Name: ________________________________
Hour: _________________________________
Study Guide for World Religion Test
Section One: Match the definitions with the terms in the word bank. Write the
word in the blank next to the correct definition.
Word Bank
adherents
hajj
avatar
cultural diffusion
atman
tetragrammaton
coexist
religion
migration
deity
polytheism
reincarnation
karma
free will
synagogue
messiah
monotheism
original sin
mosque
hajj An annual trip to Mecca made by a follower of Islam.
avatar A visual representation of a Hindu or goddess.
polytheism The belief in more than one god or goddess.
synagogue The place of worship in Judaism.
original sin The belief in Christianity that all people are born flawed and
imperfect.
religion An organized collection of beliefs.
coexist To be together at the same time or the same place. Used as a way to
bring people of different religions together.
deity Another word for a god or goddess.
migration The movement of people from one place to another.
adherent Someone who supports a particular set of ideas such as a religion.
reincarnation The belief that the soul of a person can begin a new life in a new
body after death.
free will The ability to choose from right or wrong.
messiah A future heroic figure who will rescue those who live right lives.
atman In Hinduism, another word for the soul or spirit of a person.
Name: ________________________________
Hour: _________________________________
tetragrammaton In Hebrew, the word for God’s name which is YHWH. It means “I
AM” and cannot be pronounced.
mosque The place of worship for those who are followers or adherents to Islam.
karma Deeds done in this life which affect the next life. A central idea to
Hinduism.
monotheism The belief in only ONE god or goddess.
cultural diffusion The spreading of cultures from one group to another.
Section Two: Match the term with the correct religion. Your choices of religions
will be Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity. After you have
written the correct religion in the blank next to the term, describe it in the blanks
below.
1. Christianity Protestant: A division of Christianity. Literally means “to protest”
and includes all groups of Christianity which is not Roman Catholic.
2. Buddhism Noble Eightfold Path: In Buddhism, the key to a happy and
contented life is to live life in the following way:
a. Right knowledge.
b. Right intention.
c. Right speech.
d. Right action.
e. Right livelihood.
f. Right effort.
g. Right mindfulness.
h. Right concentration.
3. Hinduism Vedas: The most important and sacred text in Hindus. The oldest
existing religious text of the five major world religions.
4. Christianity Jesus of Nazareth: The founder of Christianity and considered to
be the messiah by Christians.
5. Judaism Torah: Part of the Tanakh. The Jewish law.
6. Islam Muhammad: The founder of Islam.
Name: ________________________________
Hour: _________________________________
7. Christianity Roman Catholic: A division of Christianity. The word catholic
means “universal”.
8. Hinduism Brahman: In Hinduism, ultimate reality.
9. Buddhism Siddartha Gautama: The founder of Buddhism. A prince who later
became the Buddha.
10. Judaism Israel: A middle eastern country where mostly Jewish people live.
11. Islam Koran: The sacred text used in the Islamic faith.
12. Judaism Hannukah: In Judaism, an eight day celebration commemorating the
Jewish rebellion and the time when oil lasted eight days in the temple.
13. Christianity Trinity: The belief in Christianity that there is only one god, but
that god is made up of three separate persons.
14. Islam Kaaba: A Muslim holy site located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.