World Religions
Fall 2014
Don Stinson
Study Guide for Final Exam
Date of Exam: Tuesday, December 9
Points Possible: 150
Time Permitted for Exam: One hour and 50 minutes (You may leave when you
finish.)
Materials to Bring to Class for Exam: Pencils or pens.
Nature of Exam: Comprehensive but focusing on Chapters 7-12.
Format of Exam: A mixture of objective items such as matching, multiple choice,
true/false, short answer, or listing items.
Specific Concepts to be Familiar with from Assigned Readings
Introduction (pp. 1-13)
• Definition of religion
• Definitions of agnosticism, atheism, pantheism, and polytheism
• Four types of believers (fundamentalists, conservatives, liberals, radicals)
Chapter 1, “Religions of the Americas” (pp. 17-41)
• Definitions of shaman, trickster, reincarnation, and monotheism
• The Powhatans’ views on “medicine”
• The Cherokee creation myth of the brother, the sister, and the fish
Chapter 2, “Religions of Africa” (pp. 45-64)
• Akhenaton (King Amenhotep IV) and monotheism
• The roles of the sun, the Nile River, and cats in Egyptian religion
Chapter 3, “Hinduism” (pp. 71-104)
• Definitions of Brahma/Brahman and karma
• The Bhagavad Gita
Chapter 4, “Buddhism” (pp. 109-146)
• Definitions of dharma, Nirvana, and mantra
• The basic life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Eightfold Path
• The Theravadins and the Mahayanists
Chapter 5, “Jainism and Sikhism” (pp. 151-172)
• Jainism’s basic beliefs (see page 156 in particular)
• Sikhism’s relationship to Hinduism and Islam
Chapter 6, “China and Japan” (pp. 177-213)
• The concepts of Yang and Yin
• Definition of Dao (Tao)
• Basic themes of the Dao De Jing
• Relationship between Shinto and Buddhism in Japan
Chapter 7, “Ancient Religions of Iraq and Iran” (pp. 221-239)
• The basic historical development of Mesopotamian civilizations (see especially
pp. 222-4).
• The myth of Dumuzi (Tammuz) and Inanna (Ishtar) (See pp. 224-5.)
• The Epic of Gilgamesh
• The life of Zarathustra
• Basic teachings of Zoroastrianism (pp. 231-2)
Chapter 8, “Judaism” (pp. 245-284)
• Definitions of Torah, covenant, Passover, prophet, rabbi, Hanukkah, Messiah,
diaspora, Kabbalah, and kosher
• The stories of Abraham, Moses, the kings, and the Hebrew prophets (pp. 24855).
• The main types of Judaism found in the U.S. today: reform, conservative,
Orthodox, and Hasidic.
Chapter 9, “Christianity” (pp. 289-331)
• Definitions of parable, gospels, epistles, sacraments, ecumenical, Trinity,
excommunicate, theology, indulgences, and incarnation.
• The life and basic teachings of Jesus.
• The roles of Peter and Paul in the early Christian movement (“the Way”).
• Roman Emperor Constantine’s importance in Christian history.
• The Greek and Latin traditions and their evolution into the Catholic and
Orthodox Churches.
• The Crusades
• The Protestant Reformation and the various denominations and groups that
evolved from the movement (see “A Christian Family Tree”).
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
• Liberalism and fundamentalism within Christianity
Chapter 10, “Islam” (pp. 335-372)
• Definitions of Qur’an, Hajj, Shari’a, and jihad.
• The life of Muhammad
• The Five Pillars of Islam
• Sunnis, Shi’as, and Sufis
• Muslims’ relations with Jews and Christians
• The Crusades
• The Nation of Islam and the American Muslim Mission
Chapter 11, “New Forms of Older Religions” (pp. 377-391)
• Definition of eight-fold calendar
• The history and basic beliefs of Baha’i.
• The history and basic beliefs of the Church of Scientology.
• The history and basic beliefs of the Druids.
• The history and basic beliefs of Vodun.
• The history and basic beliefs of Rastafarians.
• The history and basic beliefs of the Wicca movement.
Chapter 12, “Globalization and World Religions” (pp. 395-409)
• Relationships between science and religion.
• Gender relationships (feminism, gay rights, etc.) and religion.
• The environment and religion.
• Violence and religion.