Mr. Powers' Religion IV: World Religions Final Exam Study Guide

Most Hindus believe in _______, the doctrine that all reality is ultimately one.

Monism

3 multiple choice options

The Upanishads teach that ultimate reality can be understood through inward contemplation of the self; this ultimate reality is named _______.

Atman

3 multiple choice options

According to the doctrine of _______, the individual is reincarnated from one life form to another.

Samsara

3 multiple choice options

_______, best understood as the moral law of cause and effect, states that every action produces an outcome that is justified by the action's moral worthiness

Karma

3 multiple choice options

More than just a specific list of rights and wrongs, _______ is the complete rule of life, or an ethical duty that prescribes a way of acting for every activity.

Dharma

3 multiple choice options

Hinduism's _______ incorporates a division of society into four distinct classes - brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, and shudra - with an additional group called _______, who are considered to be outside of society altogether.

Caste System, Outcastes

3 multiple choice options

Mostly relevant for males who belong to the three top Hindu society distinguishes four stages of life: forest-dweller, and sannyasin, or wandering ascetic.

Student, householder

3 multiple choice options

Karma Marga, "the path of works", Jnana Marga, "the path of knowledge" and Bhakti Marga, "the path of devotion are the _______.

Three paths to moksha, or liberation of which Hindus usually follow more than one

3 multiple choice options

A(n) _______ is an incarnation, or living embodiment, of a deity who is sent to earth to achieve a divine purpose.

Avatar

3 multiple choice options

Remembered primarily for his work as a social and political performer, Mohandas K. Gandhi is also revered for his role as a _______.

Religious reformer

3 multiple choice options

In the Great Going Forth, Gautama Buddha renounced a life of power and sensual enjoyment for the austere life of a mendicant; Buddhists view this event as

The triumph of the spiritual over the worldly life

3 multiple choice options

The ____________ ___________ holds that a healthy spiritual life depends on a healthy physical life and embraces the doctrine that contentment is a good thing.

Middle Way

3 multiple choice options

Although Buddhism accepts the existence of deities, it holds that

Only the human mind, through profound meditative experience, can win salvation

3 multiple choice options

An essential teaching of Buddhism is ___________, which means there is no ultimate reality within and nothing enduring beyond the present moment.

Anatta

3 multiple choice options

The moral life requires observance of ______________, which apply to all Buddhists.

The Four Noble Truths

3 multiple choice options

Of the Four Noble Truths, the first is ________________, which states that to live is to experience suffering.

Dukkha

3 multiple choice options

Buddha determined the cause of human suffering to be ___________, which implies selfish desire.

Tanha

3 multiple choice options

______________, the cure for human suffering, set(s) forth a life of moderation, not of extreme religious practices.

The Noble Eightfold Path

3 multiple choice options

The steps of the Eightfold Path embrace the primary focal points of Buddhist training.

Wisdom,morality, and concentration

3 multiple choice options

While Buddhists have found it impossible to describe ______________ precisely, it can be said that it is the total cessation of suffering, and thus is absolute peace.

Nirvana

3 multiple choice options

The central principle of Jainism is ahimsa, which is ________.

Avoidance of harming fellow creatures

3 multiple choice options

The spiritual conquerors of the past, those who have attained salvation, are called ________.

Tirthankaras

3 multiple choice options

________, the most important tirthankara, established asceticism as a defining characteristic of Jainism.

Mahavira

3 multiple choice options

________, Jain enlightenment, is perfect and complete knowledge, or omniscience.

Kevela

3 multiple choice options

Because Jains believe that this world is in a downward turn in which salvation is not possible, the best that they can hope for is ________.

A good rebirth

3 multiple choice options

In simplified form, Jain cosmology can be divided into two categories: ________ and ________.

Soul and matter

3 multiple choice options

Jains believe the extremely difficult goal of completely purifying the soul can only be achieved through ________.

An ascetic life

3 multiple choice options

All of the following are part of the Five Great Vows for ascetics EXCEPT: ________.

Renounce the company of others

3 multiple choice options

In the event that a Jain is threatened with violence, he or she would be expected to ________.

Defend himself or herself by taking violent action, if necessary

3 multiple choice options

The Jain laity live in accordance with ________, which includes guidelines such as avoiding lying, avoiding greed, and fasting on certain days.

