Introduction to World Religion (Final Exam – Reviewer)

Prepared by: Ms. Marie Claire T. Inductivo, RPm, CHRA

1. What is the Sanskrit word that means “Of the Indus Valley”?
Ans: Hindu
2. Marion believes that the pervasiveness of suffering does not discount the reality of
happiness and pleasure. Nonetheless, even the happiest and most pleasurable of life
experiences can be stressful and are shadowed by suffering. Marion’s belief is an example
of the concept of?
Ans: Dukkha
3. Jade believes that human beings must achieve enlightenment through their own efforts,
independent of any external support, whether human or divine. Jade’s belief reflects the
teachings of ________?
Ans: Theravada Buddhism
4. Albert told his teacher in World Religion that the ideal of these religious people is the monk
who shaves his head, wears a saffron robe, carries a begging bowl, lives within the sangha,
and seeks Nirvana by acts of self-denial and meditation on the Tripitaka. Albert is referring
to which type of religious people?
Ans: Theravada Buddhist
5. Jog believes that religious rituals had fallen into disuse, because they were deemed wasteful
and impractical in a time of widespread warfare and rampant lawlessness. Jog’s belief will
fall under which religion?
Ans: Confucianism
6. Confucians believed that peace could be attained through hierarchy in our society. In this
modern time how can you oppose or support this?
Ans: Slowly discuss avenues for development
7. During his recitation, Kelly told his teacher in World Religion that men could have multiple
wives and concubines, while women were not permitted contact with men who were not
their husbands or immediate relatives. Women were never expected to function as
independent beings free of male domination. To which religion does Kelly’s answer will
fall under?
Ans: Confucianism
 8. Angelica believes that in Shintoism, there is a more complicated sacred writing than the
Kojiki that mainly sums up and explains stories previously narrated in the Kojiki.
Angelica’s belief refers to which sacred writing of Shintoism?
Ans: Nihongi
9. Shayne informed her group mate, Mark, that the typical major shrines of Shinto consist of
an outer shrine and an inner shrine, both built of unpainted wood and usually torn down
and rebuilt every twenty years. These shrines can be found in groves of trees all over Japan.
Shayne is referring to which shrine in Shintoism?
Ans: Shinto Jinja
10. Agapito told his brother, Agasampu that when the State imposed Jinja Shinto as a patriotic
and militaristic institution, the religious side of Shinto was forced to create a separate
sectarian identity. The more recent thirteen or fourteen major Shinto sects can be classified
into three: those which stressed the traditional religious rituals and ancient mythology of
Shinto; those with a primary emphasis on nature worship, particularly venerating the
beautiful and graceful mountains of Japan [among them Fuji and Ontake]; and those that
emerged from the folk practices of shamanism, divination, and faith healing. This is an
example of which concept of Shintoism?
Ans: Sectarian Shinto
11. In her report, Joanna told her classmates that after the devastation of the Second World
War, new Shinto sects emerged across Japan, offering their followers peace and order
during a chaotic time and emphasizing the Shinto aspects of faith healing, purification, and
nature worship. Joanna is pertaining to which of the following religions?
Ans: Shintoism
12. People who believe in a specific religion around the world have the same vision and idea
of their religion, which element of religion does this apply to?
Ans: Worldview
13. What is the other term used by Hinduism believers to call their religion?
Ans: Hindu Dharma
14. He is the founder of Buddhism
Ans: Siddharta Gautama
 15. During their drinking/study session in preparation for their Final Examination in World
Religion, Karla informed her classmate, Tina, that Buddhism may be regarded as an
exceptional religious worldview. She further told Tina that it is unclear whether Buddhists
actually believe in an ultimate reality or supreme divine being, as other religions do. Karla
is referring to which important concept of Buddhism?
Ans: Understanding of God
16. Marianne believes that the right speech demands words that are not deceitful, abusive, or
divisive, but clear, truthful, uplifting, and not harmful. Marianne’s belief will be under
which concept of Buddhism?
Ans: Samma-vaca
17. In highschool, Michaela was always praying for her family’s soul to rest in peace. This
scenario applies to what origin of religion?
Ans: Respect for ancestors
18. Catherine believes that one of the teachings of Buddhism involves mental preparation that
avoids unwholesome states of mind and consciously directs one's life energy to the
transformative path of creative and healing action that promotes holistic wellbeing. Such
effort involves letting go of stressful thoughts and situations and consciously choosing
appropriately productive mental states. Catherine’s belief falls under which teachings of
Buddhism?
Ans: Samma-vayama
19. He is the founder of Confucianism
Ans: Master Kong
20. What does orthopraxis mean?
Ans: Right action
21. Dale told his classmates that this kind of sacred writing of Confucianism is a complex
manual of divination, which grew over the centuries as a uniquely Chinese combination of
practical wisdom and esoteric lore, where the future could be predicted by studying patterns
in nature; contains 64 hexagrams used for interpreting patterns from casting coins or plant
stalks. Dale is pertaining to which sacred writing of Confucianism?
Ans: Book of Changes or Yijing
22. Darmane informed her group mate, Darla, that the typical major shrines of Shinto consist
of an outer shrine and an inner shrine, both built of unpainted wood and usually torn down
and rebuilt every twenty years. These shrines can be found in groves of trees all over Japan.
Darmane is referring to which shrine in Shintoism?
Ans: Shinto Jinja
 23. During their study session, BonBon told his friend, DonDon, that there is a basic doctrine
in Shintoism that refers to spiritual beings, essences, or forces belonging to nature that
animated everything in the world. BonBon is referring to which basic doctrine of
Shintoism?
Ans: Kami
24. What is the Sanskrit word that means “Of the Indus Valley”?
Ans: Hindu
25. He is the founder of Taoism.
Ans: Lao Tzu
26. It is the positive force of nature. Which doctrine does this apply to?
Ans: Yang
27. Renard told his friend, Reinald, that one overcomes ignorance and becomes happy and
wise when they accept that reality is impermanent and let go of tanha in its various forms.
Renard’s contention is an example of which concept of Buddhism?
Ans: Nirvana
28. What is the odd item for Aryan classes?
Ans: Dalets
29. Kurt Derhen believes that the right livelihood acknowledges that certain occupations that
harm other living beings are morally unacceptable and must be avoided. An appropriate
livelihood provides for one's needs while improving the living conditions of others and
avoiding exploitation. Based on the ethical principles of nonviolence and non-exploitation,
Kurt’s belief is an example of which concept of Buddhism?
Ans: Samma-ajiva
30. It is common for Imelda’s family to not be divorced. Which effect of religion does this
apply to?
Ans: Positive
 Salient Points
Hinduism:

