
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Discuss the connection of Baha'i to Shi'ite Islam and the ways in which Baha'i beliefs differ radically from Shi'ite beliefs.
Q2) Followers of Bab were called A) Bahaians.
B) Disciples of Bab.
C) Babus.
D) Babis.
Q3) Baha'is revere the Qur'an and the Bible but believe their teachings to be A) plausible.
B) contradictory.
C) symbolic.
D) heretical.
Q4) Baha'i originated in A) Syria.
B) Persia.
C) Egypt.
D) India.
Q5) Describe how Ali Muhammad and Husayn Ali became "gate of faith" and "glory of God" respectively.
Page 14
Q6) Summarize Baha'u'llah's teachings and the basic beliefs of Baha'i.
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