The Twelve Vows

3 multiple choice options

The _____ is the sacred text of Sikhism.

Adi Granth

Sikhism teaches that God reveals the divine will to ______.

Humans

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, provided the model for the _______, which is the central structure of any Sikh community.

Gurdwara

Guru Gobind Singh founded the _______, an order based on loyalty to do which most Sikhs belong

Khalsa

Before dying, Guru Gobind Singh installed the ________ as the next Guru.

Adi Granth

Sikhs believe that God is immanent; this means that God __________.

Dwells within creation and that it is possible to come to know God through his creation

Sikhism regards the primary shortcoming of the human condition as _______, the inclination to be self-centered and egotistic

Haumai

Sikhs believe that the quest for salvation involves an ongoing struggle between human self-centeredness and __________.

The desire to live in accordance with the will of God

Sikhs being initiated into the Khalsa must be at least fourteen years old and must possess the Five Ks, the most important of which is _______.

Uncut hair

The three guiding principles of Sikh life are _____________.

Worship, work, and charity.

The most important source for the actual teachings of Confucius is the _______.

Analects

Confucius embraced a vision of humanity that centered on __________.

Human relationships

Mencius, regarded as the second founder of Confucianism claimed that ____________________.

Human beings are naturally good and commit evil acts in violation of their true nature

Arising around one thousand years ago, Neo-Confucianism was largely a response to the challenges facing Confucianism from ________.

Political upheavals

______ literally means "way" and in Confucianism, generally refers to the moral order that permeates the universe and thus should be followed.

Tao

Once Confucianism was established as the official tradition, a step toward greater social equality occurred when _______.

Nobility was bestowed by merit rather than by birth

The supreme virtue advocated by Confucianism is ______, which is often translated as "love" or "benevolence"

Jen

A significant aspect of li is rectification of names, which holds that proper behavior is largely dependent on one's _______.

Place in society

Confucianism holds that good government comes through the cultivation of te, which means __________.

Virtue as shown through the power of example

A prominent aspect of the Confucian family is _______.

A deep respect for elders

The _______ strand of Taoism is based almost entirely on classic texts like the Tao Te Ching.

Philosophical

The many paradoxical statements in the Tao Te Ching seem to defy the effort of the rational mind, demanding instead dependence on _______.

Intuition

The title Tao Te Ching literally means _______.

"the book of the Way and its power (or virtue)

According to the Tao Te Ching, Tao, or the unified something from which all things arise, is ______________.

Not a personal creator god but an unseen force

Taoist cosmology is based on a complementary balance of _______.

Yin and yang

The Tao Te Ching demonstrates the relativity of values by noting that no value could exist if not for _______.

Its opposite

Taoism counter the problem of imbalance in the individual by advocating _______.

Virtues oriented toward yin, such as humility and pacifism.

The primary virtue of Taoism, _______ can be translated as "pure effectiveness" or :"yielding to win" and is demonstrated by virtues such as humility and non-competition.

Wu-wei

The Taoist virtue of naturalness promotes the two actions of behaving as nature dictates and _______.

Leaving nature alone to thrive by its own power

Taoism holds that the best way to govern is to ___________.

Not interfere with the natural way of the people

Hinduism: How does the image of many rivers flowing into one ocean characterize Hinduism? Explain in detail with beliefs and practices found in Hinduism.

The image of many rivers flowing into one ocean characterizes Hinduism by symbolizing the diverse paths and beliefs that coexist within the religion.

Hinduism embraces a multitude of philosophical and spiritual traditions, recognizing that there are various ways to understand and experience the divine.

All the paths, they all converge towards the same goal of spiritual liberation or self-realization, represented by the metaphorical ocean. This image captures the essence of Hinduism's pluralistic nature, celebrating unity amidst diversity and fostering mutual respect among followers of different traditions.

Buddhism: Define the Middle Way. What image and teaching did Siddhartha use to describe it? How is it connected to the Noble Eightfold Path? Compare the Middle Way with another religion's perspective on what constitutes a healthy spiritual life.

