Comparative World Religions: Final Examination Review
Define the following vocabulary and religious terms completely:
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Ahisma
Ahura Mazda
Arhat
Asceticism
Atman
Avatar
Bhagavad-Gita
Bodhisattva
Brahmin
Bushido
Dalai Lama
Dharma
Ecumenism
Empathy
Ethical
Gurdwara
Guru
Hasidism
Hijra
Incarnation
Jen
Jihad
Jivas
Kabbalah
Kami
Karma (Buddhism)
Karma (Hinduism)
Kevala
Loka
Mandalas
Mantras
Maya
Mishnah
Moksha
Mysticism
Nirvana
Pantheism
Polytheism
Qur’an
Ramadan
Revelation
Rig Veda
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Ritual
Samadhi
Samsara
Samurai
Sangha
Sati
Seppuku
Shudra
Talmud
Te
The Analects
The Buddha
Torah
Transcendence
Untouchables
Upanishads
Wen
Wu-wei
Yang
Yin
Zazen
Define the seven dimensions of religions:
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Doctrine
Community
Ritual
Mythic
Material
Ethical
Experiential
Introduction: What is Religion?
Studying the World’s Religions (World Religions, Chapters 1, 2 and 11)
 What is religious transcendence?
 How does spiritual maturity or spiritual perfection relate to the quest for salvation?
 In what two ways is the ultimate reality usually revealed?
 Describe in general terms the religious experience of the theistic religions. Then briefly compare it with
the religious experience of the non-theistic religions.
 Briefly explain the concept of myth.
 What are the seven dimensions of religion? Give concrete examples for each of the seven dimensions.
 Briefly describe and explain the concept of the Dreaming. How does this period live on today, and what
part do rituals play in it? Among which three aspects of reality does Aboriginal religious life seek to
maintain harmony?
Comparative World Religions: Final Examination Review
Section One: The Monotheistic Religions
Ancestors of the West (World Religions, Chapter 11)
 Who was Zarathustra (Zoroaster)? Explain why his teaching was radical in the context of ancient
Iranian society.
 According to Zoroaster, how did the forces of good and evil come to be?
 Name at least two ways Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
 How does the Zoroastrian description of heaven and hell compare with the description in Christianity?
Judaism (World Religions, Chapter 12)
 What is the Torah?
 What is the Tanakh?
 What is the Shema, and why was it considered a radical statement when it was first formulated. What
else did the Jews believe about God’s nature?
 What are the Mishnah and the Talmud?
 Briefly describe Judaism in the Middle Ages.
 Who is Moses Maimonides, and why is he an important figure in Judaism?
 What is Kabbalah?
 Briefly describe three major events in Modern Judaism.
 Briefly describe the major events in the Jewish rites of passage.
 Explain why Judaism can be thought of as the interpretation of the history of the Jewish people.
Christianity (World Religions, Chapter 13)
 Explain the two interrelated themes that Jesus focused on in his teachings.
 Compare Christian rituals and rites of passage with Jewish rites of passage.
 Describe the distinctive features of each of the three Persons of the Trinity. How does the belief that
God is Trinitarian compare with the Jewish belief of God’s nature.
Islam (World Religions, Chapter 14)
 What is the Hijra and why is it important?
 Why is Muhammad referred to as the seal of the prophets?
 How do Muslims interpret the Fall from Perfection in the Garden of Eden?
 Briefly describe what Muslims expect to happen before and on the Day of Judgment. How does the
Muslim view compare with the Christian view?
 Explain the purpose of the Five Pillars of Islam and briefly describe each pillar.
 Briefly describe the Muslim practice of daily prayer.
 What is Ramadan?
 With regard to Muslim perspectives on women, what are the three specific points of contention
commonly cited by Western critics?
 Define jihad.
 What is Sunnism?
 What is the meaning of the term shi’i?
 How does Sufism extend the first sentence of Islam’s confession of faith?
 Can a religion, like Islam, that understands itself as embracing the totality of life, truly be tolerant of
other religions?
Comparative World Religions: Final Examination Review
Section Two: The South Asian Religions
Hinduism (World Religions, Chapter 3)
 Explain the meaning of the term moksha.
 What doctrine says that all reality is ultimately one? Give an analogy that describes it.
 Define Brahman and Atman. How are the two related?
 What is the general function of Hinduism’s many deities?
 Give a brief explanation of the doctrine of samsara.
