Southern New Hampshire University
PHL-230 Religions of the World
EXAM 10 questions and answers
1
Which of the following is a characteristic of Confucianism?
It has no founding figure.
It lacks any important written texts.
It places no emphasis on ethical actions.
It is compatible with other religions.
CONCEPT
Confucianism
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2
Which religious scholar is known for talking about “power” and religion?
Emile Durkheim
Rudolf Otto
Friedrich Schleiermacher
Gerardus van der Leeuw
CONCEPT
The Religious Impulse
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3
What is the difference between an atheist and an agnostic?
An agnostic believes that the existence of God cannot be known,
whereas an atheist believes in the existence of God.
An atheist has not decided whether or not God exists, whereas
an agnostic believes that God does exist.
An agnostic believes that the existence of God cannot be known,
whereas an atheist believes that God does not exist.
An atheist is not sure of the existence of God, whereas an
agnostic rejects the existence of God.
CONCEPT
Religion and Society
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4
Which of the following statements is accurate regarding the relationship between religion and the family?
The family helps perpetuate religion by supplying it with
new believers.
The family is the sole focus of many religions.
Religion often dictates marriage structure, but it has little
influence on other family roles.
Religion requires families to be perpetuated.
CONCEPT
Religion and the Family
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5
Primal religions often practice animism, which is what?
Forbidding certain practices
How do the Jewish people view their relationship to God?
They see themselves as God's chosen people.
They see themselves as the only group of people who have not
sinned against God.
They see themselves as literally part of God.
They see themselves as exempt from God's commandments.
CONCEPT
Judaism
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8
Which of the following is true of defining religion?
CONCEPT
It has been straightforward and easily done.
It has never been discussed at all.
It has been difficult, and many different definitions have been given.
It has never been considered a worthwhile undertaking.
What is Religion?
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9
Buddhism teaches that the seek(s) to free humans from suffering caused by material things
and thus allow them to reach nirvana.
Three Jewels
Doctrine of Dependent Origination
Five Precepts
Four Noble Truths
CONCEPT
Buddhism
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10
While religions help individuals ask and answer ultimate questions, they also:
strive to keep those answers out of other areas, such as politics
and ethics.
influence the everyday life of those who take their religion to
be literally true, but rarely others.
avoid giving specific answers to such questions.
influence more mundane actions in everyday life, even if
individuals are unaware of the effect.
CONCEPT
Religion and the Individual
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11
Which of the following is an accurate description of the phenomenological approach to
religion?
Phenomenology seeks to answer questions related to the
underlying reality of the unseen.
The phenomenological approach seeks to understand religions
through an inquiry into religious experience.
Phenomenology uses a person’s own religion as a benchmark to
compare other religions against.
The phenomenological approach is able to track the
emergence and changes to religion over time.
CONCEPT
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12
One reason to study religion is that it is intertwined with society.
Which of the following correctly describes a way in which religion has been intertwined with society over time?
It has promoted globalism.
It is a recent development for humanity.
It has been used to establish order in societies.
It has been the sole focus of all societies.
CONCEPT
Reasons for Studying Religion
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13
What does it mean to try to be "objective" when studying religion?
To view different religions through the lens of your own
religious upbringing
To study the characteristics that unify all religions
To understand that all religions have the same set of core beliefs
To remain neutral when thinking about and interacting with
different religions
CONCEPT
Role of Religion in Modern Life
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14
Which of the following correctly defines the term "myth?"
A claim or narrative that seeks to explain phenomena that
early humans had no scientific evidence for
A claim or narrative used by primitive people to explain
phenomena that they found difficult to understand
A claim or narrative that binds together a community of people
A claim or narrative that is psychologically "true," despite
the absence of empirical or rational support for it
CONCEPT
Religion as Myth
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15
Hinduism is considered a henotheistic religion, which means what?
Each family worships their ancestors as gods.
Hindus do not worship any gods at all.
Unlike many other religions, Hindus worship a single female god.
One main god is venerated, while other gods are recognized as
well.
CONCEPT
Hinduism
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16
The term "Shinto" describes the indigenous religious tradition of Japan and also means what?
The divine sun
The divine wind
The way of the gods
Many gods
CONCEPT
Other Eastern Religions
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17
Which of the following is an example of “zakat?"
Traveling to Mecca for an annual pilgrimage
Donating money to those in need
Performing a ritual prayer
Loaning money for interest-based profit
CONCEPT
Religion and Economics
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18
How did early Christians identify Jesus?
As the prophesied Jewish messiah and Son of God
As the Son of God, come to overturn the Jewish prophecy
As a regular human being inspired by the Holy Spirit
As the Holy Spirit
CONCEPT
Christianity
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19
Which of the following is a question asked by theology?
How is religion defined?
What is the nature of God?
How do religions function in societies?
What is the history of humanity?
CONCEPT
Theology
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20
Within the discipline of comparative religions, the most commonly used categories for religions are
Abrahamic, Indian, and Taoic.
Which statement applies to Abrahamic religions?
This category of religion includes Hinduism and Buddhism.
The religions within this division are sometimes categorized as
nontheistic.
The religions within this category all claim a common ancestor.
The religions within this category originate in eastern Asia and
share similar beliefs.
CONCEPT
Comparative Religion
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21
Which of the following correctly describes the etymology of the word "religion?"
The origin of the word is believed to be a Greek word for "love
of wisdom."
The origin of the word is believed to be a Hebrew word for "holy."
The origin of the word is believed to be a Latin word
meaning "reverence toward the gods."
The origin of the word is believed to be a Latin term for "divine."
CONCEPT
"Origins" of Religion
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22
Which of the following statements is true of the relationship between religion and origins?
Origin stories provide a sense of shared identity to followers of
the religions, but have little relevance to the here and now.
Origin stories are sources of entertainment more than anything else.
Origin stories often include lessons for how religious adherents
should behave in the present.
Religions encourage followers to come up with their own origin
stories.
CONCEPT
Religion and Origins
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23
The Jewish celebration of the Hebrew's Exodus from Egypt is .
When and where did the historical-critical study of the Bible originate?
18th - 19th century Europe
1st century Palestine
3rd - 4th century Rome
20th century America
CONCEPT
Historical Approaches
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25
The Latin word "fanum" refers to what sacred space?
A tall mountain
A plot of land reserved for a temple
The family courtyard
A burial ground
CONCEPT
The Sacred and the Profane
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26
Categorizing a religion as "classical" indicates what?
It is no longer practiced.
It was primarily transmitted orally.
It rejects the modern scientific worldview.
It relies on a holy text.
CONCEPT
Categorizing Religions
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27
What is the collective name of the most important actions, such as charity and daily prayer, that
Muslims structure their worship and daily life around?
The Hadith
The Shahada
The Quran
The Five Pillars
CONCEPT
Islam
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28
Which of the following is an element that helps us recognize a religion intuitively, even if we do not
have a definition of religion?
Focus on the daily, mundane world
Interest in a "family resemblance"
A desire to encounter the sacred
A disregard of ultimate questions
CONCEPT
A "Definition" of Religion
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29
Whom of the following was a pioneer in the sociology of religion?
Mircea Eliade
Rudolf Otto
30
Which of the following is a focus of the philosophy of religion?
The philosophy of religion compares religious festivals.
The philosophy of religion may examine the existence of God.
The philosophy of religion uses qualitative tools of social science.
The philosophy of religion is concerned with the
quantitative method.
CONCEPT
Philosophy of Religion
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