UWR C 2 Critical Thinking in Academic Work

What is essential in developing the critical thinking necessary in academic work according to Chapter 2 - A Biased Canon?

• Recognizing the power of and inclination toward bias

• Studying a variety of textbooks

• Focusing solely on Western religions

• Ignoring the study of African religions

How have African religions traditionally been treated in academic studies?

• With equal importance to other world religions

• As a central part of religious studies

• With an implicit racist bias

• As the most diverse religious practices

According to the text, how does Smart's book 'The World’s Religions' treat African religions?

• Positively, as an example of religious diversity

• Negatively, as an example of unfavorable treatment

• Indifferently, with no particular bias

• As the leading authority on religious practices

What does Smart claim about Indian religions in contrast to African religions?

• He views Indian religions as limited and simplistic

• He dismisses Indian religions as a form of 'refracted theism'

• He regards Indian religions as an exciting and creative phenomenon

• He considers Indian religions to have a particular problem in terms of their relation to 'modern science'

How does Smart view the expressions of anthropomorphism in African religions?

• As a 'splendid act of imagination'

• As a central ritual

• As a gesture of communication with god

• As limited and simplistic

How did the Enlightenment thinkers' view of Africans affect the perception of African religions at the World Congress of Religions in 1893?

• It led to a high appreciation of African religions.

• It had no impact on the perception of African religions.

• It caused African religions to be well-received and respected.

• It resulted in African religions being largely ignored by progressive scholars.

What is one reason given for the minimal attention African religions received in scholarly religious texts?

• The complexity of African religious practices.

• The lack of written texts and sensational accounts from traders and missionaries.

• The widespread acceptance of African religions in Europe.

• The influence of African philosophy on European thought.

Which movements helped to reinterpret Indian religions, leading to a newfound respectability among scholars?

• Enlightenment and Christianity.

• Vedanta and Theosophy.

• African spiritual movements.

• European philosophical societies.

What was the result of reinterpretations by intellectual movements and apologetics regarding Indian religions?

• They were dismissed as primitive.

• They gained respectability that African faiths did not.

• They were ignored in favor of African religions.

• They led to a decline in the study of religious texts.