Exam 1: About Religion

Most scholars recognize that Christianity was uninfluenced by the mystery religions.

Religions, unlike cults, do not evolve and change.

We do not know when the first Jewish temple was built.

What two areas in religious studies has Jonathan Z. Smith profoundly impacted?

Define the term scriptural religion and scripturalism? Summarize in detail with examples from different traditions across the world that demonstrate the various expressions and forms of scriptural religions.

What are some of the differences between a faith-based approach and interfaith approach to religious studies?

What does "Indo-European" mean? How did Indo-European culture impact ancient societies and their religions?

Jesus Christ is an example of an avatar.

Who famously wrote, "Normally persons talk about other people's religions as they are, and about their own as it ought to be."

What is the first and most obvious reason to study religion?

What idea of the divine developed in contrast to a personal, interactive, human-like God emerged around 2,500 years ago?

The medieval book of Jewish mysticism is known as which of the following?

In Japan, features of the natural landscape were believed to be which of the following?

What is an avatar? Provide two examples to help explain.

Into what does the shaman enter in order to communicate with the spirit world?

In the Middle East, worship was frequently done at ritual centers known as what?

On what terms does Sigmund Freud define religion?

Mystery religions have their origins in the Greek and Roman traditions.

In which religions did scripture come to play a central role as the word of God?

What does the term "sacred" mean?