Deck 9: Social Order and Government and the Epilogue

Question 1

What is the definition of the following term:
-caliph:

Answer 1

In Islam, literally, a "successor" to the political authority of Muhammad.

Question 2

What is the definition of the following term:
-caste system:

Answer 2

Hindu class structure, organization of levels of religious and social privilege based on birth family or, religiously, on reincarnation determined by past karma.

Question 3

What is the definition of the following term:
-dhimmi:

Answer 3

In Islam, the traditional distinction of non-Muslim people, especially Christians and Jews, under the "protection" of an Islamic state.

Question 4

What is the definition of the following term:
-Gentile:

Question 5

What is the definition of the following term:
-Just war theory:

Question 6

What is the definition of the following term:
-laity:

Question 7

What is the definition of the following term:
-lama:

Question 8

What is the definition of the following term:
-Mandate of Heaven:

Question 9

What is the definition of the following term:
-social order:

Question 10

What is the definition of the following term:
-zakat:

Question 11

The ideal "wall of separation between church and state" is a religious ideal taught by

A) Jesus.
B) Muhammad.
C) Confucius.
D) This is a trick question, as this "separation" is not a religious ideal at all, but was asserted by Thomas Jefferson.

Question 12

The text points out that great religious founders in India such as the Buddha and Mahavira gave up great wealth to

A) help the poor and the suffering.
B) escape the trap of existence in the sensory world.
C) establish shelters and food banks for the homeless.
D) voluntarily suffer, feeling empathy for those in poverty.

Question 13

In class we said that religions such as Islam and Confucianism

A) helped establish the ideal separation of church and state.
B) taught their followers to become involved in politics, hoping they could be elected to important offices where they could influence society.
C) represent how religious ideas can and should rule a healthy society.
D) show how religions can get along by sharing power.

Question 14

Which of the following ideas most accurately reflect the social order prescribed in Hinduism?

A) social classes, called varnas, based on the order of the Dao of Heaven
B) social classes or castes, including a social class known as the Untouchables
C) the order of social harmony reflected in relationships, such as parent to child, husband to wife, and ruler to subjects
D) the social distinction between the Chosen People and the Gentiles.

Question 15

Which of the following ideas most accurately reflect the social order prescribed in Confucianism?

A) social classes, called varnas, based on the order of the Dao of Heaven
B) social classes or castes, including a social class known as the Untouchables.
C) the order of social harmony reflected in relationships, such as parent to child, husband to wife, and ruler to subjects.
D) the social distinction between the Chosen People and the Gentiles.

Question 16

Which Chinese religion encourages involvement in government and culture, including seeking positions of authority?

A) Daoism
B) Confucianism
C) Buddhism
D) Islam

Question 17

Generally, the interpretation of Islamic law and the leading of prayers in Islam is done

A) almost exclusively by men.
B) almost exclusively by women.
C) by men and women pretty equally.
D) by no one, as these are the work of Allah alone.

Question 18

According to our author, Islam's historical relationship with war and violence shows that

A) it is a religion of peace.
B) it is a religion of violence.
C) Both a and b are oversimplifications.
D) Actually, we should not ask such a question as it is Islamophobic.

Question 19

The textbook notes that the justification of the caste system in Hinduism is found in

A) the social usefulness of having a division of labor.
B) the religious usefulness of having priests to run the religion and others to follow them.
C) the fact that people are born into their castes based on the karma of their own past lives.
D) the fact that people's caste status is determined by the will of God.

Question 20

The religious distinction between Jews and Gentiles

A) goes back to the myth of Abraham and the idea of the Children of Israel being a nation of God's chosen people.
B) is a political distinction that has historically given Jews more social privileges than non-Jews.
C) is a way to inspire non-Jews to gain the good karma necessary to be reborn as a Jew.
D) is a distinction that no longer exists in Judaism.

Question 21

The Roman Catholic Church, our text notes, has in internal system of authority that generally

A) allows both men and women to hold equal positions of authority.
B) allows a great deal of participation in sacramental ritual by the laity.
C) shows a great, complex order of authority that includes positions set aside for the poor.
D) shows a great, complex order of authority that is male dominated.

Question 22

In the text's reference to Niehbur's book, Christ and Culture, we see that

A) even a single religion can show a complex set of ways it works with and against culture.
B) Jesus was consistently against social conformity, but historically the Christian Church has misunderstood him.
C) Jesus was consistently in favor of social conformity, but historically the Christian Church has misunderstood him.
D) all religions ultimately must come back to speaking of "Christ."

Question 23

A religion that tends to emphasize the role of women is

A) Orthodox Judaism.
B) Roman Catholic Christianity.
C) Indian Jainism.
D) Wicca.

Question 24

Just war theories are attempts to explain

A) how war is actually acceptable because "it's just war."
B) how war can never really be logically justified because all rationale for going to war is "just a theory."
C) how war is never morally acceptable, given that only God can rule over all humanity.
D) what the conditions and situations would have to be for a war to be justified.

