LIVING RELIGIONS
Tenth Edition
Pat Fisher and Robin Rinehart
Mary
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ISBN 10: 0-13-416913-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-13-416913-2
Chapter 1 – Religious Responses
Multiple Choice
1. The word “religion” probably means
a. peace and harmony.
b. to worship the divine.
c. to tie again.
d. spiritual balance.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.1 Explain what is meant by spirituality.
Topic: Chapter Introduction
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 2
2. The word “spirituality” refers to
a. liturgy and the communion of Saints.
b. relationship with the divine.
c. worship and sacraments.
d. the inner dimensions of religion.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.1 Explain what is meant by spirituality.
Topic: Attempts to define religion
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 3
3. A scholar of comparative religions
a. examines a variety of religions in order to understand religious patterns.
b. examines one religion’s understanding of the words “immanent” and “transcendent. ”
c. examines how a religion shapes society.
d. examines how a religion developed historically.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 1.3 Differentiate between monotheistic, polytheistic, and nontheistic.
Topic: Understandings of Ultimate Reality
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 11
4. A person who proclaims that his or her religion is the only true religion is an example of a(n)
a. polytheist.
b. inclusivist.
c. pluralist.
d. exclusivist.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.3 Differentiate between monotheistic, polytheistic, and nontheistic
Topic: Understandings of Ultimate Reality
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 12
5. Why do some scholars question whether or not the concept of “religion” is useful?
a. because they prefer everything to be secular
b. because the concept is so complex and elusive
c. because religion is no longer central to people’s lives
d. because religion is no longer politically significant
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 1.1 Explain what is meant by spirituality.
Topic: Attempts to define religion
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 3
6. Joseph Campbell thought myths, such as the hero’s journey, were meaningful because they
a. formed a sacred belief structure that supported the ways of the community.
b. were retellings of ancient events.
c. were from the Bible
d. it taught the community spiritual truth.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 1.4 Explain the significance of rituals, symbols, and myths in religion
Topic: Ritual, symbol, and myth
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 17
7. Someone who believes in intelligent design might support this claim by referencing a. gradual changes in organisms over great lengths of time.
b. the random nature of existence.
c. the ever-expanding universe.
d. the weak force in the nucleus of an atom.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.6 Discuss the major positions that have emerged in the dialogue between science and religion since the nineteenth century.
Topic: The encounter between science and religion
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 24
8. According to Max Weber, how might a religion be formed after a magnetic person dies?
a. That person’s son or daughter takes on the role as leader.
b. That person is considered a martyr.
c. That person’s followers turn the original inspiration into routines and organizations.
d. That person’s followers start to claim their leader was a deity
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.8 Identify the factors that contribute to the negative aspects of organized religions.
Topic: Negative aspects of organized religions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 26
9. The fact that religion can be found is some form, in every culture around the world, is known as the theory of
a. supernatural materialism.
b. scientific materialism.
c. universal materialism.
d. imagined materialism.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 1.2 Identify three perspectives used to explain the existence of religion.
Topic: Why are there religions?
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 5
10. Mata Amritanandamayi saying “Faith in God gives one the mental strength needed to confront the problems of life” is an example of a(n)
a. defining perspective on religion.
b. ethical focus on religion.
c. functional perspective on religion.
d. etiological focus on religion.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.2 Identify three perspectives used to explain the existence of religion
Topic: Why are there religions?
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Page: 7
11. Why might someone accept dogma with absolute faith without ever experiencing it?
a. It provides a sense of rootedness, meaning, and orderliness.
b. They are not rational people.
c. They live in an oppressive society
d. It promises them a better life after death.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 1.2 Identify three perspectives used to explain the existence of religion
Topic: Why are there religions?
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Page: 8
12. A person who is meditating in a cave has an experience in which he or she sees and feels something beyond human senses and reasoning. This experience could be called a(n)
a. absolute faith.
b. mystical experience.
c charismatic experience
d. orthodox experience.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 1.2 Identify three perspectives used to explain the existence of religion.
Topic: Why are there religions?
