Survey of World Religions Study Guide Questions
Course Introduction
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the major religious traditions of the world, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and select indigenous and new religious movements. Through comparative analysis, students will explore the historical origins, core beliefs, rituals, sacred texts, and cultural practices of each tradition, as well as their impact on societies and individuals throughout history. The course encourages critical reflection on issues of religious diversity, interfaith dialogue, and the role of religion in shaping contemporary global affairs.
Recommended Textbook
Religions of the World 13th Edition by Lewis M. Hopfe
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12 Chapters
380 Verified Questions
380 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/3764 Page 2
Chapter 1: Native American Religions
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/75054
Sample Questions
Q1) What is a medicine bundle?
A) herbs and teas wrapped in canvas that are used during healing rituals
B) a talisman given to young men heading into battle
C) a collection of animal hides and bones, plants, and minerals that are believed to be a source of spiritual power
D) a fetish carried by medicine men
Answer: C
Q2) This religion, popular among the tribes in the Great Plains, combined elements of traditional Native American religions with Christianity.
A) Wovoka
B) Ghost Dance
C) Sun Dance
D) Native American Christianity
Answer: B
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Chapter 2: African Religions
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) According to the Yoruba creation story, the High God Olorun
A) created the world from a gourd.
B) provided direct assistance to the newly created human race.
C) tried unsuccessfully to delegate the task of creation.
D) destroyed the orishas and brought order to the world.
Answer: C
Q2) Among the curers of the Acholi of Uganda, jok and ajwaka are terms for
A) the evil spirits and the healer.
B) the divination of the illness and the diviner.
C) the illness and the herbal remedy.
D) the curse and the blessing.
Answer: A
Q3) What is one way to recognize the deities and ancestors in African traditions?
A) Wash hands before eating.
B) Pour out a bit of a drink.
C) Pray before eating.
D) Make an extra plate of food for an ancestor or god.
Answer: B
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4
Chapter 3: Hinduism
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35 Verified Questions
35 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Bhagavad Gita is an epic poem about
A) the creation of the world.
B) a great battle.
C) a great flood.
D) the coming of Lakshmi at the end of time.
Answer: B
Q2) What does Hinduism share with most religions today?
A) issues over population control
B) issues over revitalizing the religion
C) issues over modernity
D) issues over immigration
Answer: C
Q3) Early Indian society developed into three basic classes called A) varnas.
B) Brahmins.
C) Shudras.
D) Indras.
Answer: A
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Chapter 4: Buddhism
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) What did the Buddha teach about the soul, the gods, and animal sacrifice? Explain his teachings on these points incorporating his understanding of Nirvana.
Q2) What is the name for individuals achieving Nirvana?
A) arhat
B) Buddha
C) Kabira
D) sangha
Q3) Buddhism began as an interpretation of what religious system?
A) Christianity
B) Hinduism
C) Islam
D) Shinto
Q4) When the Buddha stopped searching for enlightenment, he A) died.
B) became a monk.
C) found enlightenment.
D) became an ascetic.
Q5) Recount the life story of Gautama and discuss the relationship between the events of his life and the teachings he came to profess.
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Chapter 5: Sikhism
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/75058
Sample Questions
Q1) Sikhs refer to their God as A) Allah.
B) Jehovah.
C) The True Name.
D) Father God.
Q2) To Sikhs, the word guru means A) teacher.
B) priest.
C) follower.
D) leader.
Q3) Prospective Sikhs enter the religion through the ritual of A) baptism.
B) confirmation.
C) re-evangelization.
D) cleansing.
Q4) Discuss the religious practice of modern Sikhs. How do the rituals and style of worship reflect distinctive Sikh beliefs?
Q5) Describe life for modern-day Sikhs. What challenges do they face and why?
Q6) Discuss the origin of the Khalsa and describe the rules to which they adhered and why.
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) Explain the disagreement between the Svetambara sect and the Digambara sect regarding the role of women in Jainism. Which sect can claim to more truly adhere to the teachings of Mahavira?
Q2) Mahavira and the other figures associated with the establishment of Jainism are called Tirthankaras, which means
A) noble ones.
B) crossing builders.
C) conquerors.
D) enlightened one.
Q3) Which of the following is true regarding the role of women in the Digambara Jain sect?
A) Women are exalted.
B) Women are considered more powerful than men.
