Question 1

Even though the Buddha's followers wrote down the Buddha's sermons (i.e., sutras), they can still be considered Buddhist scripture.

Accepted Answer

The Buddha's sermons, once written down, are considered Buddhist scriptures known as sutras, forming a significant part of Buddhist literature and teachings.

Question 2

The Quran in Islam is an emphatically closed canon.

Accepted Answer

The Quran is considered by Muslims to be the final and unalterable word of God, and its text is believed to be fully preserved since its revelation to the Prophet Muhammad, making it a closed canon in Islam.

Question 3

The Hindu scriptures are emphatically considered a closed canon.

Accepted Answer

The Hindu scriptures are not considered a closed canon; they encompass a vast range of texts that have been composed, interpreted, and added to over thousands of years, including the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, among others.

Question 4

The process by which the Christian New Testament became a closed canon was pretty simple.

Accepted Answer

The process was complex and evolved over several centuries, involving debates and councils to determine which texts were divinely inspired and should be included.

Question 5

Once a person has scriptural authority in his or her hands, it settles any doctrinal problems.

Accepted Answer

Scriptural authority can be interpreted in many different ways by different individuals or religious traditions, leading to varied understandings and potentially unresolved doctrinal problems.

Question 6

All religions use scripture as the final, best authority for settling religious questions.

Accepted Answer

Different religions have varied sources of authority, and not all prioritize scripture above traditions, personal experiences, or teachings of religious leaders.

Question 7

In your own words, describe the story of the formation of the Adi Granth, given as the case study at the beginning of this chapter. Use the story to explain the notion of the authority of the text.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In your own words, describe the story...

Question 8

Explain the concept of orthodoxy and discuss how appeals to scripture help to establish orthodox teaching. Use an example from the text.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the concept of orthodoxy and discuss...

Question 9

In our reading and in class, it was suggested that scripture often provides a kind of link between a religion's founder and the idea of doctrinal authority. Use an example you know or from the reading and explain both of these terms and how scripture provides the link between them.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In our reading and in class, it...

Question 10

Explain the difference between an authoritative religious text (using an example from this chapter) and an authoritative nonreligious text (such as an expert's book on chemistry or a biography of Abraham Lincoln).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the difference between an authoritative religious...

Question 11

Describe how and why a religious believer might appeal to scripture to help settle problems or establish orthodox beliefs within his or her religion. Also note some problems with appeals to scripture. In general, do you think a religion is made stronger or weaker with emphasis on the authority of a written text?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how and why a religious believer...

Question 12

Choose any two scriptures you know about or can research and explain the texts' origins and source of authority. Raise historical questions about the founders/writers involved and about the closed or open nature of the canon. Finally, try to evaluate the dependability of each text.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Choose any two scriptures you know about...

Quiz 4: Scripture As Source and Authority