Question 1

This statement is foundational to the field of religious studies.

Accepted Answer

The statement "To know one just one religion is to know none" underscores the importance of comparative study in understanding the depth and complexity of any single religion. It suggests that understanding the similarities and differences among various religious traditions can provide deeper insights into the nature of religious belief and practice.

Question 2

Psychology is an especially useful disciplinary approach when trying to

Accepted Answer

Psychology helps in understanding the personal, subjective experiences of religion, such as mystical experiences, conversions, and the psychological benefits of religious beliefs.

Question 3

The disciplinary approach that in certain respects is the closest to actually doing religion (or theology) is

Accepted Answer

Philosophy often engages with theological concepts and questions, exploring the nature of divinity, existence, and ethics, which aligns closely with the practice of theology.

Question 4

"World Religions" has been a prominent course of study in American colleges and universities for nearly a century.

Accepted Answer

The study of "World Religions" has been a significant part of the curriculum in American higher education institutions for many decades, reflecting the academic interest in understanding diverse religious traditions and their impact on global cultures and societies.

Question 5

The academic study of religion has been an important field of study in universities for several centuries.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The academic study of religion has been...

Question 6

Most cultures through history have had neither the conceptual category nor a term meaning "religion."

Accepted Answer

Many cultures historically did not distinguish religion as a separate category of human activity or identity, but rather saw their religious practices as integrated and inseparable from their cultural, social, and political lives.

Question 7

Over the course of the past century, scholars from various academic disciplines have gradually come to a general consensus over how to define the term "religion."

Accepted Answer

Defining "religion" has been a complex and contested issue among scholars, with no single definition achieving universal acceptance across various academic disciplines.

Question 8

The attempt to define religion is a relatively recent phenomenon, beginning for the most part with the European Enlightenment of the eighteenth century.

Accepted Answer

Before the European Enlightenment, religion was more intertwined with daily life and culture, and not distinctly categorized or analyzed in the abstract, systematic way that began in the Enlightenment period.

Question 9

A sound definition of religion need not accommodate the distinction between "religion" and "spiritual," because for all practical purposes the terms mean the same thing.

Accepted Answer

While both terms can overlap, "religion" typically refers to organized systems of beliefs and worship, often involving a deity or deities, rituals, and a community of followers. "Spiritual," however, can refer to individual experiences, beliefs, or practices related to a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, which may or may not be linked to a specific religion.

Question 10

Karl Marx was a thoroughgoing idealist who insisted that religious ideas can cause great changes in the economy.

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx was a materialist, not an idealist. He argued that economic conditions and the modes of production shape society and its ideological structures, including religion, not the other way around.

Question 11

Neither Freud nor Marx ever tried actually to define religion; rather, they tried to explain it away.

Accepted Answer

Freud and Marx focused on critiquing and explaining the social and psychological functions of religion rather than providing a formal definition of it.

Question 12

Bruce Lincoln's definition of religion could not leave room for an atheistic tradition.

Accepted Answer

Bruce Lincoln's definition of religion is broad and focuses on discourse, practices, community, and institutions, which can accommodate atheistic traditions that share similar structures without a belief in a deity.

Question 13

Theology, the field of inquiry that focuses on considering the nature of the divine, is an important example of doing and being religious.

Accepted Answer

Theology indeed focuses on the study of the divine, exploring concepts of God or gods, and is a key aspect of engaging with and understanding religious beliefs and practices.

Question 14

Usually, explanation of the nature and role of the divine takes center stage in a religion's belief system.

Accepted Answer

Most religions have at their core beliefs about the nature and role of the divine, which often shape their practices, moral codes, and understanding of the universe.

Question 15

Monotheism is the belief in one god who is more powerful than the rest.

Accepted Answer

Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one god only, not in one god who is more powerful than others.

Question 16

Quasi-divine figures, such as angels and demons, though difficult to categorize, are important elements of religion nonetheless.

Accepted Answer

Angels and demons, despite their complex nature and the difficulty in categorizing them within the physical and spiritual realms, play significant roles in various religious traditions, symbolizing aspects of good and evil, and serving as messengers or agents of the divine.

Question 17

According to a May 2015 Pew Forum study, 8.2 percent of people in the United States identify as atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular."

Accepted Answer

The Pew Research Center's May 2015 study found that 22.8% of U.S. adults identified as atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular," not 8.2%.

Question 18

Some Hindus are monistic and some are polytheistic, but never at the same time.

Accepted Answer

Hinduism is a complex and diverse religion where individuals may hold monistic beliefs (believing in the oneness of God and the universe) and also engage in polytheistic practices (worshiping multiple deities) simultaneously, reflecting the religion's inclusive and multifaceted nature.

Question 19

Among nontheistic religions in particular, revelation usually combines textual transmission with a direct experience of revelation.

Accepted Answer

Nontheistic religions typically do not emphasize revelation in the same way that theistic religions do, focusing instead on philosophical insights, ethical codes, and practices developed through human reasoning and experience rather than divine revelation.

Question 20

Religious cosmologies typically describe both the origin and the status of the universe.

Accepted Answer

Religious cosmologies often provide narratives or frameworks that describe the origin of the universe, its structure, dynamics, and ultimate fate, as well as the place and purpose of humans within it.

Quiz 1: An Invitation to the Study of World Religions