Deck 3: The Greco-Roman World of Early Christian Traditions

Question 1

Discuss some of the important aspects of Greco-Roman religiosity. How did magic and philosophy fit into the religious sphere in antiquity?

Answer 1

Students should discuss the following aspects of paganism: polytheism (perhaps discussing the levels of divinity within the pagan world), concern for present life, emphasis on cult, and the relationship of empire and religion (church and state). Although many scholars identify it as socially marginal, magic was another form of religion available to inhabitants of the Greco-Roman world. Unlike religion in the Greco-Roman world, philosophy was largely focused on doctrine (what to think) and ethics (how to live). Philosophies were generally intolerant of other views.

Question 2

What were the mystery cults? In what ways could Christianity be understood as an ancient mystery cult?

Answer 2

Mystery cults focused on the individual rather than the community and often placed some emphasis on the afterlife. Many of the gods who had mystery cults were revered because they had been raised from the dead, promised peace on earth, and assured followers of an afterlife. Even though individuals may have been devotees to a particular god, they did not claim that their god was the only god. Like the mystery cults, Christianity held secret meetings during which they initiated individuals into the religion. These initiation rites often included a sacred meal and baptism. Unlike the mystery cults, though, Christianity taught that its God was the only God to worship, and its members did not belong to other religious sects.

Question 3

Describe the practice of "taking the auspices." In what ways did Roman priests called augurs "take the auspices" to determine whether the gods were in favor of a projected action on the part of the state?

Answer 3

"Augurs" were Roman priests who practiced modes of divination (i.e., ways of discerning the divine will). To determine whether a certain course of action (e.g., a military expedition) was favored by the gods, the augurs would interpret natural occurrences, such as the flight patterns or eating habits of birds. There were also sacred places called "oracles," where any person could go to receive private direction from a god.

Question 4

Religions in the Greco-Roman world didn't have much to do with what people believed.

Question 5

The Gospel of Matthew was the first book of the Bible to be written.

Question 6

Greco-Roman religions were not concerned with the afterlife.

Question 7

When society at large approves of a cultic practice, it is called "religious," while more marginal practices are called "magical."

Question 8

A wide variety of religious expression was practiced across the Greco-Roman world.

Question 9

Which of the following was not used to determine whether a god had accepted a sacrifice?

A) Extispicy
B) Persephone
C) Auspices
D) Divination

Question 10

Pagan religions that required initiation were:

A) Magic
B) Mystery cults
C) Auspices
D) Illegal

Question 11

Which of the following was worshipped in a mystery cult?

A) Augurs
B) Isis
C) Josephus
D) Daimonia

Question 12

Philosophical schools urged all of the following except:

A) Tolerance
B) Individual well-being
C) Concern with doctrines
D) Ethics

Question 13

Which of the following was a philosophical school?

A) Stoicism
B) Demeter
C) Josephus
D) Genius

Question 14

In Rome, the priestly art of reading the entrails of sacrificed animals was called:

A) Apocalypticism
B) The contextual method
C) Extispicy
D) Circumcision

Question 15

The Roman Empire began as a(n):

A) Small farming village
B) Small fishing village
C) Large metropolis within the Mediterranean Federation of States
D) Aristocratic oligarchy

Question 16

In what year did Octavian assume control of Rome?

A) 450 B.C.E.
B) 120 B.C.E.
C) 66 B.C.E.
D) 27 B.C.E.

Question 17

State priesthoods in the Roman Empire were:

A) Political appointments
B) Nonexistent
C) Appointed with the blessings of the Jewish high priest
D) Not filled by people of Greek ancestry

Question 18

Stoicism, Platonism, and Epicureanism all involved the exercise of:

A) Reason
B) Financial resources
C) Political power
D) Magic

Question 19

Missionary movements in the Greco-Roman world were advanced mostly by:

A) The established religions
B) Pagan cults
C) Schools of philosophy
D) Jewish sects

Question 20

What was the primary aim of ancient philosophy?

A) To investigate the abstract principles of nature
B) To investigate the best way to live
C) To please the gods
D) To lead the way to eternal life

Question 21

Which of the following was a primary difference between mystery cults and wider religions in the Greco-Roman world?

A) Magical practices
B) Philosophical speculation
C) Animal sacrifice
D) Concern for the afterlife

Question 22

The successor of Julius Caesar who later went by the title "Augustus" was:

A) Octavian
B) Pontius Pilate
C) Mark Antony
D) Tiberius

Question 23

This figure was often called the "savior" of the human race.

A) The Jewish high priest
B) The god Zeus
C) The Roman emperor
D) Apollonius of Tyana

Question 24

The sense of being a "citizen of the world" rather than of only one locality is known as:

A) Hellenization
B) Patriotism
C) Cosmopolitanism
D) Cultural unity