 In discussing his thoughts on the “complications” of Hinduism, a Hindu student says, “One who quarrels
about the ways but forgets about the destination is nothing but a fool.” Do you agree with this
statement? Why or why not?
Jainism (World Religions, Chapter 5)
 What is kevala?
 In Jainism, why is knowledge regarding the universe and salvation very important?
 Explain the Jain concept of upward and downward cycles. In terms of these cycles, where is the world
currently?
 Why do Jains consider all life-forms worthy of great respect and care? How doe those life-forms attain
salvation? What is your perspective on these ideas?
 Briefly describe ahisma and its importance to Jain ascetic life. How does it relate to the Five Great
Vows?
Sikhism (World Religions, Chapter 6)
 What is the literal meaning of the word Sikh?
 Explain what it means to say God is immanent.
 Why is God referred to as Guru in Sikhism?
 Describe the state of spiritual perfection for Sikhism.
 Compare Sikhism’s understanding of God’s nature with Hinduism’s understanding of God’s nature.
 Describe the Sikh perspective on human nature and on what constitutes salvation.
 Why is God’s creation necessary for Sikh salvation?
Comparative World Religions: Final Examination Review
Section Three: Buddhism and Zen Buddhism
Buddhism (World Religions, Chapter 4)
 Explain the doctrine of the Middle Way.
 What are the three jewels of Buddhism?
 What features of Buddhist cosmology are shared with Hinduism?
 What is the literal meaning of the word nirvana? How does this help explain the concept of nirvana?
 Contrast the Buddhist and Hindu views of what is reborn after death.
 What are Buddhism’s central teachings called?
 Do you think Buddhism is a pessimistic religion? Why or why not?
 Who is the Dalai Lama? How is each Dalai Lama chosen?
Zen Buddhism (World Religions, Chapter 9)
 For Zen Buddhists and the historical Buddha, what is the primary means of attaining enlightenment?
 Briefly describe these three characteristics of Zen:
o It is experiential.
o It is beyond words.
o It is beyond logical thinking.
 What it the intent of the practice of Zazen?
 What types of tasks do Zen monks engage in as part of their monastic training?
 How does Zen foster the impulse to correct social injustice?
 “Zen in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one’s own being.” According to Zen, why is
that not simple to do?
 How does one learn the truth in Zen, and what part does Zen consider words to play in gaining insight
into the truth?
 List both the Buddhist and the Zen words for enlightenment, and tell how the concepts that they
represent differ from each other.
Comparative World Religions: Final Examination Review
Section Four: The East Asian Religions
Confucianism (World Religions, Chapter 7)
 What is the focus of Confucianism? Explain how it is possible to be a Confucian at the same time as
being a Buddhist, Muslim, Christian or Taoist.
 Identify and briefly describe Confucianism’s supreme virtue.
 What was Confucius’ vision of the ideal human person? Did he think ideal humans were born or made
that way?
 What is more important in Confucianism: behaving properly or having the right moral perspective?
Explain.
 Explain the notion of shu, or reciprocity.
 How does Confucianism regard the self?
 Explain Confucius’ understanding of Heaven. What does Heaven seem to represent for Confucius?
 “Do not worry because you have no official position. Worry about your qualifications. Do not worry
because no one appreciates your abilities. Seek to be worthy of appreciation.” (Analects 4.14) How
does this passage illuminate the life and teachings of Confucius?
Taoism (World Religions, Chapter 8)
 Who was Lao Tzu, and what was his contribution to Taoism?
 Why does Taoism insist that values are relative and not absolute?
 What does Taoism teach regarding an afterlife?
 Define and briefly describe wu-wei. Use an analogy in your description.
 “No value could exist if it were not for its opposite.” Explain why that statement is in either agreement of
disagreement with Taoism.
 Using the concepts of yin and yang, compare Taoism with Confucianism.
Shinto (World Religions, Chapter 10)
 What is the focus of Shinto worship? Describe typical Shinto worship, both in the home and at shrines.
How does Shinto worship compare with the form of worship in Christianity?
 What do the ancient histories recognize when they say that the kami number ‘eight hundred myriads’ or
eight million?
 Give three examples of the part purification plays in Shinto. From the Shinto perspective, why do
humans need to undergo frequent acts and rites of purification?
 How did Japan’s defeat in WWII affect Shinto?
 East Asian religions have typically involved a variety of traditions that form an interwoven fabric. This
fabric, rather than any particular tradition, has typically provided for the religion of the individual. Which
traditions form the fabric of East Asian religion, and what is the main contribution of each one?