Study Guide for Test
Religions of Southern and Eastern
Asia
GPS
• GPS: SS7G12b. Compare and contrast
the prominent religions in Southern and
Eastern Asia: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam,
Shintoism and the philosophy of
Confucianism.
1. Which of these religions is considered one of
the oldest in the world? Hinduism
2. What is the name of the Hindu sacred text?
Vedas
3. What is the Hindu belief in reincarnation? The
belief that a soul returns to life in another body
after death
4. What is the Hindu belief in Karma? That one’s
actions determine one’s fate
5. How long do Hindus believe a soul will be
reincarnated? It will be reincarnated until the
soul lives a life good enough to be united with
Brahman.
6. What is the caste system? The belief that social
class is hereditary (inherited)
7. Where was the religion of Buddhism founded?
India
8. Who was the founder of Buddhism? Siddharta
Gautama
9. What does “Buddha” mean? Enlightened One
10. What do Buddhists believe people need to do
to be happy and find peace? They are to give
up greed and greedy desires.
11. What Buddhist teaching shows its followers
the correct way to live their lives? The Middle
Way
12. How did the first Muslims come to Southern
and Eastern Asia? Muslim invaders entered
India in the 1500s AD.
13. What are the Five Pillars? Basic beliefs
of Islam
14. What is the name of the Muslim holy
book? Quran
15. Islam is considered a monotheistic
religion because its followers believe in
… only one god
16. In which country was Shintoism
founded? Japan
17. What are the kami that are so important in
Shinto belief? They are spirits that followers of
Shinto believe exist in all things around them.
18. How do believers of Shinto practice their
religion? They pray at small altars in their
homes.
19. In which country was Confucianism founded?
China
20. What did Confucius believe were the keys to
social order and peace? Good character and
virtue in the people
21. Which is Confucius’ Golden Rule? “What you
do not like when done to you, do not to
others.”
22. How did Confucianism come to play an
important role in Chinese society? A Chinese
emperor hired Confucian scholars in 121 BC to
help organize his government.
23. Why is Confucianism considered a philosophy
instead of a religion? His teachings are more
about ethics and behavior than about religious
ideas.