Religious Studies Exam #3 Study Guide

RELS 2020 Exam #3 Study Guide - Clean Version with Questions and Corrected Answers

General Information

This document serves as a comprehensive study guide for the RELS 2020 course, providing questions and corrected answers across various religious traditions studied in the course. It encompasses key concepts from Chinese Religion, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism, along with related figures and texts.

Chinese Religion: Background

True/False Questions

The breakdown of the Chinese feudal system occurred during the Chou Dynasty.
Answer: True
It is possible to view Taoism and Confucianism as political solutions to political problems.
Answer: True
The elite and folk traditions of Chinese religions are dependent upon, and serve, the other.
Answer: True
The Chinese religious worldview is monistic (there is no radical dualism in Chinese thought).
Answer: True
In the Chinese religious worldview, ghosts are benevolent.
Answer: False

Multiple Choice Questions

The Chinese Shang Dynasty
- (A) 1750 until 1100 BCE
- (B) ancestor worship
- (C) divination
- (D) all of the above
  Answer: All of the above
Of the following, which group desired a Chinese government ruled by love?
- (A) Confucians
- (B) Legalists
- (C) Taoists
- (D) Mohists
  Answer: Mohists
Which of the following is considered yin?
- (A) Sun
- (B) Dark
- (C) Male
- (D) Dry
  Answer: Dark

Taoism Overview

True/False Questions

The word tao means "way" or "path".
Answer: True
Taoism started around 1500 CE.
Answer: False
The number of Taoists belonging to the elite tradition would be quite small (around 10 million).
Answer: True
Orthodox Taoists believe Lao Tzu was divine.
Answer: False
Lao Tzu and Confucius were contemporaries (lived around the same time).
Answer: True
The Tao te Ching was written by Chuang Tzu.
Answer: False
In Taoism, good and evil are polar opposites.
Answer: False
In Taoism, the way of human life (microcosm) should conform to the pattern set by the way of the universe (macrocosm).
Answer: True
Taoism teaches that people should emulate the sage.
Answer: True
Taoism believes in a strong centralized government.
Answer: False
Taoism + Buddhism = Tendai Buddhism.
Answer: False

Multiple Choice Questions

The Three Vaults and Four Supplements are associated with
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Confucianism
- (C) Shintoism
- (D) Buddhism
  Answer: Taoism
The Way of Ultimate Reality.
- (A) Ineffable
- (B) Without beginning or end
- (C) Source of all
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: All of the above
Without action.
- (A) Feng shui
- (B) Wu wei
- (C) Pinyin
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Wu wei
Which of the following terms is associated with Taoism?
- (A) Natural
- (B) Weak
- (C) Submissive
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: All of the above
Which of the following is often used as an analogy to describe the tao/way?
- (A) A straight tall tree
- (B) A strong young man
- (C) Water
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: Water
The uncarved block (emphasized by Taoists) - characterizing limitless potential.
- (A) Te
- (B) P'u
- (C) Ch'i
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: P'u
A Taoist value.
- (A) Humility
- (B) Naturalism
- (C) Relativity of values
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: All of the above
Form of Taoism most closely associated with the writings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.
- (A) Philosophical
- (B) Vitality
- (C) Religious
- (D) Sectarian
  Answer: Philosophical
Form of Taoism most closely associated with the pursuit of immortality.
- (A) Philosophical
- (B) Vitality
- (C) Religious
- (D) Sectarian
  Answer: Vitality
Form of Taoism most closely associated with black-head and red-head priests.
- (A) Philosophical
- (B) Vitality
- (C) Religious
- (D) Sectarian
  Answer: Religious

Confucianism Overview

True/False Questions

Confucius did not reject the metaphysical claims regarding the supernatural but did not emphasize the supernatural.
Answer: True
Lao Tzu wrote The Analects.
Answer: False
In Confucianism, the individual guided by jen would follow the silver rule.
Answer: True
In Chinese, Chuang Tzu means "gentleman" or "superior person".
Answer: False
The Confucian "Doctrine of the Mean" refers to the fact that a gentleman should not be angry, petty, or mean spirited.
Answer: False
Taoism stresses yang and Confucianism stresses yin.
Answer: False
A case can be made for the position that Confucianism is not a religion.
Answer: True

Multiple Choice Questions

The founder of Confucianism.
- (A) Confucius
- (B) K'ung Fu-tzu
- (C) Master K'ung
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: All of the above
In response to the social anarchy of his day, Confucius desired
- (A) a strong centralized government
- (B) a government ruled by love
- (C) no government (or as little as possible)
- (D) a return to idealized feudalism
  Answer: a return to idealized feudalism
A Confucian.
- (A) Mo Tzu
- (B) Chuang Tzu
- (C) Mencius
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Mencius
The rectification of names is associated with
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Confucianism
- (C) Shintoism
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: Confucianism
Wen, the "arts of peace", is primarily associated with which of the following?
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Confucianism
- (C) Shintoism
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Confucianism

Religions of China: Levering

True/False Questions

According to Levering, Taoism is simply a matter of forcing nature to obey human desires.
Answer: False

Multiple Choice Questions

According to Levering, which tradition asserts social institutions and rituals must mold our character?
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Christianity
- (C) Confucianism
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Confucianism
According to Levering, which religion emphasizes doing things naturally?
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Christianity
- (C) Confucianism
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Taoism

