Southern New Hampshire University
PHL-230 Religions of the World
EXAM 14 questions and answers
1
Which of the following is an element that helps us recognize a religion intuitively, even if we do not
have a definition of religion?
Interest in a "family resemblance"
A desire to encounter the sacred
A disregard of ultimate questions
Focus on the daily, mundane world
CONCEPT
A "Definition" of Religion
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2
How do the Jewish people view their relationship to God?
They see themselves as literally part of God.
They see themselves as God's chosen people.
They see themselves as exempt from God's commandments.
They see themselves as the only group of people who have not
sinned against God.
CONCEPT
Judaism
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3
Which of the following is a question asked by theology?
How do religions function in societies?
What is the nature of God?
How is religion defined?
What is the history of humanity?
CONCEPT
Theology
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4
Which of the following is a characteristic of Confucianism?
It lacks any important written texts.
It is compatible with other religions.
It has no founding figure.
It places no emphasis on ethical actions.
CONCEPT
Confucianism
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5
Foods that are considered permissible in Islam are called .
halal
vegetarian
haram
kosher
CONCEPT
Religion and Food
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6
Hinduism is considered a henotheistic religion, which means what?
One main god is venerated, while other gods are recognized as
well.
Unlike many other religions, Hindus worship a single female god.
Each family worships their ancestors as gods.
Hindus do not worship any gods at all.
CONCEPT
Hinduism
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7
How did early Christians identify Jesus?
Which of the following is an example of “zakat?"
Donating money to those in need
Loaning money for interest-based profit
Performing a ritual prayer
Traveling to Mecca for an annual pilgrimage
CONCEPT
Religion and Economics
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9
When and where did the historical-critical study of the Bible originate?
20th century America
1st century Palestine
18th - 19th century Europe
3rd - 4th century Rome
CONCEPT
Historical Approaches
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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 more mundane actions in everyday life, even if
individuals are unaware of the effect.
avoid giving specific answers to such questions.
influence the everyday life of those who take their religion to
be literally true, but rarely others.
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 uses a person’s own religion as a benchmark to
compare other religions against.
The phenomenological approach seeks to understand religions
through an inquiry into religious experience.
Phenomenology seeks to answer questions related to the
underlying reality of the unseen.
The phenomenological approach is able to track the emergence
and changes to religion over time.
CONCEPT
Phenomenology
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12
The term "Shinto" describes the indigenous religious tradition of Japan and also means what?
Many gods
The way of the gods
The divine wind
The divine sun
CONCEPT
Other Eastern Religions
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13
Which of the following correctly describes the etymology of the word "religion?"
The origin of the word is believed to be a Latin term for "divine."
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 Greek word for "love
of wisdom."
CONCEPT
"Origins" of Religion
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14
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 Five Pillars
The Hadith
The Shahada
The Quran
CONCEPT
Islam
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15
The Jewish celebration of the Hebrew's Exodus from Egypt is .
Passover
Ramadan
Easter
Resurrection
CONCEPT
Religion as Culture & Social Convention
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16
What is the difference between an atheist and an agnostic?
An atheist is not sure of the existence of God, whereas an agnostic
rejects the existence of God.
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.
CONCEPT
Religion and Society
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17
Categorizing a religion as "classical" indicates what?
It was primarily transmitted orally.
It rejects the modern scientific worldview.
It relies on a holy text.
It is no longer practiced.
CONCEPT
Categorizing Religions
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18
What does it mean to try to be "objective" when studying religion?
To understand that all religions have the same set of core beliefs
To view different religions through the lens of your own
religious upbringing
To remain neutral when thinking about and interacting with
different religions
To study the characteristics that unify all religions
CONCEPT
Role of Religion in Modern Life
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19
Which of the following correctly defines the term "myth?"
A claim or narrative used by primitive people to explain
phenomena that they found difficult to understand
A claim or narrative that is psychologically "true," despite
the absence of empirical or rational support for it
A claim or narrative that seeks to explain phenomena that
early humans had no scientific evidence for
A claim or narrative that binds together a community of people
CONCEPT
Religion as Myth
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20
Which of the following statements is true of the relationship between religion and origins?
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.
Origin stories are sources of entertainment more than anything else.
Origin stories provide a sense of shared identity to followers of
the religions, but have little relevance to the here and now.
CONCEPT
Religion and Origins
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21
Whom of the following was a pioneer in the sociology of religion?
Rudolf Otto
Mircea Eliade
Gerardus van der Leeuw
Emile Durkheim
CONCEPT
Sociology of Religion
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22
Which of the following statements is accurate regarding the relationship between religion and the family?
Religion often dictates marriage structure, but it has little
influence on other family roles.
The family helps perpetuate religion by supplying it with
new believers.
Religion requires families to be perpetuated.
The family is the sole focus of many religions.
CONCEPT
Religion and the Family
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23
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 category all claim a common ancestor.
The religions within this category originate in eastern Asia and
share similar beliefs.
The religions within this division are sometimes categorized as
nontheistic.
CONCEPT
Comparative Religion
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24
Primal religions often practice animism, which is what?
Forbidding certain practices
Ancestor worship
Animal sacrifice
A reverence for nature spirits
CONCEPT
Primal Religions
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25
Which religious scholar is known for talking about “power” and religion?
Rudolf Otto
Emile Durkheim
Gerardus van der Leeuw
Friedrich Schleiermacher
CONCEPT
The Religious Impulse
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26
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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27
The Latin word "fanum" refers to what sacred space?
A plot of land reserved for a temple
A tall mountain
A burial ground
The family courtyard
CONCEPT
The Sacred and the Profane
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28
Which of the following is a focus of the philosophy of religion?
The philosophy of religion compares religious festivals.
The philosophy of religion is concerned with the
quantitative method.
The philosophy of religion uses qualitative tools of social science.
The philosophy of religion may examine the existence of God.
CONCEPT
Philosophy of Religion
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29
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 has been the sole focus of all societies.
It is a recent development for humanity.
Which of the following is true of defining religion?
It has never been considered a worthwhile undertaking.
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.
CONCEPT
What is Religion?
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