World Religions
REL 1300
Dr. Giddens
jgiddens@uwf.edu
Online
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Mid-Term Exam Online – Spring 2021
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Characterize Tylor’s book Primitive Religion and its relation to traditional Religion.
Explain Tylor’s view of how the ethnicity of culture defines and shapes a culture’s religion.
Explain the role of magic in Frazer’s view as depicted in the Golden Bough –
Magic, like science, is constant and universal, according to Frazer, and is not depending on the will of
the gods. Religion, unlike sorcery, is based on the will of gods, which must be invoked by prayer:
spells instruct divine powers as if they were natural forces, while prayers politely request assistance
from the divine powers. Frazer reiterates Tylor's argument that magic and religion are inaccurate
earlier phases of science, even claiming that magic and science are similar in terms of consistency and
uniformity.
Explain Frazer’s view of why primitive cultures are rational in their view of magic.
Explain why Religion exists according to a functionalist perspective on society. –
The structural-functional approach to is that Religion may be used to justify terrorism and crime,
for example. Religion has often been used to justify and motivate war. In certain ways, this suits the
structural-functional approach since it promotes social harmony among members of a conflicting
group.
Explain Freud’s view that the unconscious is repressed and yet drives Religion –
Religion, according to Freud's psychoanalytic viewpoint, is the unconscious mind's desire for wish
fulfillment. People tend to believe in God, who serves a strong father figure, to feel safe and absolve
themselves of their own guilt, according to Freud. The unconscious mind is a collection of emotions,
perceptions, desires, and memories that exist outside of conscious consciousness. Even if people are
unaware of these underlying factors, according to Freud, the unconscious tends to influence
behavior.
Evaluate the structure of Freud’s concept of humaneness as represented by Id, Ego, and Superego.
Explain Freud’s Oedipus Complex and how it relates to Religion.
Explain the concept of ‘spiritism’ or animated presence as it relates to indigenous Religion.
Characterize Karl Marx and his concept of class struggle as Religion.
Explain what Marx meant by claiming that Religion is essentially the “opiate of the masses.”
Explain the three key principles of Jainism.
Explain the goal of Jainism, Kevala, and how one might reach this goal –
Reincarnation is something that Jains believe in. In the course of birth, death, and rebirth, their
souls, which are thought to be a special material in the world, take on various living forms. This loop
has been going on indefinitely; the world has no beginning or end, and it has always been and will
continue to be. The main aim is to remove one's karma from their soul in order to break the loop.
When they achieve this objective, their soul has achieved all wisdom and resides in the heavens for all
eternity (Nirvana). The karma theory is concerned with actions and the consequences they have on
the soul's journey.
Explain Weber’s concept of ‘Verstehen’ and how it relates to a sociological view of Religion.
Explain Weber’s view of the relationship between the ‘spirit of capitalism’ and the Protestantism.
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16. Discuss the youth and life of Siddhartha Gautama.Siddhartha lived an extraordinary life, learning and meditating while guided by the teachings of
various religious teachers. He practiced his new way of life with a community of five ascetics, and his
commitment to his mission was so inspiring that the five ascetics became Siddhartha's disciples.
17. Explain the role of ‘Experience’ in Buddhism.
18. Explain the four reasons for why we suffer according to Buddhism.
19. Characterize at least 4 of the 8 dimensions of the 8-fold path in Buddhism.
20. Characterize William James’ emphasis on the importance of ‘feelings’ to Religion.
21. Characterize the key difference between the Shang and Zhou dynasties in Chinese Religion
22. Characterize the concepts of Qi, Yin Yang, and Wuxing in Chinese Religion.
23. Characterize Confucius concept that Religion is about preserving Social Harmony.
24. Characterize Eliade’s conceptual difference between the Sacred and the Profane.
25. Explain the significance of Kami in Shinto –
Kami are the Shinto gods. Wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers, and fertility are examples of holy
spirits that take the form of objects and concepts essential to life. Humans become kami after they
die and are respected as ancestral kami by their relatives.
26. Explain the value of Evans-Pritchard’s approach to studying tribal Religion.
27. Characterize the concept of Torah and its importance to Judaism –
On Mount Sinai, 50 days after their exodus from Egyptian slavery, Jews believe God gave Moses the
Torah. They believe the Torah demonstrates how God intends for Jews to live. It includes 613
commandments, with the ten most well-known being referred to as the ten 10 statements by Jews.
28. Explain Geertz’s view of culture as it relates to Religion.
29. Explain the concepts of Trinity, Sin, and Grace in Christianity.
The concept of the trinity is the father, son and the holy ghost which make up the three parts. Sin,
according to Christian tradition, divides humans from God and results in permanent punishment.
God granted humans free will, so it is up to them to choose whether to act in an evil or good manner.
Christians conclude that only God is capable of resolving the issue of human sinfulness. To do so, he
gave redemption through Christ's sacrifice. Grace is described as "God's love and mercy offered to
us because he desires it, not necessarily because of something we have done to deserve it." It is not a
man-made product in any way. It is a God-given characteristic that is most evident in the redemption
of sinners.
30. Explain the importance of Monotheism to Islam –
Monotheism is probably the most important tenet of Islam, and it is perhaps the religion's most
central principle. Monotheism, also known as tawheed in Arabic, refers to God's or Allah's
uniqueness and superiority. Allah is the only ruler and maker of the world in Islam. Tawheed
expresses the belief that Allah is the only being or god deserving of worship.
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