 FOUR SECTIONS OF THE VEDAS

 MANTRAS: hymns of religious poetry addressed to the deities
 BRAHMANAS: Sanskrit “explanations of sacrifices;" ceremonial guidelines
ensuring the proper execution of rituals, arising from the belief that the efficacy of
ritual sacrifices results not from divine intervention, but from proper ritual
execution by Brahmins.
 ARANYAKAS: Sanskrit "forest treatises;" material for ascetic hermits; considered
later parts of the Brahmanas.
 UPANISHADS: Sanskrit "sittings near teachers;" Brahmin philosophical
commentaries on Vedic teaching.
 Karma
 The law of karma may be regarded as the most important doctrine of Hindu
Dharma, that every thought or deed has a consequence. It is analogous to the
modern scientific principle, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite
reaction."
 Moksha
 The ultimate goal of Hindu Dharma is liberation from the endless cycle of birth and
death, or samsara

Buddhism:
 Theravada Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism believes its doctrine to be more faithful to the original teachings of the
Buddha. The ideal Theravada Buddhist is the monk who shaves his head, wears a saffron robe,
carries a begging bowl, lives within the sangha, and seeks Nirvana by acts of self-denial and
meditation on the Tripitaka.

 Mahayana Buddhism

A favorite Mahayana story about the Buddha relates that, while teaching, he took a handful of
leaves from the forest floor and told his listeners that, as the leaves he was holding were less
than all the leaves in the forest, so were the teachings he had given them much less than all the
truth that could be imparted. Mahayana Buddhists are convinced that, beyond the Buddha's
teaching found in the Tripitaka, there was much more to be known from the Buddha. Thus, it
was possible to accept fresh and expansive interpretations of fundamental Buddhist concepts
as included in the teachings of the Buddha.
 Sacred Writings
1. Tripitaka – Basket of Discipline
2. Sutta Pitaka – Basket of Threads
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka – Basket of Higher Teaching
  Understanding of God

Buddhism may be regarded as an exceptional religious worldview. It is unclear whether Buddhists

actually believe in an ultimate reality or supreme divine being, as other religions do. Siddhartha
Gautama himself was silent on the question of the existence of what most religions call God; he
neither explicitly denies its existence nor does he affirm it.
Dukkha – suffering
The Four Noble Truths:
1. Discontent [Pali dukkha or "that which is difficult to bear"] is part of human life.
2. Dukkha is caused by craving [Pali tanha or "thirst/craving/grasping desire/attachment"].
3. There is an end or extinction [Sanskrit nirvana; Pali nibbanaor "unbound"] to dukkha, by
eliminating tanha
4. The way to extinguish dukkha is through the Eightfold Path: (MEMORIZE!)
 Samma-Ditthi - Appropriate Outlook
 Samma-Sankappa - Appropriate Determination
 Samma-Vaca - Appropriate Communication
 Samma-Kammanta - Appropriate Conduct
 Samma-Ajiva - Appropriate Occupation
 Samma-Vayama - Appropriate Effort
 Samma-Sati - Appropriate Mindfulness
 Samma-Samadhi - Appropriate Samadhi