Question 25

Historically, in Islamic governments the Jewish and Christian populations were given the status of dhimmi. This meant that

A) all people who mention Abraham in their holy books are equal before God.
B) Jews and Christians were under Muslim authority and could be killed for any reason.
C) Jews and Christians were under Muslim authority but were "protected" from abuse.
D) Jews and Christians were seen as superior and a Muslim should fight to protect them.

Question 26

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Caste

A) A social organization ideal asserting that people in society all have equal status.
B) A social organization that establishes the priority of men over women.
C) A system of personal and social law rooted in Islamic scriptures and in the life of Muhammad.
D) A term for anyone who is not a Jew.
E) A term for anyone that is not a religious professional such as a priest or pastor.
F) A division of social class in India, based on Hindu scriptures.

Question 27

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Egalitarian

A) A social organization ideal asserting that people in society all have equal status.
B) A social organization that establishes the priority of men over women.
C) A system of personal and social law rooted in Islamic scriptures and in the life of Muhammad.
D) A term for anyone who is not a Jew.
E) A term for anyone that is not a religious professional such as a priest or pastor.
F) A division of social class in India, based on Hindu scriptures.

Question 28

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Gentile

A) A social organization ideal asserting that people in society all have equal status.
B) A social organization that establishes the priority of men over women.
C) A system of personal and social law rooted in Islamic scriptures and in the life of Muhammad.
D) A term for anyone who is not a Jew.
E) A term for anyone that is not a religious professional such as a priest or pastor.
F) A division of social class in India, based on Hindu scriptures.

Question 29

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Laity

A) A social organization ideal asserting that people in society all have equal status.
B) A social organization that establishes the priority of men over women.
C) A system of personal and social law rooted in Islamic scriptures and in the life of Muhammad.
D) A term for anyone who is not a Jew.
E) A term for anyone that is not a religious professional such as a priest or pastor.
F) A division of social class in India, based on Hindu scriptures.

Question 30

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Patriarchal

A) A social organization ideal asserting that people in society all have equal status.
B) A social organization that establishes the priority of men over women.
C) A system of personal and social law rooted in Islamic scriptures and in the life of Muhammad.
D) A term for anyone who is not a Jew.
E) A term for anyone that is not a religious professional such as a priest or pastor.
F) A division of social class in India, based on Hindu scriptures.

Question 31

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Shariah

A) A social organization ideal asserting that people in society all have equal status.
B) A social organization that establishes the priority of men over women.
C) A system of personal and social law rooted in Islamic scriptures and in the life of Muhammad.
D) A term for anyone who is not a Jew.
E) A term for anyone that is not a religious professional such as a priest or pastor.
F) A division of social class in India, based on Hindu scriptures.

Question 32

According to Judaism, if one is born into Judaism, one is considered Jewish.

Question 33

Wicca is a male-dominated religion and thus avoids concepts such as "goddess" in its views of nature.

Question 34

Islam holds to the teaching of zakat, which means that one should not give money to the poor as that will make them lazy and dependent.

Question 35

The founders of Buddhism and Jainism remained wealthy their entire lives to give generously to the poor.

Question 36

All religions tend to make a pretty strong distinction between the authority of the priests or leaders and the passive, receptive role of the laity.

Question 37

According to the author, even if it is not possible for all religions to be true, they can still work together for the good of society (e.g., feeding the poor).

Question 38

The religions of the West (such as Christianity and Islam) tend to be male dominated, whereas religions of the East (such as Buddhism and Confucianism) tend to be gender equal.

Question 39

Money and wealth are always seen in religion as a reward from God for righteous living.

Question 40

All Judaic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) tell their followers they should care for the poor.

Question 41

No religion really tries to justify war.

Question 42

Arguments in this chapter suggest that the claim "Religion should not be involved in politics" is itself a religious statement. Use examples from this chapter to show how the political involvement of religion in government is itself defined by religious ideas and examples.

Question 43

Describe the caste system of Hinduism and explain how it may seem morally problematic but also how it seems to be justified by other aspects of Hindu belief.

Question 44

Ideas and examples in this chapter suggest that a Buddhist monk would likely not be involved in politics but a Muslim sheikh might be. Explore the reasons for this difference and connect each political position to stories of founders or the idea of Ultimate Reality.

Question 45

It was suggested in class and in the reading that you can find wars supported and justified by Islam and wars supported and justified by Buddhism. By looking briefly at the founders of these religions, suggest why the Islamic defense of war is more consistent than the Buddhist one. (I'm not saying any war is good, but some defenses of war are more consistent than others.)

Question 46

Use two religions as examples of how a religion organizes society among groups, such as social castes, economic levels, and the sexes. Consider especially how each religion helps or hinders the achievement of social equality and evaluate each religion for its encouragement of social well-being. Warning: Do not merely assume that our early twenty-first-century idea of equality is right (e.g., maybe some distinction between gender roles is a good thing; maybe some religiously defined divisions of labor help society).