Study Guide for the World Religions Test

These are the main ideas in each religion. You should know the basics about each. Below is the written part of the exam exactly as it will appear on the test.

Hinduism

1. Origins in Ancient India and the Vedas

2. The Gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva

3. The Ganges River, Reincarnation and Karma (77-78)

4. The Caste System (78)

Buddhism

1. Origins in Ancient India, Siddhartha Guatama’s life (79)

2. The Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path (Buddhist views on killing)

3. Buddhist Monks, meditation and life in a monastery

4. Ashoka and the Spread of Buddhism to Asia

Judaism

1. Origins in Mesopotamia, Abraham and the Hebrews, Monotheism (40)

2. Story of Moses and the Exodus

3. Moses and the Ten Commandments

4. Kingdom of Israel, Saul, David and Solomon (41-42)

Christianity

1. The life of Jesus Christ and the disciples, origins in the Roman Empire (160-163)

(2.) The Spread of Christianity, persecution, Constantine and Theodosius

3. The Pope and the Vatican in Rome, Catholicism (164, 205)

4. The Great Schism and Eastern Orthodox Christianity (184-185),

5. Martin Luther, the Reformation and Protestantism (pages 372-383)

(6.) A Review of the three types of Christianity (372-383)

Islam

1. Mohammed and the Hegira (186-187)

2. The Empire of Islam, the Caliphs, and Jihad (188-191)

3. Five Pillars of Islam, Mecca and the Ka’aba (188)

4. The Qur’an (or Koran), and the Shiite/Sunnis split (187, 189)

Answer in Writing:

Answer all of the following questions by writing three paragraphs, one for each group of questions. Explain your own opinions on these issues. Also, show what you have learned in this class and refer specifically to historical events and to the teachings of the major religions. You must refer to at least three of the following historical figures or events:

•The ten commandments

• Jesus’ teachings on violence

• Constantine and Theodosius

• The crusades

• The Spanish inquisition

• The Pope’s role during the middle ages

• The empire of Islam

• Jihad

• Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds in Iraq

•The War On Terror and Osama bin Laden

•Karma and Reincarnation

•The Eight Fold Path

• Ashoka and the Spread of Buddhism

1) Describe how at least two of the major world religions spread in history? Be as specific as you can--how did these two religions get from where they originated to the areas they are practiced today? What role did violence play in this spread?

2) What do the teachings of the 5 religions we studied say about violence? Do you agree with these positions? Do you believe it is morally acceptable to use violence to spread one’s religion? Do you believe that violence should ever be used? When and why?

3) Do you believe that our society has become too immoral? Should governments be allowed to use their power to promote religious values and ethics? Would this be fair? What values should our government promote? Do you think that letting the government fund and promote religion would make our society more moral? Should public schools be allowed to set aside time for religious prayer? Should public schools have classes that teach students to follow the ethical and moral ideas that religions teach, such as encouraging abstinence until marriage or more modest (unsexy) dress?