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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 was a major contribution of Muslim scholars?

2. What were Jesus' words designed to cause people to do?

3. What was the groundwork Judaism laid because of its view of history?

4. What does Huston Smith say is the daunting task as the world grows smaller?

5. According to the Koran, what marks the beginnings of Islam?

Short Essay Questions

1. Identify the four major sects of the Jews during the life of Jesus.

2. What did the Jewish people do while in captivity that defines their need to discover meanings behind events?

3. How did Judaism portray the relationship between God and man?

4. What is the best question that should be asked about religion?

5. What summarizes the mystery of the church?

6. What is the current condition among the primal religions?

7. What impact did Jewish history make on the world?

8. Define the major difference between the Roman Catholic church and Eastern Orthodoxy.

9. How do the Australian aborigines view the spiritual realm?

10. What is the unique characteristic of primal oral religions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on different approaches to suffering. All religions recognize the existence of suffering but approach the subject in different ways. Select two or three religious teachings on suffering and draw either parallels or contradictions.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about religion and pacifism. Describe the approach several different religions take toward war. Give specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about what you got out of studying Huston Smith's book. Has it changed your mindset on different religions? Do you agree with Smith that there is little point in trying to compare religions to see which one is best?

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