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Worksheets

World Religions

Total questions: 80

Worksheet time: 20hrs 0mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following accurately describes Ramadan?

a)

It is the Muslim month of fasting.

b)

It is the Jewish day of atonement.

c)

It is the forty days before Easter.

d)

It is the Hindu festival of lights.

2.

The Hasidim

a)

is a modern denomination of Judaism that follows a liberal interpretation of Jewish law.

b)

are followers of mystical rabbis who live in their own communities separated from the world.

c)

are descended from Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in the fifteenth century.

d)

is a twentieth-century denomination that keeps traditional historical Jewish customs.

3.

The purpose of the Second Vatican Council was to

a)

reassert that Confirmation, Penance, the Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Marriage, and Holy Orders, as well as Baptism, were sacraments.

b)

affirm the basic tenets of the faith by developing what became known as the Nicene Creed.

c)

modernize and revitalize the Catholic Church

d)

reassert Catholic Church teachings after the Protestant Reformation.

4.

The basic sacred text of Hinduism is the

a)

Law of Manu.

b)

Vedas.

c)

Analects.

d)

Bhagavad Gita

5.

The basic belief system of Zoroastrianism is based on which of the following?

a)

Five Pillars

b)

Four Books

c)

Three-Fold path

d)

Eight-Fold path

6.

Dimensions of basic religions include

a)

rituals and Taboos.

b)

rituals and ancestor worship

c)

rituals, taboos, and animism

d)

rituals, taboos, ancestor worship and animism

7.

A basic tenet of Confucius' teachings is

a)

the renunciation of all desire in order to enter nirvana.

b)

behaving ethically at all times and in all relationships.

c)

making regular sacrifices to the deities in order to have one's transgressions wiped away.

d)

the balance between dark and light, heaven and earth.

8.

In Hinduism, samsara is

a)

the force generated by actions in this life that set up what the next life will be like.

b)

the breaking free of life.

c)

the wandering of the life force from one body and time to another.

d)

a riddle that will help a believer achieve insight.

9.

The Second Pillar of Islam is

a)

daily prayer.

b)

almsgiving.

c)

hajj.

d)

fasting.

10.

Daoists believe that human suffering, pain, and violence are eliminated only through a belief in

a)

no action, or inaction, which leads individuals to a state of harmony with their own nature.

b)

a single, all-powerful God who makes ethical demands and places responsibilities on individuals and community.

c)

the practice of ethical relationships that involve reciprocal duties and responsibilities among specific members of society.

d)

the idea that the individual, or essential, self is one with Brahman and everything else in the universe.

11.

Which of the following is the body of Islamic law?

a)

Shi'a

b)

Shari'ah

c)

Hadith

d)

Qur'an

12.

A practice common to Protestant denominations in general and the Orthodox Churches is

a)

veneration of icons.

b)

married clergy.

c)

belief in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

d)

acceptance of the seven sacraments.

13.

Mahavira, who believe that he had found a way to stop the endless cycle of birth, life, and death, is the traditional founder of

a)

Ecumenism.

b)

Buddhism.

c)

Jainism.

d)

Daoism.

14.

Right views, right thoughts, and right speech are elements of

a)

the right relationships that Confucius taught.

b)

yin and and yang.

c)

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

d)

Buddhism's Eight-Fold Path.

15.

What was the practice of Shinto as a national Japanese religion called?

a)

Shrine Shinto

b)

Folk Shinto

c)

Sect Shinto

d)

State Shinto

16.

Which of the following indigenous groups did NOT practice human sacrifice as a part of their worship?

a)

Aztecs

b)

Yoruban

c)

Maya

d)

Inca

17.

Passover celebrates the

a)

exodus of the Jews from Egypt

b)

retaking of the Temple in Jerusalem.

c)

harvest.

d)

delivery of the Jews from Persia.

18.

Which of the following men introduced the concept of predestination into Protestantism?

a)

Henry VIII

b)

Martin Luther

c)

John Calvin

d)

John Wesley

19.