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know and Analyze It Page: 9
13. According to Mircea Eliade, how is the sacred different from the everyday world of random and unimportant occurrences?
a. It only exists in heaven.
b. It is Ultimate Reality.
c. It only existed at the beginning of time
d. It is purposeful.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.3 Differentiate between monotheistic, polytheistic, and nontheistic
Topic: Understandings of Ultimate Reality
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 11
14. How have demographics recently changed in the majority of prestigious U.S. Christian seminaries in response to feminist critiques?
a. Women in ministerial training outnumber men.
b. Women are no longer allowed to study
c. There has been no change.
d. Fewer people are attending these seminaries
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 1.7 Describe how women are challenging the patriarchal nature of many institutionalized religions.
Topic: Women in religions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 26
15. Why is it important for scholars to ask questions about their own approach to the study of religion?
a. It helps them remember their own religious beliefs.
b. It helps them understand their own perspective while undertaking their study.
c. It helps them be completely objective about their study.
d. It reinforces their role as the scholar
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 1.9 Summarize the different “lenses” used by scholars to study religion.
Topic: Lenses for studying religions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 27
16. Women’s role in the reform of religions can be seen in the lobby for
a. literal translations.
b. partitioned seating areas.
c. gender-inclusive language.
d. abolition of religious authorities
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.7 Describe how women are challenging the patriarchal nature of many institutionalized religions.
Topic: Women in religions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 25
17. How does a scholar “try to listen carefully to individuals of all faiths as they tell their stories”?
a. by questioning his or her own personal lens and bias
b. by focusing on cultural influences and patriarchal interpretations
c. by reading translations and teachings
d. by questioning a source’s relevance and reliability
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 1.9 Summarize the different “lenses” used by scholars to study religion
Topic: Lenses for studying religions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 27
18. The historical-critical academic approach to the study of religion
a. accepts that legends of the prophets as truth.
b. denies the existence of many prophets.
c. accepts or rejects truth claims of a religion
d. attempts to reconstruct the historical life stories of prophets.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.5 Contrast absolutist with liberal interpretations of a religious tradition
Topic: Absolutist and liberal responses to modernity
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Page: 18
19. The patriarchal values of religious institutions can be found in all of the following examples EXCEPT
a. women often being relegated to the margins of an organization.
b. women being allowed to serve as religious authorities.
c. women being given supporting roles
d. women believed to be incapable of spiritual realization.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 1.7 Describe how women are challenging the patriarchal nature of many institutionalized religions.
Topic: Women in religions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Page: 25
20. When we take the time to learn about each other’s beliefs, the journey
a. shows heretical differences outside of our faith tradition.
b. proves how our own beliefs are right.
c. brings us closer and makes us more tolerant
d. expands our knowledge by using reason to determine the validity of that faith.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.8 Identify the factors that contribute to the negative aspects of organized religions
Topic: Negative aspects of organized religions
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Page: 27
21. Sophia is not interested in organized religious institutions, but she still wants to cultivate her inner dimension through personal beliefs and practices. It can be said that Sophia wishes to focus on which dimension of religion?
a. orthodox
b. spiritual
c. fundamental
d. material
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 1.1 Explain what is meant by spirituality.
Topic: Attempts to define religion
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know and Analyze It Page: 3
22. Scientific materialism asserts that
a. only the material world exists.
b. religion and science are compatible.
c. the supernatural is real.
d. mysticism is a means of gaining knowledge of the material world
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 1.6 Discuss the major positions that have emerged in the dialogue between science and religion since the nineteenth century.
Topic: The encounter between science and religion
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 20
23. A Sufi teacher tells a story about a joyous man being swallowed into the sea to illustrate the joy of union with the divine. This is an example of what type of religious narrative?
a. orthodox
b. myth
c. canon
d. allegory
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.4 Explain the significance of rituals, symbols, and myths in religion.
Topic: Ritual, symbol, and myth
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know and Analyze It
Page: 16
24. Psychologist Carl Jung proposed that the reason there are similarities among symbols in different cultures is that
a. symbols involve logical associations with the natural world.
b. humanity has a collective unconscious, a global psychic inheritance of archetypal symbols.
c. cultures have borrowed symbols from one another.
d. there are a limited number of symbols available
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 1.4 Explain the significance of rituals, symbols, and myths in religion
Topic: Ritual, symbol, and myth
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 16
25. Editing of scripture is called
a. revelation.
b. rejection.
c. interpretation.
d. redaction.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.5 Contrast absolutist with liberal interpretations of a religious tradition.