Religions of China: Adler

True/False Questions

According to Adler, Taoism teaches that the Tao is manifested in culture.
Answer: False
According to Adler, philosophical Taoism is more appealing to Westerners than religious Taoism.
Answer: True
According to Adler, in the history of China there has never been any conflict between Confucians, Taoists, and Buddhists.
Answer: False
According to Adler, none of the Chinese religions make claims to absolute truth.
Answer: True
According to Adler, ancestors can become gods.
Answer: True
According to Adler, ancestors can become ghosts.
Answer: True
According to Adler, ghosts can become gods.
Answer: True
According to Adler, most Chinese view the universe as eternal.
Answer: True
According to Adler, the Chinese believe that God created natural order.
Answer: False
According to Adler, the Chinese believe order is imposed on this world by a transcendent reality.
Answer: False

Multiple Choice Questions

According to Adler, the Chinese word "heaven" refers to
- (A) the sky
- (B) the absolute reality
- (C) where ancestors go after they die
- (D) all of the above
  Answer: All of the above
According to Adler, in Imperial China who was responsible for maintaining the harmony of heaven and earth?
- (A) the priests
- (B) The Emperor
- (C) The people
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: The Emperor
According to Adler, the mainline or orthodox interpretation of Confucianism is found in
- (A) Mencius
- (B) Lao Tzu
- (C) Mo Tzu
- (D) none of the above
  Answer: Mencius
According to Adler, which Chinese tradition stresses immortality?
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Confucianism
- (C) Buddhism
- (D) Shintoism
  Answer: Taoism
According to Adler, the best way to view Taoism is as
- (A) swimming with the current
- (B) swimming against the current
- (C) not swimming
- (D) none of the above
  Answer: swimming with the current
According to Adler, the Chinese word tao means
- (A) power
- (B) ritual
- (C) meditation
- (D) none of the above
  Answer: none of the above
According to Adler, which of the following have always been recognized and worshipped by the Chinese?
- (A) Gods
- (B) Ghosts
- (C) Ancestors
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: All of the above
According to Adler, ____________ are sometimes given cooked food as an offering?
- (A) Ancestors
- (B) Gods
- (C) Both ancestors and gods
- (D) Neither ancestors nor gods
  Answer: Both ancestors and gods
According to Adler, which tradition provides a method/means of self-transformation?
- (A) Confucianism
- (B) Taoism
- (C) Buddhism
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: All of the above

Shintoism Overview

True/False Questions

Many Shinto worship Mt. Fuji.
Answer: True

Multiple Choice Questions

"The way of the gods."
- (A) Shinto
- (B) Shen tao
- (C) Kami-no-michi
- (D) All of the above
  Answer: All of the above
The sacred text of Shintoism.
- (A) Tao te Ching
- (B) Kojiki
- (C) The Analects
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Kojiki
Japanese term for "gods," "divine," or "spirits."
- (A) Izanagi
- (B) Izanami
- (C) Kami
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Kami
The sun goddess (and mother goddess of Japan).
- (A) Amaterasu
- (B) Kamikaze
- (C) Izanami
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Amaterasu
The archway/gateway to State Shinto shrines (as well as the symbol of Shinto).
- (A) Kami
- (B) Bushido
- (C) Torii
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Torii
The "god-shelf."
- (A) Kamikaze
- (B) Kami-no-michi
- (C) Kami-dana
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Kami-dana

Readings

Multiple Choice Questions

In Shintoism, a household shrine that acts as a substitute for a large shrine.
- (A) Dukkha
- (B) Bushido
- (C) Kamidana
- (D) Vedic
  Answer: Kamidana
In Shintoism, the two gods said to be responsible for the creation of Japan.
- (A) Izanagi and Izanami
- (B) Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu
- (C) K'ung Fu Tzu and Mo Tzu
- (D) Mahavira and Nanak
  Answer: Izanagi and Izanami
The torii is associated with which religion?
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Buddhism
- (C) Confucianism
- (D) Shintoism
  Answer: Shintoism
"Filial piety and fraternal submission,--are they not the root of all benevolent actions?" comes from the sacred text of what religion?
- (A) Shintoism
- (B) Buddhism
- (C) Taoism
- (D) Confucianism
  Answer: Confucianism
"Mang I asked what filial piety was. The Master said, 'It is not being disobedient'" comes from the sacred text of what religion?
- (A) Confucianism
- (B) Buddhism
- (C) Taoism
- (D) Shintoism
  Answer: Confucianism
"The Master said, 'If the son for three years does not alter from the way of his father, he may be called filial'" comes from the sacred text of what religion?
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Buddhism
- (C) Confucianism
- (D) Shintoism
  Answer: Confucianism
"The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong" comes from the sacred writing of which religion?
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Buddhism
- (C) Confucianism
- (D) Shintoism
  Answer: Taoism
"There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it …" comes from the sacred writing of which religion?
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Buddhism
- (C) Confucianism
- (D) Shintoism
  Answer: Taoism
The "way of the gods."
- (A) Taoism
- (B) Buddhism
- (C) Confucianism
- (D) Shintoism
  Answer: Shintoism
80% of the Japanese population practices
- (A) Shintoism
- (B) Confucianism
- (C) Hinduism
- (D) None of the above
  Answer: Shintoism