What is the Buddhist name for the Three Jewels, a symbol that represents the three core values of Buddhism: Buddha, dharma, and sangha?

a)

Triratna.

b)

Dhammapada

c)

Vedas

d)

Dukkha

20.

Two of the important values of the Shinto religion are

a)

poverty and celibacy.

b)

Indra and Agni.

c)

yin and yang.

d)

fertility and family.

21.

Which religion celebrates Diwali, the Festival of Lights?

a)

Judaism

b)

Islam

c)

Mahayana Buddhism

d)

Hinduism

22.

According to Shinto, which of the following are earthly and heavenly spirits?

a)

Kami

b)

Koan

c)

Karma

d)

Li

23.

Paul is important in the history of Christianity because he

a)

Wrote one of the four Gospels

b)

was the first bishop of Rome.

c)

believed that Christianity was more than a Jewish sect.

d)

Converted the Emperor Constantine to Christianity.

24.

The break between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Church in 1054 is called a

a)

heresy.

b)

schism.

c)

sect.

d)

denomination.

25.

Which of the following best describes the Dao?

a)

Fundamental presence in all things

b)

Harmony with nature

c)

Self-awareness

d)

Simplicity

26.

Two epic poems are of great importance to the Hindu religion: the Mahabharata, which describes two Indian families who are fighting for control of a kingdom in a bloody war, and one that describes the wanderings of Prince Rama and his wife Sita. The latter is known as the

a)

Bhagavad-Gita.

b)

Ramayana.

c)

Tripitaka.

d)

Hadith.

27.

Eating pork is considered taboo in

a)

Islam.

b)

Hinduism.

c)

Buddhism.

d)

Shinto.

28.

The Hindu theistic tradition or path that worships all five deities, Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesh, and Surya, is called

a)

Vaishnavism

b)

Smartism

c)

Shaktism

d)

Shaivism

29.

Which of the following might a Buddhist do to improve his or her karma?

a)

Remove shoes before entering a mosque to pray

b)

Rinse one's mouth and wash one's hands before entering a shrine to pray

c)

Offer a bowl of food to a monk

d)

Pray to one's ancestor's

30.

Which of the following is/are reciprocal relationships described by Confusius?

a)

Father and son

b)

Father, son, brother and sister

c)

brother, sister, Ruler and subject

d)

Father, son, Ruler and subject

31.

The angel Moroni appeared to

a)

Moses

b)

Joseph Smith

c)

Muhammad

d)

Abraham

32.

A network of patriarchs is the form of organization in

a)

Lutheranism

b)

Judaism

c)

Eastern Orthodox churches

d)

the Anglican Church

33.

Jains believe that

a)

a life devoted to monasticism is not helpful or necessary in finding release from reincarnation.

b)

praying to the deities will aid humans in their quest for release from reincarnation.

c)

release from the cycle of reincarnation comes through one's own actions.

d)

celibacy is unnatural.

34.

Why are Catholics baptized?

a)

As a reminder of Jesus' death and resurrection

b)

to affirm that they are born again in Christ

c)

To remove the stain of original sin

d)

To make amends for the sin of Adam

35.

What is the cause of suffering according to Daoism?

a)

Unnaturalness

b)

Desire

c)

Violence

d)

The innate evil in the world

36.

Which of the following best describes a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism?

a)

A yogi master

b)

A Buddhist monk

c)

Anyone working toward enlightenment

d)

Someone who has achieved nirvana, but remains in life to help others to enlightenment

37.

The Aztec practiced human sacrifice to

a)

ensure a good harvest.

b)

prevent the end of the world.

c)

thank the deities for victory in battle.

d)

instill fear in their enemies.

38.

Which of the following describes a way that an anthropologist would study a religion?

a)

Compare taboos across three religions

b)

Question subjects on what a worship service means to them

c)

Observe an initiation rite for an adolescent

d)

Investigate the impact of church's outreach to the homeless

39.

Dharma is the

a)

cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in Buddhism.

b)

release from the cycle of reincarnation in Hinduism

c)

religious and moral duties of individuals in Hinduism.

d)

name given to Buddhas-in-waiting.

40.