C) Women are prohibited from entering monasteries and temples.
D) Women may find "release" just like men.
Q4) Mahavira taught that karma is built up as the result of what type of conduct?
A) evil conduct
B) righteous conduct
C) all conduct
D) prayerful conduct
Page 8
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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 direct contradiction to the teachings of Mencius, Xunzi contended that people are basically
A) good at heart.
B) evil in nature.
C) dishonest.
D) heretics.
Q2) Which of the following is a traditional Chinese holiday?
A) All Saints Day
B) Purification Festival
C) Yinyang Festival
D) All Souls' Day
Q3) Why did the fourth-century Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi turn down the prince's offer to appoint him to the position of prime minister?
A) He, like many Daoists, had contempt for rank and wealth.
B) He did not think he was offered enough money to take the position.
C) He did not like the politics of Prince Wei.
D) He was old and didn't want to work anymore.
Q4) Describe the role of li in Confucianism.
Q5) Describe the political difficulties facing religions in China today.
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Chapter 8: Shinto
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The religious side of Shinto was forced to identify separately from the nationalistic, militarized side of Shinto during which era?
A) the Seppuku
B) the Meiji
C) the Shen Dao
D) the Kami-no-michi
Q2) Shinto continues to exist today due to
A) private donations.
B) governmental support.
C) international support.
D) a renewed interest in faith healing.
Q3) Discuss the 1889 Constitution and what changes it brought to Shinto as a religious practice.
Q4) Central to domestic Shinto is the "god-shelf," or
A) kami-dana.
B) kojiki.
C) shogatsu.
D) ullambana.
Q5) What are the three forms of Shinto and how are they similar? Different?
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Chapter 9: Judaism
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33 Verified Questions
33 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The most important role of these individuals in the ancient Israelite religion was to point out infractions of the law and plead for a return to justice.
A) messiahs
B) prophets
C) rabbis
D) priests
Q2) This movement resulted when Theodor Herzl and others called for a Jewish state because they believed that until the Jews had a land of their own, they would never receive fair treatment.
A) Zionism
B) Hasidism
C) Orthodox Judaism
D) Colonialism
Q3) This was placed in Solomon's temple and remained there until the Babylonians destroyed the temple.
A) the Torah
B) the Ark of the Covenant
C) King Josiah's Scrolls of the Law
D) the tablet containing the Ten Commandments
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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 was Jesus's first public act?
A) declaring himself the messiah
B) baptism by John the Baptist
C) preaching to the poor
D) working a miracle
Q2) 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.
Q3) Which of the following was a major impetus for Luther to post his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg?
A) the sale of holy statues
B) the promise of heaven to believers
C) the sale of indulgences
D) the suppression of all other religions in Germany
Q4) Is Jesus a historical or spiritual figure? Explain your answer.
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Page 12
Chapter 11: Islam
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34 Verified Questions
34 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Shia Islam still has a strong hold on which one of the following countries?
A) Kuwait
B) Iran
C) Ethiopia
D) Lebanon
Q2) The first words a Muslim child hears is a confession of faith called
A) shahada.
B) salat.
C) zakat.
D) sawm.
Q3) What is the name for a religious pilgrimage to Mecca?
A) salat
B) jihad
C) hajj
D) zakat
Q4) Muslim beliefs concerning heaven and hell are
A) dissimilar to those of Jewish eschatological schemes.
B) dissimilar to those of Christian eschatological schemes.
C) similar to both Jewish and Christian eschatological schemes.
D) completely unique.
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Chapter 12: Bahai
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30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/75063
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is true concerning Baha'i worship?
A) It is very similar to many other religions.
B) Services are held usually in temples with domed roofs and nine sides.
C) There is often no special clergy to conduct the worship.
D) Worship tends to be elaborate.
Q2) Summarize Baha'u'llah's teachings and the basic beliefs of Baha'i.
Q3) Many regulations govern the daily life of Baha'i, but this is the most important aspect of daily living.
A) service
B) comfort
C) prayer
D) love
Q4) How does Baha'i teaching on the essential oneness of humanity compare to the perspectives of other religions on the same topic?
Q5) In terms of how it views other religions, Baha'i teaches that
A) all religions are not created equal.
B) there is a basic unity of all religions.
C) Baha'is is the only true religion.
D) all minor differences between religions should be examined closely.
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