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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. Bernard's influence outshone that of ____________.

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

3. What had happened by 235 CE?

4. What tribe was Muhammad a member of?

5. Does the expression "Son of God" bear the same connotation in Hebrew as it does in Greek?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is "religion of the heart and what did this lead to?

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

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

4. How did many Jews respond to the Neoplatonic doctrine?

5. What does Armstrong say about what the technical and industrial revolution, occurring in the West, had on the beliefs of the three monotheistic religions?

6. What are the results of the Italian Renaissance and the beginning of the scientific discoveries?

7. What strong religious movements does Armstrong see growing in strength today? What does she think about this?

8. Describe Christian mysticism in Northern Europe.

9. What does The Koran mean?

10. What is Armstrong's pessimistic view of the modern world?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Armstrong uses historical and Biblical texts to describe the evolution of Yahweh.

Part 1) Who is Yahweh? How does Yahweh evolve? Why is this information important to this book?

Part 2) Why is this type of deity necessary? Is it still necessary today? Why or why not?

Part 3) How do the events in history influence the evolution of Yahweh? What does this say about the stability of Yahweh, as well as other deities, and religion as a whole?

Essay Topic 3

Philosophy has influenced religion.

Part 1) How did Greek science and philosophy exert a strong influence on Arab culture in the 9th century? How did this lead to a rational approach regarding God? How did these various beliefs affect Islam?

Part 2) What parallel events occurred in Jewish culture? Why did these events occur? What was the outcome?

Part 3) How were Christian theologians also affected by philosophy and beliefs contrary to the initial religious beliefs? How did this change Christianity?

Part 4) How is religion still evolving, based on beliefs and ideas of today?

(see the answer keys)

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