World Religions Flashcards
Religion
Name some of the potential positive effects of holding religious beliefs, regardless of the truth of the claims.
1.) Beliefs in a perfect future life after this one are soothing to one’s natural existential dread and fear of death
2.) Beliefs in one’s “chosen” state as a child/creation of a god can be ego-boosting and purpose-providing
3.) Beliefs in cosmic punishment/intervention and an all-powerful creator are soothing and bring feelings of justice to the universe
4.) Beliefs can be used as purported explanations for gaps in one’s understanding of how the world works (e.g. the cause of thunder or storms, the nature of consciousness, how life began, etc.)
5.) Beliefs can be used to promote group connectivity and social well-being
Religion
Name some of the potential negative effects of holding religious beliefs (and why it is dangerous to believe things that are not true and we shouldn’t necessarily just ‘live and let live’).
1.) We vote based off our beliefs
2.) We interact with and judge others based off our beliefs
3.) Believing in non-existant futures where everything will be perfect can mentally downgrade the one life we have now and decrease the urgency we feel to help others
4.) Believing in non-existant futures prevents one from emotionally maturing and coming to grips with the hard reality of mortality
5.) Holding incorrect beliefs about one’s place in the world can be self-degrading and/or self-inflating
6.) Discovering one’s worldview is incorrect can be a very painful process
7.) Believing in an omniscient god who demands obedience can inspire feelings of guilt, even for completely benign behaviors
8.) Believing in an omniscient god who demands obedience can incite OCD-like scrupulosity
9.) Believing in a religious system’s particular moral system undercuts one’s ability to explore morality from a humanist perspective
Religion
Name some of the various psychological mechanisms present across historical and cultural divides that have led to the near-universal creation of beliefs around supernatural divinity and the continuation of those beliefs in society.
Groupishness, the amity-enmity complex, kin selection;
sanctity and reputation management as methods of reinforcing group cohesion,
group sharing of compulsive tendencies and existential dread;
etc.
Religion
Name some of the various individual psychological mechanisms that are often used to bolster and/or protect one’s supernatural beliefs and/or claims about the divine.
Hyperactive agent detection;
the Texas sharpshooter fallacy, cherry-picking of experiences;
confirmation bias, belief perseverance;
etc.
Religion
What two end effects does Robert Sapolsky say that religion offers Homo sapiens?
- Stress relief (a sharing of existential dread via story and communal ritual)
- A community (a la Haidt, religion ‘binds and blinds’)
Religion
How does Jonathan Haidt assert that religion helps Homo sapiens form communities?
By forming doctrines (read: moral centers) and then making those centers sacred (read: unquestionable)
Thus, by binding the group and blinding them to the true nature of the binding features, the group is solidly linked with no easy way out. This also lends credence to a hegemon’s claim to power, incitement to war, etc..
Religion
Robert Sapolsky connects what three disorders to the highly influential religious figures through time (from shamans to the Apostle Paul to Martin Luther to cult leaders)?
Schizotypal disorder (in those such as shamans, Charles Manson, David Koresh, Jim Jones, Joseph Smith, etc.)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (in those such as Martin Luther, etc.)
Temporal lobe epilepsy (in those such as Paul, Teresa of Ávilia, etc.)
Religion
What disordered form of activity does Robert Sapolsky point out is highly conserved among the various major religions’ primary tenets?
A focus on ritualistic, OCD-like activities
(e.g. ritualistic self-cleansings, ritualistic food preparation, ritualistic manners of entering and exiting holy places, ritualistic numerology, etc.)
Religion
What reason does Richard Dawkins give to explain why children are pre-wired to trust their parents/elders and believe the religious principles that are taught?
Those who listen to their elders are more likely to survive/reproduce if they are being told things like “don’t play in that fast-moving river,” “don’t eat these mushrooms,” “don’t walk alone at dusk in the mountains,” “do this specific activity in order to gain social status,” etc.
Religion
What terms refer to the feelings of peace, comfort, warmth, and/or goosebumps we get during religious experiences?
Elevation emotion;
frisson
Religion
Religious experience is especially associated with stimulation of which portion of the brain?
The temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex
Religion
True/False.
Reported religious experiences are conserved across a wide variety of differing belief systems (i.e. they are highly similar to one another, be they Catholic, Evangelical protestant, mainstream protestant, Hindu, Mormon, Buddhist, Muslim, Jehovah’s Witness, etc.).
True.
Religion
Different regions of the brain light up on fMRI when one considers (1) ‘what I want’ or (2) ‘what someone else wants.’
Which lights up when a religious individual considers what their god wants?
Their (1) ‘what I want’ regions
(Hence why people’s gods tend to agree with their own ideals or religious preconceptins.)
Religion
What are the four components of the BITE Model of authoritarian control?
Behavior control
Information control
Thought control
Emotional control
Religion
Name some examples of behavior control as illustrated in the BITE model.
