Question 1

__________ Judaism,which became a middle ground between the other two branches,teaches that the Torah and Talmud must be followed and that Zionism-the movement to establish and maintain a Jewish homeland in Israel is crucial to the future of Judaism.

Accepted Answer

The description given matches that of Conservative Judaism, which maintains a belief in following the Torah and Talmud, but also values modernity and adapting to changing times. They support Zionism and the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Israel.

Question 2

According to __________,those who inhabit Heaven are ruled over by a supreme ancestor and are the ancestors of those persons who are on Earth.These forefathers are eventually joined by those who are currently on Earth; therefore,death is nothing more than the promotion to a more honorable estate.

Accepted Answer

This belief is a central tenet of Confucianism, which emphasizes the importance of filial piety and ancestor worship. Confucianism does not have a belief in Heaven as a separate realm or in a supreme deity, but rather focuses on ancestor veneration and the cultivation of moral character.

Question 3

The Islamic faith is based on the __________-the holy book of the Muslims,as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel at the command of God.It reveals that it is up to God,not humans,to determine which individuals are deserving of punishment and what kinds of violence are justified under various conditions.

Accepted Answer

The Qur'an is the holy book of the Muslims and is considered the primary source of Islamic law and morality. It contains the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as revealed to him by the Angel Gabriel, and emphasizes the importance of submission to God and living a just and compassionate life. The Qur'an prohibits all forms of violence except in cases of self-defense or in defense of the oppressed, and leaves the ultimate determination of punishment to God.

Question 4

The Ten Commandments and discussions of moral,ceremonial,and cultural laws are contained in four books of the __________ (the sacred book of contemporary Judaism): Exodus,Leviticus,Numbers,and Deuteronomy.

Accepted Answer

The Torah is the sacred book of contemporary Judaism and contains the Ten Commandments, as well as discussions of moral, ceremonial, and cultural laws in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Qur'an is the sacred text of Islam, while the Old Testament and New Testament are part of the Christian Bible.

Question 5

__________ was the official religion of China until the Communist takeover and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Accepted Answer

Confucianism was the official religion of China for centuries, based on the teachings of the philosopher Confucius. However, after the Communist takeover in 1949, the new government promoted atheism as the official state ideology, and all religions were suppressed or heavily regulated.

Question 6

A central teaching of __________ was that humans are by nature good and that they learn best by having an example or model person from which to learn.

Accepted Answer

This teaching is a central tenet of Confucianism, which emphasizes the importance of positive role models and ethical behavior. Confucius believed that the innate goodness of humans can be cultivated and developed through education and virtuous living. Gandhi and the Dalai Lama are known for their teachings on nonviolence and compassion, while Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to enlightenment. However, none of them held this particular belief about human nature and learning.

Question 7

The Hebrews established a covenant with God.Known as the Ten Commandments,the covenant between God and human beings was given to __________ on top of Mount Sinai.

Accepted Answer

The Hebrews established a covenant with God through Moses, who received the Ten Commandments on top of Mount Sinai according to the Jewish and Christian tradition. Confucius was a Chinese philosopher, Mohandas Gandhi was a political and spiritual leader in India, and Siddhartha Gautama was the founder of Buddhism.

Question 8

The Islamic notion of jihad,meaning "struggle," is a core belief.The __________ is believed to be the internal struggle against sin within a person's heart.

Accepted Answer

The Greater Jihad is the internal struggle against sin within oneself, while the Lesser Jihad refers to physical struggle or fighting in the defense of Islam. Primary Jihad and Tertiary Jihad are not commonly used terms in Islamic theology.

Question 9

Anti-Semitism has been a continuing problem in the United States since the late 19ᵗʰ century.Like other forms of prejudice and discrimination,it has exacted a heavy toll on multiple generations of:

Accepted Answer

Anti-Semitism is prejudice and discrimination against Jewish people. Therefore, the group that has been most affected by anti-Semitism in the United States is Jewish Americans.

Question 10

__________,whose followers are known as Muslims,is based on the teachings of its founder,Muhammad,who was born in Mecca.

Accepted Answer

The religion being described is Islam, as it is based on the teachings of Muhammad and its followers are known as Muslims. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism all have different founders and followers with different beliefs and practices.

Question 11

Although God guides human destiny,people are responsible for making their own ethical choices in keeping with His law; when they fail to act accordingly to the law,they have committed a sin.Also,fundamental to __________ is the belief that one day the Messiah will come to Earth,ushering in an age of peace and justice for all.

Accepted Answer

The belief in God guiding human destiny and the responsibility of humans to make ethical choices in accordance with His law is a fundamental tenet of Judaism. The belief in the arrival of the Messiah is also a key part of Jewish theology.

Question 12

__________ Judaism follows the traditional practices and teachings,including eating only kosher foods prepared in a designated way,observing the traditional Sabbath,segregating women and men in religious services,and wearing traditional clothing.

Accepted Answer

These traditional practices and teachings are specific to Orthodox Judaism. Reform and Conservative Judaism are more liberal and have different interpretations and practices regarding these aspects of the religion. Conventional is not a term commonly used to describe a specific branch of Judaism.

Question 13

Although Judaism has fewer adherents worldwide than some other major religions,its influence is deeply felt in Western culture.Today,there are an estimated _____ million Jews worldwide; however,the majority reside in the United States,Israel,France,and Russia.

Accepted Answer

According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2020, there are approximately 15 million Jews worldwide. The majority of them (about 44%) reside in Israel, followed by the United States with about 40%. France and Russia have smaller Jewish populations. It is true that Judaism has a significant impact on Western culture, despite having fewer adherents than some other major religions.

Question 14

Confucius,whose sayings are collected in the __________,taught that people must learn the importance of order in human relationships and must follow a strict code of moral conduct,including respect for others,benevolence,and reciprocity.

Accepted Answer

Confucius' sayings are collected in the Analects. The Torah is the holy book of Judaism, the Qur'an is the holy book of Islam, and the Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible that includes the Jewish scriptures. None of these books contain the sayings of Confucius.

Question 15

Confucius set forth his Five Constant Relationships.Which of the following is NOT one of these?

Accepted Answer

The Five Constant Relationships according to Confucius are: 
1) ruler-subject 
2) father-son 
3) husband-wife 
4) elder brother-younger brother 
5) friend-friend. Mother-daughter is not one of the constant relationships recognized by Confucius.

Question 16

According to Muhammad,followers must adhere to the five Pillars of Islam.Which of the following is NOT one of these?

Accepted Answer

The five Pillars of Islam are:

1) Shahada - declaring the belief in the oneness of God and that Muhammad is his prophet.
2) Salat - observing five daily prayers.
3) Zakat - giving to charity.
4) Sawm - fasting during the month of Ramadan.
5) Hajj - making a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

Understanding that the Greater Jihad is the internal struggle against sin is not actually one of the five Pillars of Islam, although it is a concept often discussed in Islamic texts and teachings.

Question 17

Confucius established the foundation for __________ and potential conflict when he set forth his Five Constant Relationships.

Accepted Answer

Confucius established a social hierarchy through his Five Constant Relationships, which could potentially lead to conflict as individuals were expected to adhere to their designated roles and levels of authority.

Question 18

__________ Judaism is based on the belief that the Torah is binding only in its moral teachings and that adherents should no longer be required to follow all of the Talmud,the compilation of Jewish law setting forth the strict rabbinic teachings on practices such as food preparation,rituals,and dress.

Accepted Answer

This description best fits the ideology of Reform Judaism, which emphasizes individual autonomy and personal choice in interpreting and following Jewish tradition. Reform Jews believe that the Torah is a human document that reflects the cultural and historical context in which it was written, and that contemporary Jews should use reason and conscience to determine which aspects of the tradition are still applicable and meaningful. This often leads to a rejection of the strict legalism of the Talmud and a greater emphasis on ethical values and social justice.

Question 19

__________ is based on the belief that Heaven and Earth are not separated places but rather a continuum in which both realms are constantly in touch with each other.

Accepted Answer

The belief that Heaven and Earth are connected is a central tenet of Confucianism, which teaches that humans should strive to maintain harmony between the two realms in order to achieve a peaceful and prosperous society. Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam also have beliefs about the connection between spiritual and physical realms, but they are not as closely tied to the idea of maintaining harmony between Heaven and Earth.

Question 20

Research has found that __________ have the largest families.

Accepted Answer

Research has found that Muslims and Mormons have the largest families, with an average of 3-4 children per household. This is likely due to cultural and religious values that prioritize large families. While some Christian denominations, such as Catholics and Baptists, also prioritize large families, their average number of children per household tends to be lower than that of Muslims and Mormons. Methodists have an even lower average number of children per household.

Quiz 17: Religion