RLS 111 Midterm

Question 1

Living Religions represents three major responses to the question, "Why are there religions?" Explain these three responses in your own words. Which of these do you believe to be true? Why?

Question 2

Describe the relationship of science and religion in the 20th century.

Question 3

Match the following terms with their definitions.

Question 4

Encounters with ultimate reality may be called

Select one:

a. all of the choices

b. ecstatic communion

c. self-knowledge

d. gnosis

Question 5

The ideas of religion sometimes transform people into social and political leaders as well as religious leaders. Such was the case when ___ meditated on the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita.

Select one:

a. Ramakrishna

b. Paramahansa Yogananda

c. Mahatma Gandhi

d. Swami Vivekananda

Question 6

This nineteenth-century socialist stated that "Man makes religion: religion does not make man.....It is the opium of the people."

Select one:

a. Marx

b. Stalin

c. Lenin

d. Nietzsche

Question 7

The OM symbol, representing the original sound of creation, is topped by the _____, harmonized opposites.

Select one:

a. sun and the moon

b. sky and the land

c. fire and the water

d. mountains and the lakes

Question 8

The Greek philosopher ____ believed that the soul was superior to the body and reason more reliable than the senses.

Select one:

a. Aristotle

b. Epicurus

c. Plato

d. Socrates

Question 9

The dichotomy between sacred and profane is applicable to all religions.

Select one:

True

False

Question 10

Describe the cycles of time in Hinduism. What evidence do you see that we are currently in the fourth cycle?

Question 11

What do the major Hindu philosophical systems have in common?

Question 12

Match the term with its description.

Question 13

Most Hindus worship one of these three deities:

Select one:

a. Agni, Siva, Indra

b. Vishnu, Siva, Brahma

c. Vishnu, Siva, Sakti

d. Vishnu, Agni, Indra

Question 14

The worship of the feminine form of the divine has been present in India since ancient times. This divinity has been associated closely with nature including the River ____which is considered especially sacred to Hindus.

Select one:

a. Godavari

b. Ganga

c. Yamuna

d. Luni

Question 15

The highest members of the Hindu caste system were priests or

Select one:

a. Vaishyas

b. Brahmins

c. Shudras

d. Kshatriyas

Question 16

A Hindu males life time is traditionally divided into four statesstudent, householder, semi-retired person, and a _____

Select one:

a. sannyasin

b. monk

c. teacher

d. guru

Question 17

The Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, were written in:

Select one:

a. Hindi

b. Aramaic

c. Sanskrit

d. Pali

Question 18

A major difference in the two major philosophical systems of Hinduism, Samkhya and Advaita Vedanta, is their understanding of reality. While Advaita Vedanta is monistic, holding that there is one reality, the Samkhya philsophy confirms that there are really _____ realities.

a. four

b. three

c. two

d. many

Question 19

The Vedas are composed of four Parts: the Samhitas, Brahmanas, ___, and the Upanishads.

Select one:

a. Ramayana

b. Mahabarata

c. Aranyakas

d. Bhagavad-Gita

Question 20

Members of the lowest caste group once called untouchables were renamed harijans by Mahatma Gandhi. Harijan means __.

Select one:

a. sons of Brahmin

b. children of God

c. Gods chosen

d. redeemed ones

Question 21

The Upanishads, the last of the Vedas, include teachings on

Select one:

a. the nature of Brahman

b. the nature of the soul or atman

c. all of the above

d. the nature of oneself

Question 22

The ultimate goal of yogic meditation is ____, a state of union with the Absolute.

Select one:

a. Samadhi

b. sadhanas

c. nirvana

d. puja

Question 23

What basic beliefs do Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism have in common? How do they differ?

Question 24

Describe the life of the Buddha. What events led to his emergence as the leader of a future world religion?

Question 25

The Buddhas teachings on the truths of reality and right conduct are called __.

Select one:

a. the samsara

b. the dharma

c. the karma

d. The Pali Canon

Question 26

Buddhism differs from many of the other major religions in its __

Select one:

a. any answer

b. belief in life after death

c. belief in one major deity

d. belief in salvation through ones own efforts

Question 27

Bodhidharma's form of Buddhism called Ch'an in China became known as __in Japan.

Select one:

a. Pure Land

b. Zen

c. Theravada

d. Nichiren

Question 28

The leader in exile of Tibet, the ___, is one of the most respected and beloved spiritual leaders in the world.

Select one:

a. arhant

b. Buddha

c. Dalai Lama

d. bodhisattvas

Question 29

The sayings of the Buddha have been recorded in a book called the __

Select one:

a. Noble Eightfold Path

b. Dhammapada

c. Four Noble Truths

d. Triple Gem

Question 30

All Buddhists "take refuge" in the Buddha, in the dharma, and the sangha, a creed called the:

Select one:

a. Dhammapada

b. Pali Canon

c. Eightfold Noble Path

d. Triple Gem

Question 31

In the Buddhas first sermon at Deer Park, he set forth his basic ideas around which all later teachings would revolve. The basic teachings are called the _____.

Select one:

a. Noble Eightfold Path

b. Four Noble Truths

c. dukha

d. Middle Way

Question 32

The future Buddha was born in a family belonging to the traditional Hindu cast called the____.

Select one:

a. shudras

b. Kshatriyas

c. Brahmins

d. vaishyas

Question 33

The Buddha developed a systematic approach to bring people to liberation called the_____.

Select one:

a. Four Noble Truths

b. Dhammapada

c. Three Gems

d. Eightfold Path of Liberation

Question 34

The major form of Buddhism that tries to adhere closely to the original teachings is called ___.

Select one:

a. Theravada Buddhism

b. Zen Buddhism

c. Pure Land Buddhism

d. Mahayana Buddhism

Question 35

The Pali Canon, also known as the ________, includes the rules for sangha members and a record of the Buddhas teaching stories.

Select one:

a. Tipitaka

b. Triple Gem

c. Hinayana

d. Dhammapada

Question 36

In the Pure Land Buddhism belief system, followers do not have to rely on their own efforts for liberation. They call on _____ who prepares a place of bliss for any who call on his name.

Select one:

a. Amida

b. Bodhidharma

c. Bodhisattva of Superb Action

d. Dalai Lama

Question 37

The ultimate goal in the practice of Buddhism is ___

Select one:

a. becoming one with an ultimate reality or deity

b. forgiveness of sins

c. any answer

d. nirvana

Question 38

In Zen Buddhism, zazen, a term, which means ___, is an important method of experiencing the Buddha-nature.

Select one:

a. sitting meditation

b. higher meditation

c. standing meditation

d. mindful mediation

Question 39

The ultimate purpose of Zen practice is _____.

Select one:

a. salvation

b. becoming one with god

c. any answer

d. satori or enlightenment

Question 40

A zendo is a _____.

Select one:

a. Zen writings

b. Zen meditation practice

c. Zen meditation hall

d. Zen follower