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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What story did Muhammad learn from another cultural group?

2. When was this account written?

3. A consequence of God being presumed to exist as a separate external entity is that he assumes the attributes of _______________.

4. Thomas Aquinas made a lasting contribution to Western Christianity by trying to synthesize ____________.

5. Once "God" is presumed to exist as a separate external entity, humans can _____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Armstrong say about scientific discoveries, old religious dogmas, and atheism?

2. What does Armstrong say about the Sufis and Abu Walid ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd?

3. What does Armstrong say about the old tribal God standing judgment of the individual?

4. Describe Bernard, the abbot of the Cistercian Abby of Clarivaux in Burgundy.

5. Who were the Zionists?

6. Who questions the existence and relevance of God in the nineteenth century? How do these people question God's existence or relevance?

7. What are the differences regarding mysticism in the Christian church?

8. What ideas were being developed by Jews in Europe at this time?

9. How did Western secularism and the rising dominance of industrialized European countries have an effect on the Muslim religion?

10. Why was the idea of a personal God developed by all three of the monotheistic religions? What are its dangers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Muhammad came under the influence of Jews at Medina.

Part 1) How did they influence him? How did this influence Islam as well?

Part 2) Why do Muslims date their era to this migration to Medina? What does this say about the power of the Jews at this time?

Part 3) How has Islam continued to change until today? Compare Islam today to Islam when Muhammad was alive. What might he think of today's Islam? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Muhammad is Islam's prophet.

Part 1) How did he become a prophet? Did his early life foreshadow this sacred role? Is so, how? If not, why not?

Part 2) To what did Muhammad's epiphany lead? How did this change Islam? How does it influence Islam today?

Part 3) What is the connection between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity? Is this seen in today's society? Why or why not? What might Muhammad feel about this? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The question that is not asked in this book is how God will be perceived by man in the future.

Part 1) How have the beliefs surrounding God evolved over time? What has caused this evolution? What impact has this evolution had on the beliefs about God today?

Part 2) How might this evolution continue in the future? What events and beliefs today might affect this evolution? How might they affect this evolution?

Part 3) Where do you see these three religions in the next one hundred years? Use the text to support your response.

(see the answer keys)

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