Which of the following sacraments removes original sin?

a)

Confirmation

b)

Baptism

c)

Eucharist

d)

Penance, also called Confession

41.

At a madrasah, a person would

a)

study the Talmud

b)

make an offering to the kami.

c)

make an offering to Vishnu

d)

study the Qur'an.

42.

God as the Creator or Supreme Being is a concept found in

a)

Christianity and Judaism

b)

Christianity and Islam.

c)

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam

d)

Christianity, Judaism, Northern Native American religions, and Islam

43.

In which of the following would you find icons?

a)

Russian Orthodox church

b)

Roman Catholic church

c)

Mosque

d)

Buddhist temple

44.

What insight about life, death, and rebirth did Gautama receive that "enlightened" him about how to live one's life?

a)

Monasticism is the proper way to receive enlightenment.

b)

Life must be lived on a middle path between asceticism and desire.

c)

Practicing yoga and meditation are the only way to enlightenment.

d)

All reality is one with Brahman.

45.

All of the following are steps in the Eight-Fold Path EXCEPT:

a)

Right understanding

b)

Right speech

c)

Right action

d)

Right loyalty

46.

Which of the following statements best describes Islamists?

a)

They preside over religious courts.

b)

Their goal is to reestablish theocratic states.

c)

They are scholars of Islamic law

d)

They lead the faithful in prayer services at mosques.

47.

Which of the following men urged Jews to leave their ghettos and live within their larger communities in the nineteenth century?

a)

Maimonides

b)

Mordecai Kaplan

c)

Moses Mendelssohn

d)

Baal Shem Tov

48.

Islam existed as a vast political-religious empire that stretched across much of the Middle East, North Africa, and into Europe, but ended after

a)

World War I

b)

World War II

c)

661 CE.

d)

the 1500s.

49.

The influence of Marin Luther on later Protestant denominations can be seen in their adoption of his doctrine of

a)

salvation through faith alone.

b)

baptism as the only sacrament.

c)

the continuation of the central role of priests/ministers in confession

d)

the continuation of Latin for services.

50.

What is the Hindu name for the ultimate reality?

a)

Yin and yang

b)

Ahimsa

c)

Brahman

d)

Atman

51.

The Ka'bah is sacred to Muslims because

a)

the believe that Abraham and Ishmael built it.

b)

it is where the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad.

c)

it houses Muhammad's grave.

d)

it is where Muhammad ascended into heaven.

52.

Which of the following believed that human nature is evil?

a)

Confucius

b)

Mencius Meng-Zi

c)

Hsun Tzu Xun-Zi

d)

Lao-zi

53.

The Talmud contains the

a)

Mishnah and Gemara

b)

Mishnah and Haggadah

c)

Mishnah, Gemara, and Haggadah

d)

Mishnah, Gemara, Haggadah and Torah

54.

Typically, religions have ceremonies honoring which of the following rites of passage?

a)

Death and Birth

b)

Death, Birth, and Marriage

c)

Death, Birth and Puberty

d)

Death, Birth, Marriage and Puberty

55.

The Bavenda, or Venda religious tradition of Africa honors a supreme being referred to as

a)

Zwiduwane

b)

Raluvhimba

c)

Awa

d)

Binu

56.

According to Buddhism, what is the cause of suffering?

a)

Desire

b)

Striving after a good reputation

c)

Material goods

d)

Human attachments

57.

Social virtue, or jen, is a basic concept of

a)

Islam

b)

Shintoism

c)

Buddhism

d)

Confucianism

58.

Kosher laws relate to

a)

whom Jews may marry

b)

what Jews may and may not do on the Sabbath

c)

what Jews may wear

d)

what Jews may and may not eat

59.

The division between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims has its origins in

a)

The dispute over who was the rightful heir of Muhammad

b)

how strictly to interpret the Qur'an

c)

what the proper role of women is in Islam.

d)

disagreements over the position of imams in Islam.

60.

Jainism developed over dissatisfaction with aspects of

a)

Buddhism

b)

Hinduism

c)

Shinto

d)

Confucianism

61.

