Religious Studies Tests 4

Question 1

Indigenous spirituality and religion

Answer 1

• many indigenous people believe in the idea of a creator, great spirit, or great mystery

Question 2

Medicine wheel

Answer 2

used by native american tribes for health and healing; embodies the four directions*

Emotional, spiritual, physical and mental

Question 3

Wendigo

Answer 3

A mythological creature

Question 4

The Seven Teachings (virtues values, laws, or disciplines

Answer 4

-7 disciplines followed to promote spiritual growth include sharing, learning, teaching, parenting, fasting, prayer, and meditation

Question 5

Cosmology

Answer 5

(“cosmos” + “study”) study of the universe and its origin; deity in relation to universe

Question 6

Cosmogony

Answer 6

(“cosmos” + “genesis”) theories or explanation of the universe and its order

Question 7

Genesis story of creation

Answer 7

the 7 days of God creating the world
Day 1 - light and darkness
Day 2 - sky and sea
Day 3 - land
Day 4 - sun and moon
Day 5 - birds and fish
Day 6 - animals, man, woman
Day 7 - rest

Question 8

Creation and void/chaos

Answer 8

void/chaos is the state of the universe before creation*

Question 9

How heroes and monsters are connected to these creation myths, such as St. George and the Dragon

Answer 9

heroes are depicted slaying the monster, such as St. George slaying the Dragon*

Question 10

Daoism, yin and yang

Answer 10

Daoism - a philosophy and religion originating from China; emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao
Yin yang - two opposite forces of balance

Question 11

Izanami and Izanagi as world-parents

Answer 11

Izanami and Izanagi are the creators of the Japanese archipelago and the ancestors of the other deities

Question 12

Buddhist impermanence

Answer 12

the idea that the world is impermanent; everything changes and nothing lasts forever; death is a part of impermanence

Question 13

Samsara, Nirvana, Moksha

Answer 13

Samsara - endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
Nirvana - a place of enlightenment and peace of mind
Moksha - freedom from the cycle of samsara (birth, death, rebirth)

Question 14

First Noble Truth

Answer 14

the world is a place of suffering; a characteristic of the cycle of rebirth (samsara)

Question 15

Pure Land

Answer 15

heavenly realm where Pure Land Buddhists aspire to be reborn

Question 16

Amitabha / Amida Buddha

Answer 16

the Buddha of “Infinite Light”

Question 17

Avalokiteshvara

Answer 17

a bodhisattva that inhabits the Pure Land alongside Amitabha

Question 18

Nembutsu

Answer 18

means “Buddha invocation”

Question 19

Namu Amida Butsu

Answer 19

means “Homage to Amitabha Buddha”

Question 20

Confucius on the afterlife and spirits

Answer 20

• confucius had little interest in spirits and the afterlife, focusing on issues of the world instead

Question 21

Daoist immortals

Answer 21

A group of eight immortals in Daoism

Question 22

Ancestor worship

Answer 22

respect shown to dead ancestors, appears in many religions

Question 23

The Ghost Festival

Answer 23

a chinese festival that takes place in late june or july; people offer food to the dead

Question 24

Various forms of sacred words

Answer 24

prayers, spells, hymns, divine revelation, scriptures

Question 25

Language and creation

Answer 25

words as objects of power

Question 26

Logos

Answer 26

word, thought, principle, or speech

Question 27

Sefirot, Qabbalah

Answer 27

Sefirot - 10 powers by which God is said to become manifest*
Qabbalah - discipline of thought in Jewish mysticism*

Question 28

Mantras

Answer 28

sacred syllables used to invoke a deity, for purposes such as protection

Question 29

Seed syllables

Answer 29

mantras believed to contain the essence of deities*

Question 30

Invocation, praise, offerings, petitions

Answer 30

Invocation - communicating or interacting with spirits
Praise - the act of showing great respect to a deity
Offering - a gift or sacrifice given in worship of a god
Petitions - a request made when praying to a go