World Religions

Question 1

Sacred writings of Hinduism

Answer 1

Vedas - oldest and most sacred
Upanishads - extensions of the Vedas
Bhagavad-Gita - Epic poetry; Most popular Hindu writing

Question 2

Hindu belief about God

Answer 2

Brahman - ultimate reality
*People worship manifestations of Brahman
3 primary gods - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
–330 million gods to choose from

Question 3

3 major gods in Hinduism

Answer 3

Brahma - Creator (not the same as Brahman)
Vishnu - Sustainer
Shiva - Destroyer

Question 4

Hindu belief about humans

Answer 4

Atman - True self, essence of human life
Four stages of life - Student, householder, forest dweller, renunciation
Caste system

Question 5

Moksha

Answer 5

When one renounces all human trappings and discovers truth within deepest self; he finds Atman IS Brahman
-Not the same as christian salvation
3 paths

Question 6

3 paths to Moksha

Answer 6

Karma-marga (karma yoga) - way of action (most important for most hindus)
Jnana - marga (jnana yoga) - way of wisdom/knowledge; knowledge transmitted from guru to student
Bhakti-marga (Bhakti yoga) - way of devotion; personal care for image of a deity

Question 7

Hindu beliefs about eternity

Answer 7

Closest concept to eternity is ultimate reality (Brahman)

-World is not reality, it is maya (trickery) and lila (God’s play)

Question 8

Founder of Buddhism

Answer 8

Gautama Siddhartha - “awakened” at age 30
Buddha - “the awakened one”
Shakyamuni - the wise man of the Shakya tribe

Question 9

Sacred writings of Buddhism

Answer 9

Tripitaka (three baskets) - Pali canon from recitations of Buddha’s teachings; not written down for centuries

• Sutta-pitaka (basket of discourses) - doctrinal teachings
• Vinaya-pitaka (basket of discipline) - rules and regulations
• Abidhamma - supplement containing reflection on teachings

Question 10

Buddhist belief about God

Answer 10

Buddhists do not believe in one God

Buddhism adapts to the culture it is in, so some forms include worship of divine beings

Question 11

Buddhist belief about humans

Answer 11

No self (anatman)
-reincarnation
-no permanent self
Take refuge in 3 jewels
-The Buddha, The Dharma (teaching), and The Sangha (community)

Question 12

Four Noble Truths (Buddhism)

Answer 12

• Life is suffering (Dukkha)
• cause of suffering is desire (Tanha)
• cure lies in overcoming attachment
• overcoming attachment involves 8-fold path

Question 13

8-fold path

Answer 13

Right knowledge (4 noble truths)
Right aspiration (seeking enlightenment)
Right speech (truth)
Right behavior (moral precepts)
Right livelihood (monk; role that promotes life)
Right effort (moral exertion)
Right mindfulness (keep mind under control)
Right absorption/meditation

Question 14

Buddhist belief about salvation

Answer 14

8-fold path
“Blow out” of desire
Escape from reincarnation

Question 15

Buddhist belief about eternity

Answer 15

Cyclical view of eternity; no beginning, no end

Reincarnation until enlightenment

Question 16

Founder of Islam

Answer 16

Muhammad

• Born in Mecca
• First revelation given to him in cave of Harra by Gabriel
• -Muhammad was to memorize and preach the text

Question 17

Islam sacred writings

Answer 17

Qur'an
-literal, uncreated word of God
-written down after Muhammad's death
Hadith
-traditions concerning sayings and life of Muhammad

Question 18

Islam belief about God

Answer 18

Absolute monotheism
-greatest sin is to Shirk (assign partners to God)
Allah is
-transcendent
-All powerful, All knowing
-Creator, sustainer, ordainer, and judge
-Absolutely sovereign

Question 19

Islam belief about Jesus

Answer 19

Was the son of the virgin Mary
Great prophet but not the son of God
not crucified
someday return, marry, and rule 40 years with children
will be judged as a man in the end times

Question 20

Islam belief about humans

Answer 20

• People are born innocent
• We are weak and sinful
• except for Shirk, people can make up for bad deeds with good deeds

Question 21

5 Pillars of Islam

Answer 21

Confession - Public statement
Prayer - 5 times a day in direction of Mecca
Fasting - Month of Ramadan
Giving Alms - giving cleanses Muslim of bad deeds
Pilgrimage - trip to Mecca at least once in a lifetime

Question 22

Islamic belief about eternity

Answer 22

Resurrection
God is final judge
Judgement based on good deeds vs evil deeds
One sure way to reach paradise - die in Jihad

Question 23

Rabbinic Judaism

Answer 23

Emerged after the destruction of the temple - 70AD
Synagogues as minor sanctuaries
New system of daily public prayer

Question 24

Sacred writings of Judaism

Answer 24

Tanakh - Scripture
-Torah - 5 books of Moses
-Nevi'im - The prophets
-Kethuvim - The writings
Talmud 
-Mishna - interpretation
-Gemara - Narratives

Question 25

Judaism belief about God

Answer 25

hwhy - Yahweh
God is....
-Sovereign, eternal
-Spirit, personal
-All powerful
-Imminent, transcendant

Question 26

Judaism belief about humans

Answer 26

God desires relationship with people
-People live according to commands and in harmony with each other
Israel is the chosen people

Question 27

Judaisms belief about Salvation

Answer 27

God’s people must live according to his will
-Halakhah - the path one walks
When people sin, atonement is necessary
-Destruction of the temple ended animal sacrifice

Question 28

Judaisms belief about eternity

Answer 28

Resurrection of the dead
Immortality of the soul
Coming Messiah
Much disagreement on details

Question 29

Contemporary forms of Judaism

Answer 29

Orthodox Judaism - Strict adherence to Torah, very traditional
Reform Judaism - traditional customs not binding, interpretation influenced by history and cultural changes
Conservative Judaism - middle ground, strong Jewish identity with accomodation