In Buddhism, a balanced and reasonable path that stays away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification is referred to as the Middle Way. The real Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, used the analogy of a stringed instrument to explain the Middle Way: Just as a string that is neither too tight nor too loose makes beautiful music, so too should one take a middle route to enlightenment.

The Noble Eightfold Path, a set of rules for moral behavior, intellectual growth, and wisdom, and the Middle Way are closely related. The Noble Eightfold Path outlines specific actions that people can do to develop their capacity for knowledge, compassion, and mindfulness, which will ultimately end suffering.

When compared to other faiths, the Middle Way's emphasis on moderation and harmony is akin to the idea of "the golden mean" in classical Greek philosophy, which encourages finding a morally righteous middle ground between opposing extremes. Both viewpoints emphasize how crucial it is to steer clear of excesses and extremes in order to live a spiritually healthy and fulfilled life.

Jainism: Who was Mahavira, when did he live, and what role does he play in Jainism? Compare his biography with that of Gautama. How did Mahavira's manner of death reflect his beliefs?

He lived in ancient India around the sixth century BCE, roughly at the same time as Gautama Buddha. Mahavira was important to the development of Jainism since he revived and restructured the faith and established its tenets and philosophy. His teachings placed a strong emphasis on the virtues of compassion, honesty, and non-attachment.

Mahavira's life story involves a period of rigorous asceticism during which he engaged in tremendous self-mortification, in contrast to Gautama Buddha's path, which required him to give up his royal life and achieve enlightenment via meditation. He finally saw, nevertheless, that severe austerity could not result in spiritual freedom and switched to a more moderate strategy known as the "Middle Way of Jainism."

Mahavira's method of passing away, known as "sallekhana" or "santhara," was a reflection of his non-attachment philosophy and the value of a peaceful death. He intentionally fasted until his physical strength failed, accepting death with calm and detachment. This action was viewed as a means of achieving escape from the cycle of reincarnation and the purification of the soul.

Sikhism: What is a general understanding of the lowercase term guru? Explain the three ways Sikhs use the capitalized term Guru. In general, what does the Guru function as?

In a general sense, the lowercase term "guru" refers to a spiritual teacher or guide in various religious and philosophical traditions. In Sikhism, the capitalized term "Guru" specifically refers to the ten historical Sikh Gurus who played a crucial role in shaping and guiding the Sikh community.

The Sikh Gurus are seen as enlightened beings who received divine revelation and imparted spiritual wisdom and teachings to their followers. Additionally, in Sikhism, the term "Guru" is also used to refer to the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, which is considered the eternal living Guru.

In general, the Guru functions as a source of spiritual guidance, leading individuals on the path of righteousness, enlightenment, and union with the divine.

Confucianism: What was Confucius's vision of the ideal human being? Did he think humans were born or made that way? Explain why he taught this and how it relates to the Bergen Catholic Mission Statement.

Confucius believed that the ideal human being embodies moral characteristics, develops one's own character, and upholds societal obligations. He thought that people may acquire these traits via education, self-control, and moral development rather than being born with them. Confucius promoted the value of education, self-improvement, and moral behavior as ways to promote social peace and personal fulfillment.

This vision aligns with the Bergen Catholic Mission Statement, which promotes the development of students' character, moral values, and social responsibility through education and the integration of faith into daily life. Both Confucius's teachings and the mission statement emphasize the importance of fostering virtuous individuals who contribute positively to their communities and strive for personal growth and ethical living.

Taoism: Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu insisted that Tao would prevail if it were left alone. Explain how the Taoist virtues of Flow, Wu-Wei (non-action), and Yin/Yang (harmony) each illustrate this point.

If left to develop without intervention, Tao, the universe's innate order, would naturally triumph. This idea is shown by Taoist characteristics like Flow, Wu-Wei (non-action), and Yin/Yang (harmony). Going with life's natural rhythm and adapting and altering without opposition is represented by the concept of flow. Wu-Wei places a strong emphasis on the virtue of inaction—letting things happen naturally rather than attempting to force or control them.

Yin/Yang illustrates the concept that equilibrium and natural order exist in the universe by representing the harmony and balance of opposing energies. These Taoist qualities emphasize the idea that people may live in accordance with the natural order of the cosmos and enable the Tao to triumph effortlessly if they align themselves with the intrinsic flow and balance of the Tao.