Confucianism:
Sacred Writings
The Four Books, which serve as an introduction to Confucian thought and used to be the core of
the curriculum for the Chinese civil service examinations, are:

 The Analects or Lunyu [Hanyu "Edited Conversations"]: a collection, written by disciples,

of speeches by Grand Master Kong and his disciples as well as discussions with him.
 Mencius or Mengzi [Hanyu "Lord/Master Meng"]: a collection of conversations between
the Confucian scholar Lord Meng and kings of his time.
 Great Learning or Da xue [Hanyu "great learning"]: an essay expressing many themes of
Chinese philosophy and political thinking, later appended to the Lijing.
 Doctrine of the Mean or Zhong yong [Hanyu "unchanging middle"]: an essay concerning
the relationships between heaven and earth, demonstrating the usefulness of the Dao to
gain perfect virtue, also appended to the Lijing.
Taoism:
 The sixth century BCE sage Laozi (or Lao-tzu) has traditionally been considered the
founder of Daoism. Very little is known of him and most of the information concerning
him come from legends.
Basic Doctrine
 Yang is the positive force in nature manifested in light, warmth, dryness, and
maleness; while the negative opposite Yin is seen in darkness, cold, dampness, and
femaleness. When these two forces worked in harmony, life becomes what it should
be. Intrinsically related to the concepts yang and yin is a mysterious and indefinable
force called the Dao [Hanyu"way, path, road"], which is a harmonious union of
these opposites.
Shintoism:
Forms of Shintoism
 Domestic Shinto

Domestic Shinto is the very simple and common form that is practiced in many Japanese homes.
The basic symbol of domestic Shinto is the kamidana ["god-shelf"], which usually contains the
names of family ancestors or statues of beneficial or highly regarded kami. Traditional kami-dana
contains any object of religious significance to the family that evokes good memories or is
perceived to bring good fortune, such as relics bought at the major shrines.

 State Shinto

State Shinto was established as a religious foundation with no other function other than to stimulate
patriotism and loyalty to the Japanese nation under its emperor. The first few articles of the
Japanese Constitution of 1889 declare: "The Empire of Japan shall be reigned over and governed
by a line of Emperors unbroken for ages eternal ... The Emperor is sacred and inviolable."

Under the 1889 Constitution, military leaders became responsible to the emperor of Japan, instead
of its Parliament. State Shinto ended up inextricably becoming a means of supporting Japanese
militarism, particularly during the Second World War. As a result, United States forces, which
occupied Japan after it surrendered, felt the need to abolish State Shinto in December 1945, and
directed Emperor Hirohito to issue a statement in January 1946 that he was not divine.

 Sectarian Shinto

When the State imposed Jinja Shinto as a patriotic and militaristic institution, the religious side of
Shinto was forced to create a separate sectarian identity. The more recent thirteen or fourteen major
Shinto sects can be classified into three: those which stressed the traditional religious rituals and
ancient mythology of Shinto; those with a primary emphasis on nature worship, particularly
venerating the beautiful and graceful mountains of Japan [among them Fuji and Ontake]; and those
that emerged from the folk practices of shamanism, divination, and faith healing.
Sacred Writings (IMPORTANT!)
More complicated than the Kojiki, the Nihongi is the most comprehensive surviving historical
record of this ancient "Land of the Rising Sun." Its initial section mainly sums up and explains
stories previously narrated in the Kojiki. It also claims to chronicle the first forty-one rulers of
Japan, from Jimmutenno to the then-currently reigning Empress Jito (645-703 CE). Providing
proof of the divine right of Japanese emperors to rule, the Nihongi explains how the Japanese
imperial family is directly descended from the sun goddess Amaterasu.
Basic Doctrine
Shinto is founded on belief in kami, which are spiritual beings/essences/ forces belonging to nature
that animate everything in the world. Since the kami are immanent, present, and resident, there is
a spiritual-even sacred quality that is present in most ordinary things.

Shinto jinja or shrines can be found in groves of trees all over Japan. All the shrines have sacred
gates in the form of a distinctive Japanese archway known as torii [a common global symbol for
Shinto], and often contain water for symbolic purification of hands and mouth. Larger shrines have
main halls, buildings for offerings, and oratories.

Challenges

Before its disestablishment as the official imperial religion, Japanese military leaders have
capitalized on Jinja Shinto as a means of promoting patriotic support for the militaristic
imperialism and aggressive expansionism, which ultimately led to Japan's active role in the
outbreak of the Second World War during the previous century.

Yasukuni Jinja is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Founded by the Meiji emperor in
1869 originally to commemorate soldiers who fought for the emperor during the Boshin civil war,
it now serves as a shrine for the spirits of soldiers who died in combat in later expeditionary wars,
including the Second World War. Prime ministers who have visited the shrine claimed to have
done so in order to pay homage to the spirits of those who died making a contribution to Japan.