REL 1001 World Religions COMPLETED EXAM

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REL 1001

World Religions

COMPLETED

EXAM 2023

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• What are the three main branches of Buddhism and how do they differ in their views

on the nature of reality, the role of ethics, and the path to enlightenment?

Answer: The three main branches of Buddhism are Theravada, Mahayana, and

Vajrayana. Theravada Buddhism emphasizes the individual attainment of nirvana through self-discipline and meditation, and regards reality as impermanent, suffering, and non- self. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the universal compassion and wisdom of the bodhisattvas, who postpone their own enlightenment to help others, and regards reality as empty of inherent existence, but also as a manifestation of the Buddha-nature. Vajrayana Buddhism emphasizes the use of tantric practices and rituals to transform the body and mind into a pure expression of the Buddha-nature, and regards reality as a dynamic interplay of emptiness and appearance.

• What are the five pillars of Islam and how do they relate to the concept of submission

to God?

Answer: The five pillars of Islam are shahada (the declaration of faith), salat (the daily prayers), zakat (the obligatory charity), sawm (the fasting during Ramadan), and hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca). They relate to the concept of submission to God by expressing the Muslim’s belief in God’s oneness and prophethood, by establishing a direct connection with God through worship, by purifying one’s wealth and soul by sharing with the needy, by cultivating self-restraint and devotion by abstaining from worldly pleasures, and by fulfilling one’s duty and solidarity with the global Muslim community by visiting the sacred sites.

• What are the main differences between Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism in

Christianity?

Answer: The main differences between Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism in Christianity are related to their authority, doctrine, and practice. Catholicism recognizes the Pope as the supreme leader of the church and follows the teachings of the magisterium, which includes sacred scripture and sacred tradition. Orthodoxy recognizes the ecumenical councils as the highest authority of the church and follows the teachings of the holy fathers, which include sacred scripture and holy tradition. Protestantism recognizes only the Bible as the sole authority of the church and follows the teachings of various reformers, such as Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, etc.

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• What are the four noble truths and the eightfold path in Buddhism?

Answer: The four noble truths are: 1) The truth of suffering (dukkha), which means that all conditioned phenomena are unsatisfactory and subject to change; 2) The truth of the origin of suffering (samudaya), which means that suffering is caused by ignorance (avijja) and craving (tanha); 3) The truth of the cessation of suffering (nirodha), which means that suffering can be ended by eliminating ignorance and craving; 4) The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (magga), which means that there is a way to achieve nirvana, which is the eightfold path. The eightfold path consists of: 1) Right view (samma ditthi), which means understanding the four noble truths; 2) Right intention (samma sankappa), which means cultivating renunciation, goodwill, and harmlessness; 3) Right speech (samma vaca), which means avoiding lying, slander, harsh words, and idle chatter; 4) Right action (samma kammanta), which means avoiding killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and intoxication; 5) Right livelihood (samma ajiva), which means avoiding occupations that harm oneself or others; 6) Right effort (samma vayama), which means exerting oneself to prevent or abandon unwholesome states and to develop or maintain wholesome states; 7) Right mindfulness (samma sati), which means being aware of one's body, feelings, mind, and phenomena; 8) Right concentration (samma samadhi), which means developing mental stability and clarity through meditation.

• What are the main sources of Jewish law and ethics?

Answer: The main sources of Jewish law and ethics are: 1) The Torah, which consists of the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and contains the commandments (mitzvot) given by God to the people of Israel; 2) The Talmud, which consists of the Mishnah (the oral law) and the Gemara (the commentary on the Mishnah) and contains the interpretations and discussions of the rabbis on various topics; 3) The Halakhah, which consists of the legal rulings and decisions derived from the Torah and the Talmud and applied to various situations and circumstances; 4) The Aggadah, which consists of the non-legal material in the Talmud and other sources and contains the stories, legends, parables, etc. that illustrate the moral and spiritual teachings of Judaism.

• What are some similarities and differences between Confucianism and Taoism in

China?

Answer: Some similarities between Confucianism and Taoism in China are: 1) Both originated in the 6th-5th century BCE during the period of social turmoil and intellectual ferment known as the Hundred Schools of Thought; 2) Both are concerned with human affairs and social order rather than supernatural or metaphysical matters; 3) Both emphasize harmony, balance, and moderation as key values; 4) Both have influenced Chinese culture, art, literature, politics, etc. for centuries. Some differences between Confucianism and Taoism in China are: 1) Confucianism focuses on moral cultivation, social responsibility, human relationships, loyalty, filial piety, etc. as the basis of a good society; Taoism focuses on naturalness, spontaneity, simplicity, detachment, etc. as the

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basis of a good life; 2) Confucianism advocates following the rites (li), norms (yi), humaneness (ren), etc. as the way to achieve harmony; Taoism advocates following the Tao (the Way), wu-wei (non-action), ziran (self-so-being), etc. as the way to achieve harmony; 3) Confucianism regards human nature as essentially good and perfectible through education and self-cultivation; Taoism regards human nature as essentially neutral and corrupted by artificiality and conventionality.

• What are some major sects or denominations within Islam and how do they differ in

their beliefs and practices?

Answer: Some major sects or denominations within Islam are: 1) Sunni Islam, which is the largest and most widespread branch of Islam and follows the example (sunna) of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions as recorded in the hadith (traditions); 2) Shia Islam, which is the second largest branch of Islam and follows the leadership (imama) of Ali and his descendants as the rightful successors of the Prophet Muhammad; 3) Sufism, which is a mystical movement within Islam that seeks to attain direct experience of God through love, devotion, meditation, etc.; 4) Kharijism, which is an early sect that split from both Sunnis and Shias over the issue of who should be the caliph (leader) of the Muslim community; 5) Ibadi Islam, which is a moderate offshoot of Kharijism that survives mainly in Oman and parts of Africa; 6) Ahmadiyya Islam, which is a modern reformist movement that originated in India and believes that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet or messiah sent by God. They differ in their beliefs and practices on various issues such as: 1) The authority and interpretation of the Quran and the hadith; 2) The role and status of Ali and his descendants; 3) The concept and nature of God's attributes; 4) The doctrine of predestination and free will; 5) The legitimacy and function of religious law (sharia); 6) The criteria and methods of spiritual purification (tazkiya); 7) The forms and expressions of worship (ibadah); 8) The relations with other Muslims and non-Muslims.

• What are some key concepts or principles in Sikhism?

Answer: Some key concepts or principles in Sikhism are: 1) The belief in one God (Ik Onkar), who is transcendent, immanent, creator, sustainer, destroyer, etc.; 2) The belief in Guru Nanak as the founder of

• ISKCON and similar movements should not be considered “cults”; instead scholars

refer to them as

• New Religious Movements.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, founded by Joseph Smith, Is

commonly called

• The Mormon Church.

• The Shi’a branch of Islam traces its origins to the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet

named

• Ali.