Summer 2008     This is the study guide and a Sample of a past Mid term

Mid-Term Study Guide

Frank Farrell    Senior Associate Professor of Religion

The mid term will be an open note test based on the following. You may bring your note book and or index cards. You may not use your textbook.

Topics:

Six Dimensions of Religion

Three Expressions of Religion

            - Practical

            - Theoretical

            -Sociological

Boundary Function of Religion

Boundary Questions

Ordinary V. Extraordinary Religion

"Rites of Passage"

What is Religious Studies?

Religious Experience

Hare Krishna

Hinduism

Inclusiveness of Hinduism

The Four Noble Truths

The 8 fold Path

No-self/dependant origination

Approaches to Religion

            - Historical/traditional/cultural approach

            - Social/practical

            - Philosphical/theological

            -Personal

Styles of Being Religious

            -Belief

            -Communal

            -Seeker

Development of Religion from Agricultural Religion through Postmodrnism

Fundamental features of Hinduism

Fundamental features of Buddhism

 

Terms:

Pluralism                                                                                

Conditioned and Unconditioned reality

myth

doctrine

Shiva               Shakti

dharma[1][1]                  Karma

caste    ashramas

Brahman          Upanishad

Vedas  Brahmins

mantras            Buddha

Jainism            varnas

Bagavad-Gita  samskara

Gahndi            Anatman

Theravada Buddhism  Mahayanna Buddhism

Lotus Sutra     The Three Buddha Bodies

Yogacara                     Tantric

Tibetan Book of the Dead      Zen

Shinto  Dao    

Confucianism  Mencius

Yang and Yin Apart v. a part

Sample Mid Term from past Semester:

Rs101 DL

Mid-term

Spring 2003

Frank Farrell - Associate Professor of Religion          Name:________________________

 

 

Part One: True or False 1pt each.

 

1. A result of the development of agriculture was trade and the unification of large areas into great political units.   _______

 

2. All religions have common attitudes that are not shared by those who claim to be non religious. ______

 

3.  Maps of the invisible world are windows between unconditioned and conditioned reality. ____

 

4. Religions always have a historical view of time. ______

 

5. Dharma is a cosmic social order. _______

 

6.  Another word for self is Atman. _________

 

7. The founder of Buddhism was Mohandas Ghandi. ______

 

8. The four noble truths can be summarized into a sentence which states that all life is suffering and all suffering is hereditary. ________

 

9. The Tibetan book of the dead contains a list of dead monks. _______

 

10.Karma is a force of universal action and reaction that keeps everything moving and changing. ______.

 

Part Two: Multiple Choice   2 pts  each

 

11. Buddhism may be

a.         A Buddha reclining while reaching Nirvana

b.         A tree

c.         A prayer wheel

d.         All of the above

e.         None of the above

 

12.       Buddhism takes a variety of forms of religious expression. Which one of these does not fit within Buddhism?

A.        Intellectual teaching

b.         Object of worship

c.         Submission

d.         Samsara

e.         Suttee

 

13.       Nirvana

a.         Means to extinguish

b.         Is hardly distinguishable from annihilation

c.         Can only be described by what is not

d.         All of the above

e.         None of the above

 

14.       The Lotus Sutra teaches

a.         How to do a tea ceremony

b.         How to become a Theravadan monk

c.         That the simple offering of a child to a Buddha is worth more than all the aspiring arhants

d.         All of the above

e.         None of the above

 

15.       Jainism teaches

a.         That sentient life dwells in all that exists

b.         Quietness and suffering will counter all action

c.         To eat no meat

d.         All of the above

e.         None of the above

 

16.       Moksha is

a.         A cosmic social order

b.         State of liberation

c.         Moral behavior

d.         Personal retribution

 

17.       Which one of these is Hindu Scripture?

A.        Vedas

B.        Leviticus

C.        Holy Granth

D.        Asha

RS 101 DL mid term page 3

 

18.       Sociological expression of religion involves

a.         Worship, rituals ,devotion

b.         Myth and doctrine

c.         Sects and cults

d.         Church type groups only

 

19.       Practical expression of religion involves

a.         Worship, rules, devotion

b.         Myth and doctrine

c.         Sects and cults

d.         Church type groups only

 

20.       Theoretical expression of religion involves

a.         Worship, rules, devotion

b.         Myth and doctrine

c.         Sects and cults

d.         Church type groups only

 

 

Part 3: Short Answer Identification 3 pts each

 

Please Identify the following, providing an example where appropriate, and stating its relevance to the course.

 

21.       Boundary Questions

 

 

 

 

 

22.       World views ( six dimensions from videos)

 

 

 

 

23.       Religious Experience

 

 

 

24.       AApart and a part@

 

 

25.       Symbols  ( three types)

 Rs 101 DL Sp 1999 Mid-term

 

Part 4:

Short Answer 5 pts each

Please answer five of the following.

 

26.       What are the four Noble Truths of Buddhism? How might this relate to the                        material covered in rites of passage?

 

 

 

 

 

27.       How do you interpret the Hindu perception that there are 330 million gods?

 

 

 

28.       Pick any major turmoil in the United states today and describe it in terms of B+B= B

 

 

 

 

29.       How might cultural context color the description of religious experience?

 

 

 

 

 

30.       What are the characteristics of religious studies? How is the academic study of religion     different from studying religion with a faith community?

 

Part 5:

Essays - 10 pts each

 

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