Topic: Absolutist and liberal responses to modernity
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 19
26. Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species propounded the theory of a. scientific materialism.
b. fundamentalism.
c. evolution by natural selection.
d. dualism
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.6 Discuss the major positions that have emerged in the dialogue between science and religion since the nineteenth century.
Topic: The encounter between science and religion
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 20
27. In the Hindu Upanishads, Ultimate Reality is said to be indescribable because it is beyond human sensory experiences. This teaching is a discussion of
a. metaphysics.
b. exclusivism.
c. immanence
d. polytheism.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 1.6 Discuss the major positions that have emerged in the dialogue between science and religion since the nineteenth century
Topic: The encounter between science and religion
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know and Analyze It
Page: 22
28. Women were given more respect than what culture dictated by a. Vishnu.
b. the Bab.
c. the Prophet Muhammad.
d. Abraham.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 1.7 Describe how women are challenging the patriarchal nature of many institutionalized religions.
Topic: Women in religions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 25
29. Many of the phenomena of religion are found in
a. its institutional character.
b. ways of worship, symbols, and myths.
c. writings by its founding members.
d. relics and artifacts of holy people.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 1.4 Explain the significance of rituals, symbols, and myths in religions.
Topic: Ritual, symbol, and myth
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 14
30. Scholar Max Weber referred to the danger of putting more energy into preserving the outer form of a tradition than in maintaining the inner spirit. He called this process the
a. punishment-oriented.
b. problem of guilt.
c. meditation.
d. routinization of charisma.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 1.8 Identify the factors that contribute to the negative aspects of organized religions
Topic: Negative aspects of organized religions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Page: 26
Essays
31. Some people claim that it is impossible to actually study religion as a category. Why? Please give specific examples.
Answer: The ideal answer should include:
1. A discussion of the roots of the study of religion and the difficulty of applying Western Christian categories to religious systems that may or may not fit the Christian categorical pattern
2. Examples of the complexity and elusive nature of the concept, such as not all religions have creeds, separate the sacred from the profane, or have theistic models for thinking about Ultimate Reality
3. References to the different disciplinary lenses and personal perspectives. Learning Objective: 1.2 Identify three perspectives used to explain the existence of religion
Topic: Why are there religions?; Understandings of Ultimate Reality; Absolutist and liberal responses to modernity; Lenses for studying religion
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know and Analyze It
Page: 5–14, 17–19, 27
32. Please describe the roles of ritual, symbol, and myth in religion. Give specific examples to demonstrate how ritual, symbol, and myth are useful for creating meaning in the lives of religious people.
Answer: The ideal answer should include:
1. Clear definitions of ritual, symbol, and myth
2. An explanation of how these actions, symbols, and narratives help to create an environment of religious awareness
3. Examples of rituals, symbols, and myths from the text
Learning Objective: 1.4 Explain the significance of rituals, symbols, and myths in religions.
Topic: Ritual, symbol, and myth
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know and Analyze It
Page: 14–17
33. “I’m spiritual, not religious” is a phrase that is becoming more common in everyday discussions of religion. This is rooted in aspects of organized religion that are potentially negative. Please discuss the potentially negative aspects of religion. Give specific contemporary examples of religion that affect people negatively.
Answer: The ideal answer should include:
1. A discussion of the inner dimension of religion in contrast to the outer institutionalization of religion
2. A discussion of examples of negative aspects given in the text, including charismatic leadership, the inability to verify the spiritual claims and experiences of religious figures, exacerbation of personal guilt, a tendency to escapism, and the potential abuse of religious belief for political gains
3 A discussion of current events in the news in which religion has played a contributing role to violence, religious cults, or questions of religions and politics
Learning Objective: 1.8 Identify the factors that contribute to the negative aspects of organized religions.
Topic: Attempts to define religion; Negative aspects of organized religions
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know and Analyze It
Page: 2–5, 26–27
Copyright © 2017, 2014, 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliates.