Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does monotheism refer to?
What does monotheism refer to?
- Belief in multiple gods.
- Nonbelief in any deity.
- Belief in a supreme spirit connecting everything.
- Belief in only one God. (correct)
Which of the following best describes a transcendent deity?
Which of the following best describes a transcendent deity?
- A deity represented through various physical forms.
- A spiritual presence that can be found in nature.
- A deity with limited abilities who resides on earth.
- A deity that is all-powerful and exists in a heavenly realm. (correct)
What distinguishes strong atheists from weak atheists?
What distinguishes strong atheists from weak atheists?
- Strong atheists do not believe in any deity, while weak atheists do.
- Strong atheists actively promote their views, while weak atheists do not share their beliefs. (correct)
- There is no distinction; both terms refer to the same ideology.
- Weak atheists believe in a God but do not practice any religion.
What does the insider approach to studying religion involve?
What does the insider approach to studying religion involve?
Which term refers to the belief in many different deities?
Which term refers to the belief in many different deities?
What is the central belief of Tawhid in Islam?
What is the central belief of Tawhid in Islam?
Which philosopher argued that religion is a tool to control people with less power?
Which philosopher argued that religion is a tool to control people with less power?
What belief system argues that all religions are true on their own terms?
What belief system argues that all religions are true on their own terms?
What did Freud believe about the origin of religion?
What did Freud believe about the origin of religion?
How do Muslims view the revelations given to Jesus?
How do Muslims view the revelations given to Jesus?
What is the concept of Shirk in Islam?
What is the concept of Shirk in Islam?
Which approach suggests that all individuals have some greater need or desire beyond religion?
Which approach suggests that all individuals have some greater need or desire beyond religion?
What defines the belief of Inclusivism?
What defines the belief of Inclusivism?
What is the ultimate goal in most branches of Hinduism?
What is the ultimate goal in most branches of Hinduism?
Which deity in Hinduism is primarily associated with destruction and meditation?
Which deity in Hinduism is primarily associated with destruction and meditation?
What is a hallmark belief of Wahhabi Muslims regarding their interpretation of the Qur’an?
What is a hallmark belief of Wahhabi Muslims regarding their interpretation of the Qur’an?
What is the primary motivation behind Hindu Fundamentalism?
What is the primary motivation behind Hindu Fundamentalism?
In Hinduism, what is the difference between a householder and a renouncer?
In Hinduism, what is the difference between a householder and a renouncer?
What belief do most Wahhabi Muslims hold regarding access to Heaven?
What belief do most Wahhabi Muslims hold regarding access to Heaven?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Hindu Fundamentalism?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Hindu Fundamentalism?
Which holy texts are considered the earliest in Hinduism?
Which holy texts are considered the earliest in Hinduism?
What distinguishes the Hindu Fundamentalist (HF) views from those of Gandhi?
What distinguishes the Hindu Fundamentalist (HF) views from those of Gandhi?
What is a core belief of Baha’is regarding world religions?
What is a core belief of Baha’is regarding world religions?
How does John Hick respond to Christian exclusivism?
How does John Hick respond to Christian exclusivism?
What is defined as becoming a better person across various religions?
What is defined as becoming a better person across various religions?
What is the Baha’i concept of 'progressive revelation'?
What is the Baha’i concept of 'progressive revelation'?
Which of the following types of salvation is experienced during one's life on earth?
Which of the following types of salvation is experienced during one's life on earth?
Which belief is emphasized in the Baha’i faith regarding humanity?
Which belief is emphasized in the Baha’i faith regarding humanity?
What characteristic does Hick attribute to Christian inclusivism?
What characteristic does Hick attribute to Christian inclusivism?
What term refers to the study of salvation?
What term refers to the study of salvation?
What does Hick argue regarding the moral standing of Christians versus non-Christians?
What does Hick argue regarding the moral standing of Christians versus non-Christians?
Which view reflects the Hindu Fundamentalist perspective?
Which view reflects the Hindu Fundamentalist perspective?
Who is the historical figure commonly known as the Buddha?
Who is the historical figure commonly known as the Buddha?
How do Baha’is differ from Muslims regarding prophets?
How do Baha’is differ from Muslims regarding prophets?