Rosh Hashanah celebrates the

a)

victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.

b)

harvest.

c)

Jewish New Year.

d)

exodus from Egypt.

62.

Which of the following is a reason for the schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches in 1054?

a)

The Eastern Orthodox Church practices adult baptism, and the Roman Catholic Church practices infant baptism.

b)

The Eastern Orthodox Church does not allow any kind of ornamentation whereas the Roman Catholic Church does.

c)

The Roman Catholic Church claims that the Pope has supremacy over all the other churches in matters of faith and morals.

d)

The Orthodox Church accepts married clergy, as long as they were married before ordination.

63.

Ummah is the

a)

niche in the wall of a mosque or a design in a prayer rug pointed in the direction of Mecca during prayer.

b)

call to prayer five times a day.

c)

pilgrimage to Mecca.

d)

community of the faithful.

64.

The major divisions of Islam are

a)

Sufi and Shari'ah.

b)

Sunni and Wahhabism.

c)

Shi'a and Sunni.

d)

Twelvers and Shi'a

65.

Buddhism differs from Islam in that Buddhism

a)

does not have a historical founder, but Islam does.

b)

practices polytheism, but Islam is monotheistic.

c)

calls its God Buddha and Islam calls its God Allah.

d)

does not have the concept of a single supreme being, but Islam does.

66.

All of the following are offshoots of Islam EXCEPT:

a)

Sikhism

b)

Jainism

c)

Wahhabism

d)

Sufism

67.

In 622 CE, Muhammad fled Mecca because of an assassination plot; his flight is called the

a)

Umayyad.

b)

Hadith.

c)

Medina.

d)

Hegira.

68.

Which of the following is a tenet of Confucianism but NOT Daoism?

a)

Right action

b)

God as creator

c)

Harmony

d)

The less government, the better

69.

The Hindu caste system is documented in which of the following?

a)

Law of Manu

b)

Rig Veda

c)

Ramayana

d)

Varna

70.

Which of the following best describes the outcome of the Council of Trent?

a)

It ignored issues raised by the Reformation.

b)

It reaffirmed Catholic doctrine.

c)

It made significant changes to Catholic doctrine in a conciliatory gesture that was not reciprocated.

d)

It was an attempt to modernize the Catholic Church.

71.

Which of the following honors the first revelation to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel?

a)

Id al-Fitr

b)

Al-Hijrah

c)

Laylat al-Qadr

d)

Ramadan

72.

Which of the following groups observes the Sabbath most strictly?

a)

Orthodox Jews

b)

Reform Jews

c)

Conservative Jews

d)

Reconstructionist Jews

73.

All of the following developed as ways to preserve Judaism through early centuries of persecution EXCEPT:

a)

Synagogues as the center of worship

b)

The development of mystical elements in Jewish teaching

c)

The rabbi as a teacher and explicator

d)

Designating Saturday as the Sabbath based on the Book of Genesis

74.

Daoism was seen as a complement to, rather than a rival of,

a)

Hinduism

b)

Shintoism

c)

Theravada Buddhism

d)

Confucianism

75.

The basic belief system of Buddhism is/are the

a)

Mishnah

b)

Four Noble Truths

c)

Five Pillars

d)

Analects

76.

In indigenous religions, which religious personage foretells the future?

a)

Animist

b)

Healer

c)

Diviner

d)

Medicine man and woman

77.

The triad of Hindu deities is

a)

Brahma, Krishna, and Shakti.

b)

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

c)

Shiva, Shakti, and Krishna

d)

Vishnu, Rama, and Kali

78.

In order to know God, Sikhs believe that an individual must

a)

be of the correct caste.

b)

adhere to a specific meditation practice

c)

worship in a certain temple

d)

live a good, honest life.

79.

The name of which of the following religions means "submission"?

a)

Catholic

b)

Islam

c)

Orthodox

d)

Buddhism

80.

Hinduism draws from the beliefs of the Aryans, who worshiped deities that represented beauty and the forces of nature. These deities included

a)

Abraham and Moses

b)

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

c)

Indra, Agni, Varna, and Soma

d)

Apsu and Tiamat