Question 1

The two traditions in Muslim societies that developed to enable women to fulfill their responsibility to be modest are veiling (or covering) and __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   circumcision
B)   fasting
C)   polygamy
D)   prayer five times a day
E)   seclusion E

Question 2

__________ said that, in conducting themselves with women, monks are to act "as not seeing them"?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Buddha
B)   The Dalai Lama
C)   Jesus
D)   Mahatma Gandhi
E)   Pope John Paul II A

Question 3

Are the religions of the world fundamentally patriarchal, teaching the subordination of women to men? Give examples and other evidence to support your views.

Accepted Answer

The question of whether the religions of the world are fundamentally patriarchal and teach the subordination of women to men is a complex and contentious one. While it is true that many religious traditions have historically been interpreted and practiced in ways that prioritize male leadership and authority, it is important to recognize that there is diversity within each tradition and that interpretations and practices can evolve over time.

In Christianity, for example, some interpretations of the Bible have been used to justify the subordination of women, citing passages such as Ephesians 5:22-24 which instructs wives to submit to their husbands. However, there are also feminist and egalitarian interpretations of Christian theology that emphasize the equality of men and women before God. Similarly, in Islam, some interpretations of the Quran and Hadith have been used to justify the subordination of women, while others emphasize the Quranic principle of equality between men and women.

In Hinduism, the concept of dharma has been used to justify gender roles that prioritize male authority, but there are also Hindu feminists who challenge these traditional interpretations and advocate for gender equality. In Buddhism, while the monastic sangha has historically been male-dominated, there are also examples of female Buddhist leaders and feminist interpretations of Buddhist teachings.

It is also important to recognize that many religious traditions have diverse and complex histories, and that the subordination of women cannot be attributed solely to religious teachings. Sociocultural factors, historical contexts, and individual interpretations all play a role in shaping gender dynamics within religious communities.

In conclusion, while it is true that many religious traditions have been interpreted and practiced in ways that prioritize male authority and teach the subordination of women, it is also important to recognize the diversity of interpretations and the potential for change within each tradition. There are examples of feminist and egalitarian interpretations within all major world religions, and it is important to engage with these diverse perspectives when considering the relationship between religion and gender dynamics.

Question 4

Do religions help clarify or confuse serious reflection on the morality of homosexuality? Give examples and other evidence to support your views.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do religions help clarify or confuse serious...

Question 5

Tales associated with the goddess __________ illustrate suspicion of female passion.

Accepted Answer

A)   Adi Shakti
B)   Amaterasu
C)   Brahma
D)   Kali
E)   Kannon

Question 6

The hijra in contemporary India is a __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   goddess who legitimates same-sex relations through her behaviors
B)   lesbian who disguises her sexual orientation
C)   man who dresses and lives as a woman
D)   man who has completed his duties as a husband and ends his life in a homosexual relationship
E)   a priest who fulfills the role of a goddess in a sacred drama

Question 7

The Holiness Code that includes the law that when a man lies with a man, as with a woman, it is an "abomination" is a text of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Hinduism
B)   Judaism
C)   Mahayana Buddhism
D)   Shinto
E)   Theravada Buddhism

Question 8

The primal mother in Hindu mythology is __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Adi Shakti
B)   Amaterasu
C)   Brahma
D)   Shiva
E)   Vishnu

Question 9

At the center of Japanese mythology is the Sun Goddess __________, ancestress of the imperial family.

Accepted Answer

A)   Adi Shakti
B)   Amaterasu
C)   Kali
D)   Kannon
E)   Tara

Question 10

According to traditional Daoist teaching, a male-male sexual relationship is principally viewed as a __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   dangerous double yang energy
B)   dangerous double yin energy
C)   harmonious double yang energy
D)   harmonious double yin energy
E)   threat to social solidarity

Question 11

As used by scholars in describing the world's religions, patriarchy refers to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   balancing the masculine and feminine when speaking about the sacred
B)   the founding fathers of a religion
C)   the tendency toward male domination
D)   transgenerational homosexual relations
E)   using feminine imagery for one's country

Question 12

Compare and contrast the teachings on the role of women in three of the following religions: Lakota tradition, Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Mahayana, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Wicca, and the Baha'i Faith.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the teachings on the...

Question 13

Explain and evaluate the following: Traditions of "seclusion" and "veiling" are rooted in the Qur'an and manifest a commitment to fundamental Islamic values. However, Muslim reformers have pointed to abuse of these traditions, leading to treatment of women that runs counter to Islamic teaching about gender.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain and evaluate the following: Traditions of...

Question 14

The __________ branch of Islam has the most tolerant attitude toward homosexuality.

Accepted Answer

A)   Al-Qaeda
B)   Shia
C)   Sunni
D)   Sufi
E)   none of the above

Question 15

Compare and contrast the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish views of homosexuality. Which do you think makes the most sense? Why so?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the Muslim, Christian, and...

Question 16

Kannon and other Mahayana Buddhist "deities" embody the __________ at the heart of Buddhist teaching.

Accepted Answer

A)   attachment to deities
B)   compassion
C)   inconsistency
D)   preference for the feminine
E)   sexuality

Question 17

A Christian denomination that is dominated by persons of same-sex orientation is the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Metropolitan Community Church
B)   Moravian Church
C)   Roman Catholic Church
D)   Society of Friends (Quakers) 
E)   Southern Baptist Church

Question 18

Describe the four types of same-sex relations have been found in all major culture areas (transgenerational, transgenderal, egalitarian, and class-distinguished), and discuss the significance of these findings.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the four types of same-sex relations...

Question 19

The statement that "torture is not culture" was made in reference to ritual common in African and Asian cultures known to its opponents as __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   abortion for sex selection
B)   dowry death
C)   female genital mutilation
D)   female infanticide
E)   sati

Question 20

The Roman Catholic attitude toward homosexuality is __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Rejecting and punitive
B)   Rejecting and non-punitive
C)   qualified acceptance
D)   full acceptance
E)   none of the above

Exam 18: Gender and Sexual Orientation-Roles and Identity