Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Literally, "to draw out"; referring to the process of deriving doctrine and truth claims from a religion's authoritative writings.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The art of interpretation, often involving explicit theories and methods for deriving meaning from a text.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A story culturally or religiously used to define the nature of life or a particular people group; the story may be of literally cosmic proportions, telling us something about the origins or meaning of humanity or the world or some specific cultural phenomenon.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the definition of the following...

Question 5

What is the definition of the following term:
-proof texts:

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the definition of the following...

Question 6

What is the definition of the following term:
-wisdom literature:

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the definition of the following...

Question 7

According to the author, the focus of this chapter is

Accepted Answer

The chapter focuses on the narrative and literary aspects of religious texts, such as myth, history, poetry, and parables.

Question 8

The discussion on the American dream is

Accepted Answer

The American dream is often considered a myth because it represents an idealized vision of success and prosperity that may not be attainable for everyone.

Question 9

When reading a religious story as myth, we should

Accepted Answer

Reading a religious story as myth involves looking for deeper meanings and insights into human nature and the world, rather than focusing solely on literal truth or dismissing the story's value.

Question 10

The discussion on the Gospel of Luke (Christianity) is an example of

Accepted Answer

The Gospel of Luke is considered a historical account within Christianity, detailing the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

Question 11

According to our text, historical language and parables are different because

Accepted Answer

Historical language aims to accurately describe events and people within a specific time and space context, emphasizing factual representation. Parables, on the other hand, employ fictional stories or scenarios to convey moral, spiritual, or ethical lessons, without the necessity of being tied to actual historical events or figures.

Question 12

According to the textbook, it does not make sense to ask who the characters in a parable really were because parables

Accepted Answer

Parables are designed to teach moral or spiritual lessons rather than to recount historical events or real people. They use simple stories or analogies to convey deeper meanings, focusing on the lesson rather than the literal characters involved.

Question 13

St. Paul's letters were noted in this chapter as what kind of literature?

Accepted Answer

St. Paul's letters are primarily instructional, as they were written to various early Christian communities to provide guidance, teachings, and clarifications on Christian doctrine and practice.

Question 14

Wisdom literature can be distinguished from parables because

Accepted Answer

Parables are indeed narrative stories that often carry a moral or spiritual lesson, typically found in religious texts like the Bible. Wisdom literature, on the other hand, consists of sayings, proverbs, and teachings that offer insights into life, and is not limited to narrative form. It can be found across various cultures and religious traditions, not just Confucianism.

Question 15

9 The texts notes the following piece of scripture as what kind of "language"? O Babylon, you will be destroyed.
Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who takes your babies
And smashed them against a rock!

Accepted Answer

This text is recognized as poetry, specifically a form of poetic justice found in the Psalms of the Bible, which often uses vivid and emotional language to convey deep feelings and thoughts.

Question 16

The following piece of scripture is from which religion?
O Babylon, you will be destroyed.
Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who takes your babies
And smashed them against a rock!

Accepted Answer

This scripture is from the Book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, making it a part of Jewish (and also Christian) religious texts. Specifically, it is from Psalm 137:8-9, expressing the yearning for retribution against Babylon for the suffering of the Israelites during their exile.

Question 17

According to our text, when we read a religious poem,

Accepted Answer

Religious poems often combine beauty and truth, may present challenges in interpretation, and can require understanding multiple "language" types, such as metaphorical and literal.

Question 18

The textbook uses the following poem as an example from which religion?
The five colors make man's eyes blind;
The five notes make his ears deaf;
The five tastes injure his palate;
Riding and hunting make his mind go wild with excitement;
Goods hard to come by serve to hinder his progress.
Hence the sage is for the belly, not for the eye.
Therefore, he discards the one and takes the other.

Accepted Answer

This poem reflects Daoist philosophy, emphasizing simplicity, naturalness, and living in harmony with the Dao. It criticizes the pursuit of sensory pleasures and material wealth, advocating instead for a life of simplicity and inner contentment, which are key principles in Daoism.

Question 19

The text and the lecture argued that the process of interpreting scripture

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C because interpreting scripture is a complex process that requires careful and thoughtful consideration. It is not solely up to individual interpretation, nor is it restricted to trained scholars. Additionally, it involves more than just quoting texts to prove a point.

Question 20

The science of interpretation is known as [hint: it is also the title of a subsection of the chapter]

Accepted Answer

Exegesis and hermeneutics are terms specifically related to the science of interpretation, particularly in the context of texts. Exegesis involves the critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially religious texts, while hermeneutics is the broader field of study concerned with the theory and methodology of interpretation.

Quiz 5: The Languages of Religion

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

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

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

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

What is the definition of the following term: -proof texts:

What is the definition of the following term: -wisdom literature:

According to the author, the focus of this chapter is

The discussion on the American dream is

When reading a religious story as myth, we should

The discussion on the Gospel of Luke (Christianity) is an example of

According to our text, historical language and parables are different because

According to the textbook, it does not make sense to ask who the characters in a parable really were because parables

St. Paul's letters were noted in this chapter as what kind of literature?

Wisdom literature can be distinguished from parables because

9 The texts notes the following piece of scripture as what kind of "language"? O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us. Happy is the one who takes your babies And smashed them against a rock!

The following piece of scripture is from which religion? O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us. Happy is the one who takes your babies And smashed them against a rock!

According to our text, when we read a religious poem,

The text and the lecture argued that the process of interpreting scripture

The science of interpretation is known as [hint: it is also the title of a subsection of the chapter]