Week 1 cards Flashcards
The spiritual discipline in Jainism and Buddhism first developed near what significant region in India?
The Ganges River
What is an axis mundi?
The spiritual link between earth and sky
Which term refers to a person who acts as an intermediary between humans and the spirit world?
Shaman
What is an avatar?
The “coming down” of a god to earth as a human
What does the term “mystery religion” refers to?
A type of Greek and Roman tradition in which the core teachings and rituals were revealed only to those who were prepared to undergo initiation
What was one very important function of Neolithic-era priests?
Track the seasons
Which of the following was an early venture in interfaith dialogue?
The World’s Parliament of Religions
Which of the following is a functional definition of religion?
Religion is a way of creating community
In which religions did scripture come to play a central role as the word of God?
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
At which famous site did virgin priestesses deliver prophetic messages from the god Apollo (and before that, the earth goddess Gaia)?
The temple of Delphi
For what reason, traditionally, have rituals concerning animals been performed in many societies?
To appease their spirits
What was traditionally one way to deal with unfriendly spirits, according to many ancient cultures?
FRIGHTEN THEM
Scripturalism first manifested itself in which tradition?
Rabbinic Judaism
Into what does the shaman enter in order to communicate with the spirit world?
A trance
What did many ancient cultures believed about uninhabited areas?
They were guarded by spirits