What prompted Siddhartha Gautama to renounce his luxurious life?
What prompted Siddhartha Gautama to renounce his luxurious life?
What is the meaning of the term 'Buddha'?
What is the meaning of the term 'Buddha'?
What kind of salvation is described as being earned through good actions?
What kind of salvation is described as being earned through good actions?
Study Notes
Common Terms in Religion
- Monotheism: Belief in one God.
- Polytheism: Belief in multiple deities, including male and female.
- Atheism: Nonbelief in any deity; can be strong (actively rejecting theism) or weak (non-active disbelief).
- Transcendent: All-powerful deity in a heavenly realm; can do anything at any time.
- Immanent: Limited deity existing on earth.
Approaches to Studying Religion
- Insider Perspective: Studying a religion that one personally follows.
- Outsider Perspective: Analyzing religions from an external viewpoint.
- Phenomenological Approach: Asserts everyone is religious in some way; key figures include Friedrich Schleiermacher (absolute dependence) and Paul Tillich (ultimate concern).
- Social-Scientific Approach: Proposes that religion arises from greater human needs; Karl Marx associates it with power dynamics, while Sigmund Freud links it to guilt and anxiety management.
Inter-religious Relations
- Exclusivism: Belief that one's own religion is the sole true faith; includes fundamentalism which criticizes social conditions.
- Inclusivism: Belief that many religions contain truth, but only because they share concepts with one's own religion.
- Pluralism: Belief in the independent truth of all religions.
Key Islamic Beliefs
- Tawhid: Sole belief in one God.
- Shirk: Serious sin of equating anything with God; viewed negatively in Islam.
- Revelations: Muslims believe revelations to Jews and Christians were altered; Muhammad received the final unaltered revelations, recorded in the Qur'an.
Wahhabi Islam
- Origin: Emerged in Saudi Arabia in the 18th century; significantly influences extremist groups like ISIS and the Taliban.
- Interpretation of the Qur'an: Wahhabi beliefs consider their understanding as the only correct one.
- Final Judgment: Wahhabi Muslims hold an exclusivist view that only they will attain Heaven.
Hinduism Overview
- Vedas: Earliest texts (1500-1500 BCE) include chants to various deities.
- Key Concepts:
- Dharma: One's duty based on social class.
- Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of rebirth; ultimate goal.
- Life Paths: Householders fulfill social duties, while renouncers focus on spirituality.
Hindu Deities
- Vishnu: God associated with preservation and compassion; known through avatars like Krishna.
- Shiva: God of destruction and meditation; known for the removal of obstacles (Ganesha).
- Devi: Represents various forms of feminine divinity.
Hindu Fundamentalism
- Goals: Promotes Hindu exclusivism and aims for a government that endorses Hindu principles.
- Tensions: Often manifests in anti-Muslim and anti-Christian sentiments, resulting in violence.
Baha'i Faith
- Origin: Founded in the 19th century by Baha'ullah in Iran.
- Core Beliefs: Monotheism, unity of all religions via progressive revelation, and the emphasis on humanity's collective identity leading to peace.
Christian Pluralism by John Hick
- Critique of Exclusivism: Argues no religion can claim sole truth.
- Christian Inclusivism Issues: Criticism that it elevates Christianity above other religions.
- Arguments for Pluralism: Different perceptions of God, the commonality of moral goodness across religions, and promotion of inter-religious learning.
Understanding Salvation
- Soteriology: The study of salvation, addressing ultimate goals and means to achieve them.
- Types of Salvation:
- This-worldly: Achieved during life.
- Other-worldly: Attained after death.
- Salvation by Works: Earned through good actions.
- Salvation by Grace: Received as a divine gift.
Life of Buddha
- Real Name: Siddhartha Gautama; died in the 5th century BCE.
- Meaning of "Buddha": "Awakened one" who renounced luxury to find peace (Nirvana).
- Life Journey: Born to power, experienced no suffering until he confronted the realities of life leading to his quest for enlightenment.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Explore key concepts and terms in religion, including monotheism, polytheism, and atheism. Understand various approaches to studying religion such as insider and outsider perspectives, and examine inter-religious relations. Test your knowledge on the definitions and theoretical frameworks related to the study of religion.
