REL100: Essay Questions

Go to www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Quizzes/BeliefOMatic.aspx and do the “Belief-O-Matic” survey. Was the religious tradition with which you are most closely associated at or near the top of the list of traditions that were selected for you? Were there any other traditions at or near the top of the list that surprised you? (If you are unfamiliar with a particular tradition, click on its name for a summary of its beliefs; you should also take note of the “percentage” of consistency, which tells you how similar your beliefs are to the tradition in question.) What did you learn from doing this exercise? Please include a printout of the survey results with your paper.

1. Choose one of the four major paths of Hindu “discipline” (i.e. Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga or Bhakti Yoga) and explain its approach to religious self-transformation in terms of the foundational principles of Hinduism—Brahman, Atman, Karma and Moksha. [LR: 79-90; ALR: 62-90]

2. Describe the relationship between the caste system (varna), the four “stages of life” (asrama), and the Hindu concept of dharma—known collectively as Varnasrama Dharma. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Varnasrama Dharma system with regard to the preservation of social order and the pursuit of spiritual liberation? Do you think that this system will continue to define Hindu orthodoxy in the 21^st century? Why or why not? [LR: 72, 99-101; ALR: 70-71, 83-84; http://krishna.org/ctfote/varnash.html]

1. What basic beliefs do Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism have in common? How do they differ? Do you think that the similarities are more important than the differences, or vice-versa? [LR: 147-169]

2. Describe the basic beliefs and practices of Zen and Pure Land—two of the most popular forms of Mahayana Buddhism in East Asia. What do these traditions have in common? How do they differ? Do you think that the similarities are more important than the differences, or vice-versa? [LR: 158-162; ALR: 123-127]

IV. CONFUCIANISM & DAOISM

1. Are the teachings of Confucianism merely “ethical” or do they represent a genuinely “religious” path of spiritual cultivation? Some of the concepts that you may wish to discuss (though you are not required to discuss them all) include: jen (humaneness), li (ritual/rites/propriety), Heaven, filial piety, ancestor worship, and the Confucian emphasis on the connection between social, political and cosmic harmony. [LR: 199-211; ALR: 157-160]

2. Are the philosophical principles associated with the “Teachings of Daoist sages” [LR: 182-190; ALR: 165-173] consistent with the ideals of longevity and immortality that developed in “Organized Daoism” [LR: 190-199; ALR: 173-184]? Why or why not?

3. Compare and contrast the Confucian and Daoist traditions. How are they similar…and on what points do they diverge? Explain how these two traditions complement each other, using specific examples to illustrate your argument.

V. SHINTO

1. Explain the importance of purification—both personal and collective—in the Shinto tradition. Your answer should include references to terms such as tsumi, misogi and oharai, as well as discussions of phenomena such as nature, mountains, and shrines. [LR, 214-229]

2. Compare and contrast the Shinto tradition with the Confucian and Daoist traditions from China. What aspects does Shinto share with each, and in what ways is Shinto uniquely Japanese?

VI. JUDAISM

1. Describe the two creation stories in Genesis, chapter 1 to 2:4 and 2:4 through chapter 3. How do their major themes differ and what does this imply about how we should interpret biblical texts? [LR: 236-240; ALR: 188-192]

2. Discuss the concept of “exile” in Judaism beginning with the exile from the Garden of Eden and ending with contemporary issues surrounding the modern state of Israel (including at least one other example of exile in between). [LR: 240-252, 262-271; ALR: 192-197]

3. Describe the essential beliefs and/or practices of Judaism from the perspective of one of the four major branches—Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, or Reconstructionist. What distinguishes the branch in question from the other three? [ALR: 207-211]

VII. CHRISTIANITY

1. What do you regard as the essential core of Jesus’ ethical teachings (i.e. those that are specifically concerned with the moral conduct of human beings)? Do you think that embodying these teachings is essential for salvation in the Christian tradition? Why or why not? [LR: 300-307; ALR: 226-227, 230-231]

2. What conflicts led to the split between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches? What are the main elements of belief and/or practice that distinguish these two traditions? On what points do they essentially agree? [LR: 314-330; ALR: 234-244]

3. What are the basic characteristics that distinguish Protestant Christianity from Roman Catholicism? Do their differences outweigh their similarities, or do the essential principles that they share unite these traditions as legitimate expressions of Christianity? [LR: 330-344; ALR: 244-247]

VIII. ISLAM

1. Explain the concept of jihad in relation to the so-called “Five Pillars of Islam.” Do you think that Muhammad would support the use of terrorism to “protect the Way of God against the forces of evil”? Why or why not? [LR: 392-398, 421-429; ALR: 276, 281, 300-306; http://i-cias.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct-frame.pl?http://i-cias.com/e.o/jihad.htm]

2. Examine the role and status of women in Islam. Do you think that the essential principles of Islam preclude the development of feminism within the tradition or is feminism consistent with the essential teachings of Muhammad? [LR: 384-398, 417-419; ALR: 276-277, 281, 294-297; http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/humanrelations/womeninislam]

3. What are the most important religious themes common to Judaism, Christianity and Islam? Based on your understanding of these three religions, do you think that Islam is closer to Judaism or to Christianity, or? Justify your answer with specific examples.