- Control types of clothing and hairstyles
- Regulate diet – food and drink, hunger and/or fasting
- When, how and with whom the member has sex
- Financial exploitation, manipulation or dependence
- Restrict leisure, entertainment, vacation time
- Major time spent with group indoctrination and rituals and/or self indoctrination including the Internet
- Permission required for major decisions
- Manipulation and deprivation of sleep
- Regulate individual’s physical reality
- Dictate where, how, and with whom the member lives and associates or isolates
- Etc. etc.
Religion
Name some examples of information control as illustrated in the BITE model.
- Minimize or discourage access to non-cult sources of information
- Compartmentalize information into Outsider vs. Insider doctrines
- Encourage self-reporting and spying on other members
- Extensive use of cult-generated information and propaganda
Religion
Name some examples of thought control as illustrated in the BITE model.
- Require members to internalize the group’s doctrine as truth
- (Instill black and white thinking; decide between good vs. evil; organize people into insiders vs. outsiders)*
- Change person’s name and identity
- Use of loaded language and clichés which constrict knowledge, stop critical thoughts and reduce complexities into platitudinous buzz words
- Encourage only ‘good and proper’ thoughts
- Teaching thought-stopping techniques which shut down reality testing by stopping negative thoughts and allowing only positive thoughts, including:
- (Denial, rationalization, chanting, meditating, praying, speaking in tongues, singing or humming)*
- Rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism
- Forbid critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy allowed
- Labeling alternative belief systems as illegitimate, evil, or not useful
Religion
Name some examples of emotional control as illustrated in the BITE model.
- Manipulate and narrow the range of feelings – some emotions and/or needs are deemed as evil, wrong or selfish
- Teach emotion-stopping techniques to block feelings of homesickness, anger, doubt
- Make the person feel that problems are always their own fault, never the leader’s or the group’s fault
- Promote feelings of guilt or unworthiness, such as:
- (Identity guilt, not living up to your potential, your family is deficient, your affiliations are unwise, social guilt)*
- Instill fear of thinking independently, the outside world, losing one’s salvation, leaving or being shunned by the group
- Ritualistic (and sometimes public) confession of sins
- *Phobia indoctrination**: inculcating irrational fears about leaving the group or questioning the leader’s authority
- (no happiness or fulfillment possible outside of the group; terrible consequences if you leave; shunning of those who leave; fear of being rejected by friends and family)*
Religion
The __________ Hypothesis maintains that the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) is composed of sources combined over many centuries by many hands, all between the 950 and 500 centuries BCE.
The Documentary Hypothesis maintains that the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) is composed of sources combined over many centuries by many hands, all between 950 and 500 BCE.
Religion
What Bible version do many major scholars regard as one of the most versions most accurate to the original texts we have?
The NRSV
(the New Revised Standard Version)
Religion
Which books of the New Testament are considered pseudepigraphic by a significant number of biblical scholars?
Majority of scholars:
- 1st Timothy (Pauline)
- 2nd Timothy (Pauline)
- Titus (Pauline)
- 2nd Peter (Petrine)
About half of scholars:
- Colossians (Pauline)
- 2nd Thessalonians (Pauline)
- Ephesians (Pauline)
Religion
Which of the Gospels of the New Testament was written first?
Do we know who wrote any of them?
The Gospel of Mark (Hence why the other synoptic gospels have so much overlap with Mark.);
we do not (Likely none of them were eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ ministry.)
Religion
List some of the hypothesized sources of the synoptic Gospels.
The Gospel of Mark - material that overlaps within the other synoptic Gospels
Q source - material common to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (but not Mark)
M Source – material unique to Matthew
L source – material unique to Luke
Religion
True/False.
Many stories of global floods, virgin births, creation myths, hero myths, dying/resurrecting gods, and post-mortality paradise predate the Bible.
True.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mythology#Connections_to_other_belief_systems
Religion
Which New Testament books were written anonymously?
- The four gospels
- Acts
- Hebrews
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John
Religion
Which of the four gospels is not one of the ‘synoptic gospels?’ Why?
The Gospel according to John.
It varies the most from the other three in terms of theology, characterization of Jesus, storyline, fantastical nature, etc.
Religion
Does the story of Jesus change much over time (i.e., from Mark to Matthew/Luke to John to the non-biblical gospels)?
Yes. Jesus transforms from a low Christology to a high Christology, with authors embellishing and adding miraculous details over time.
Religion
Who is the single author who appears to have given us most of the writings we have in the New Testament, all of which he wrote before the Gospels had been composed?
Paul
(~50 CE)
(NOTE: Paul was not an eyewitness to the crucifixion or to Jesus’ ministry.)
Religion
By what century did there exist unanimity in the West regarding the New Testament canon?
The 4th century
(300s CE)
Religion
When was the New Testament book of Mark written and by whom?
~70 CE (first of all the gospels);
we do not know (likely not by Mark though).
Religion
Describe the early followers of Christianity in the first 200 years following 33 CE.
