Chapter 1 Quiz

Question 1

Theism

Answer 1

belief in the existence of supernatural beings.

Question 2

Monotheism

Answer 2

belief in the existence of one and only one supreme supernatural being (i.e. God). Example: Christians and Muslims

Question 3

Polytheism

Answer 3

belief in the existence of many gods. Example: The Greeks and Romans, and perhaps modern neo-pagans

Question 3

Henotheism

Answer 3

belief in the existence of one major supernatural being (i.e. God) that is the focus of worship but the acceptance of the existence of other lesser gods (usually the gods of other neighboring or related peoples). Example: many forms of modern Hinduism, and early Judaism

Question 4

Atheism

Answer 4

belief that no supernatural beings, of any kind, exist. Or, more strictly a belief that the monotheistic God does not exist

Question 5

Agnosticism

Answer 5

skepticism that supernatural beings, like gods exist. More strictly, one is unsure whether or not God exists because of lack of evidence or equal evidence for opposing views.

Question 6

Non-theism

Answer 6

lack of belief in supernatural beings, yet a belief in the existence of a supernatural realm. Example: Early Confucianism and Daoism. Also, Theravada Buddhism.

Question 7

Whose definition is this: “Religion is the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern, a concern which qualifies all other concerns as preliminary and which itself contains the answer to the question of the meaning of our life.” Is it an adequate definition of religion?

Answer 7

Paul Tillich; It is definitely better than the other definitions we have seen so far. However, one enduring criticism of this definition is that it is also a bit too broad because it makes religion into a generalized psychological state of mind (i.e., an ultimate concern).

Question 8

Whose definition is this? “Religion is (1) a system of symbols which acts to (2) establish powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in people by (3) formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and (4) clothing these
conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic.” Is it an adequate definition of religion?

Answer 8

Clifford Geertz; yes, though some would argue that Geertz’s definition is too relativistic and
dismisses the possible truth of religious belief.