Earliest followers - only apocalyptic Jewish Christians
Gentiles then allowed in - schism between Jews and Christianity
Religion
Name the individual who issued the Edict of Milan in 313 CE and what the purpose of the edict was.
Constantine I
to legalize Christianity in the Roman Empire
Religion
What was the purpose of the Edict of Thessalonica in 380 CE (issued by Roman Emperor Theodosius)?
Established the Nicene Creed (council-established, ecumenical articles of faith) as official church doctrine
Religion
Name some of the articles of faith stated in the Nicene Creed.
Creation belief: God as the creator (but all things made through Jesus)
Trinitarian belief: Jesus as consubstantial with God; the Holy Ghost as emanating from God
Salvation belief: salvation through Jesus
Baptism belief: baptism for the remission of sins and the resurrection of the dead
Religion
When was the first council of Nicea?
325 CE
Religion
What two events of the early 1500s CE involved Martin Luther and marked the true beginning of the Reformation (and split of Protestantism from Catholicism)?
His posting of 95 theses
The Diet of Worms
Religion
List the approximate number of adherents to each of the following religions on a global scale:
Buddhism
Christianity
Hinduism
Islam
0.5 billion (6%)
2 billion (31%)
1 billion (15%)
1.5 billion (23%)
Religion
What three religions cover 70% of the global population?
Christianity (31%)
Islam (23%)
Hinduism (15%)
Religion
How much of the global population professes no religion (‘nones’)?
1 billion
(15%)
Religion
Describe U.S. demographics in terms of religious belief.
Christian - 70%
Non-Christian faiths - 6%
None - 23%
Religion
Most U.S. Christians fall in what three categories?
Evangelical protestant (~25% of U.S. citizens)
Mainline protestant (~20% of U.S. citizens)
Catholic (~20% of U.S. citizens)
Religion
Describe some of the principal tenets of Evangelical Protestantism regarding the Bible, salvation, and personal spirituality.
1. The Bible is the inerrant word of God.
2. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ and must be accepted for oneself.
3. Proselytization
Religion
Describe some of the principal tenets of mainline Protestantism regarding the Bible, salvation, and personal spirituality.
1. The Bible is a historical document, it may be flawed, and it is open to interpretation.
2. Christ is the way, but there may be other ways to salvation outside of Christianity.
3. Spiritual transformation is emphasized more than personal conversion experiences.
True/False.
~50% of mainline Protestants identify as politically liberal.
True.
Religion
Describe some of the principal tenets of Catholicism in regards to authority, sin, and grace.
The Pope is the authorized successor to Saint Peter.
Original sin forgiven at Baptism.
Those who die in sin (but who still are close to the Church) must be purified in a temporary purgatory.
Grace administered through Communion.
Religion
What are the five pillars of Islam?
- Faith
- Prayer
- Alms
- Fasting
- Pilgrimage
Religion
Islamic worship in the Mosque occurs on what day(s) of the week?
Do Muslims follow any dietary restrictions?
Friday;
no pork or alcohol
Religion
The _________ is the sacred text of Islam, and the _________ are the traditional texts of Islam.
The Qur’an is the sacred text of Islam, and the Hadiths are the traditional texts of Islam.
Religion
What is the Islamic belief around the afterlife?
Eternal paradise or eternal hell
Religion
Describe the three major forms of Islam.
Sunni (~85%) - Follow the Sunnah (laws) as understood by government officials.
Sufi - a subtype of Sunnis that are a broad meditative mystical movement across Islam.
Shi’a (~15%) - Follow Imams who are direct successors of Mohammed.
Religion
Describe the Shi’a - Sunni divide by location across the world.
Religion
True/False.
Some Muslim countries are ruled by royalty, some by military force, and some by secular government.
True.
Sunni royalty - Saudia Arabia, Morocco, Jordan
Shi’a royalty - Iran, Syria
Sunni military - Sudan, Libya
Shi’a military - Iran
Secular - Turkey, Egypt
Religion
- What is the name for the Islamic headscarf?
- And the veil that covers the head, neck, and face but not the eyes?
- And the veil that covers literally the entire body?
- Hijab
- Niqab (usually worn with an abaya that covers the rest of the body)
- Burqa
Religion
What is the basic Hindu belief about divinity?
One Supreme Reality (Brahman) manifested in many gods and goddesses
Religion
What is the basic Hindu belief about human worth and the meaning of life?
Humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but are able to escape. Purpose is to gain release from rebirth, or at least a better rebirth.
Reincarnation until one gains enlightenment.
Religion
What are the Hindu sacred texts called?
Vedas,
Upanishads (central philosophical concepts),
Bhagavad Gita,
Ramayana,
etc.
Religion
Describe some of the aspects of Hindu practice.
Yoga
Meditation
Worship (puja) and devotion to a god or goddess
Pilgrimage to holy cities
Live according to one’s dharma (purpose/ role).
Religion
The teachings of Buddhism originated with which individual?
Are there any texts?
Siddharta Gautama
Tripitaka (Pali Canon),
Mahayana sutras like the Lotus Sutra,
plus others