Answer: One ton
Each mikoshi weighs approximately one ton and requires 40 people to carry each one at any given time. Several hundred people are used during the final day of the festival to carry the portable shrine down the streets. The shrines of the Sanja Matsuri are honoring the three founders of the Senso-ji Buddhist temple. Sanja Matsuri means Three Shrine Festival and is held annually in May.
Jaknginger of PR's Red Crew carried this question into the team quiz.
From Quiz: The Spiritual Life of Japan
Answer: Islam
The idea behind the Druze religion came from discourses between Muhammad bin Ismail Nashtakin ad-Darazī, often referred to as "the insolent one", and Hamza bin Ali, the first missionary of the religion. While records from this time period are not complete, it is clear that the two knew each other and considered themselves rivals. From ad-Darazī's name came the name of the religion, Druze.
Both Muhammad ad-Darazī and Hamza bin Ali were raised as Ismaili Muslims, however, through their discourses they reached an enlightenment about a new religion. Since ad-Darazī is generally not seen in a favourable light, this is probably why opponents to the Druze religion sought to demean it by naming it after him.
From Quiz: Mysterious Ways
Answer: The Levant
The countries with the highest Druze populations are Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, although other countries such as Australia have some Druze population, too. In Syria, they are about 3% of the population and mainly live in a southern region of the country called Jabal al-Druze.
From Quiz: The Druze Religion
Answer: Islam
Islam is the main religion in Egypt, representing 90% of the population. The 1971 constitution allows for religious freedom, but the government holds that any infringements to the Islamic faith are banned. This has led to many tensions among the Egyptian population. Pope Shenouda III was relieved of his religious duties in 1985, but was later re-instated. In 1993, Americans in Egypt were arrested for proselytizing Christianity, but they were later released. Author Ala'a Hamed was jailed when it was deemed his book 'Voyage into the Human Mind' insulted the Islamic faith.
From Quiz: The Sphynx Watches: Religious Diversity in Egypt
Answer: Christianity - Roman Catholicism
Belief in God has been a principle and underpinning mainstay of Polish life, culture and identity. The creation of the Polish state was associated with adoption of Christianity by its ruler, Mieszko I, in 966, when he was baptised as a Catholic after he married Princess Doubravka of Bohemia, a devout Christian. Today around 90% of the Polish population is Roman Catholic, with the majority actively practicing the faith. The Catholic Church has played an important role in the cultural history of the country and, indeed it has played a political role as well, when it supported Polish independence and helped the country remain unified in difficult times, such as during the partition of Poland in the 19th century.
The Church as a whole, and in particular the Roman Catholic church, is widely respected by Poles and has been integrated as a symbol of Polish heritage and culture.
From Quiz: Religion in Poland
Answer: Christianity - Roman Catholic
Like most of Latin America, colonisation by the Spanish and the Portuguese also bought Roman Catholicism, which became firmly entrenched soon after colonisation. In Cuba this began in 1511, when the Conquistador Diego Velazquez de Cuellar established the Catholic Church in Cuba in the same year. The establishment of this religion was due to the work of priest Fray Bartolome de las Casas who became known as "the Protector of the Indians".
Protestantism started in Cuba at roughly the same time (as most of the pirates and corsairs were Protestants), but these groups did not flourish in Cuba until the early 20th century, when American missionaries arrived, with funding from their home churches to increase Protestantism in Cuba.
From Quiz: Religion in Cuba
Answer: Brazil
Candomblé is based in the traditional African beliefs of traditional Yoruba, Fon and Bantu beliefs, and was brought to Brazil by slaves. There are also Candomblé practitioners in some parts of Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and Uruguay.
From Quiz: Candomblé
Answer: Christianity
According to "The World Factbook", as of July 2013, the breakdown is:
"Christian - 33.39%, Muslim - 22.74%, Hindu - 13.80%, Buddhist - 6.77%,
Sikh - 0.35%, Jewish - 0.22%, Baha'i - 0.11%, other religions - 10.95%,
non-religious - 9.66%, atheists - 2.01%." The four disciplines having one billion adherents or more, in descending order, are Christianity, Islam, Secular and Non-religious (including atheists and agnostics), and Hindu.
From Quiz: Religiously Easy
Answer: Lucumi
The slave trade brought many Africans to Southern USA, Cuba, Haiti, Brazil, Puerto Rico and other Caribbean nations. The slaves called each other "oluku mi" or "my friend" and in Cuba they became known as "Lucumi". The Lucumi people and the language have been heavily influenced by Spanish and Niger-Congo languages.
From Quiz: Santeria
Answer: The time when the world was created
In Australian aboriginal belief, The Dreaming is not only Dreamtime, the sacred era of creation, but can also refer to the state of eternal existence that precedes and follows life on Earth and, by inference, creation itself. In this belief system, the land itself, the cultures and the laws and duties governing the life of each individual are also aspects directly part of The Dreaming.
From Quiz: I Dreamed a Dream
Answer: Way of the Gods
Adopted from the Chinese "shen dao," Shinto means "Way of the Gods." It is also known as kami-no-michi, or "spirit path."
I do like the sound of "Discipline, Dedication, Destiny" though.
From Quiz: A Shufti at Shinto
Answer: Iran
In 1844, Siyyid Ali Muḥammad Shirazi took on the name of 'the Bab' (meaning 'the Gate') and established Babism in Persia which broke away from Islam and attempted to create a new religious system. Babism is regarded as the precursor to the Baha'i Faith which was established in the 1850s.
From Quiz: Baha'i the Way
Answer: Pastafarians
The word "Pastafarian" is a combination of Pasta and Rastafarian.
Pastafarians don't really care about doing good, as long as they don't cause hurt, and sauce is optional as well as noodle choice. Intelligence is also not required.
From Quiz: The Flying Spaghetti Monster- R'Amen
Answer: Haiti
Haitian voodoo is practiced in a number of Caribbean countries as well as parts of South America. It is also practiced in the southern United States, particularly Louisiana, where it is called New Orleans voodoo.
The word voodoo comes from a word meaning spirit, god or sacred object. Haitian voodoo has its roots in a West African religion called Vodun, practiced in Benin and Togo.
Slaves from Africa were brought to Haiti in the 1600s and it was these slaves who created voodoo, wanting to keep their African beliefs. Their Spanish slavers, and later the French, followed Roman Catholic traditions. Over time, voodoo became intertwined with Christianity.
From Quiz: Who Do The Voodoo?
Answer: Pastafarians
This is not to be confused with Rastafarians; those are two very different things. Pastafarians are known to constantly provoke the wrath of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Almighty by their disobedience to the Eight I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts.
From Quiz: Flying Spaghetti Monsterism
Answer: Jah
According Rastafarian belief, Jah is the ever-present deity who is inside of each person and connects all of us together. The word itself comes from the shortened Hebrew form of the word YHWH.
From Quiz: The Rastafarians
Answer: the souls of their ancestors
Many Inuit look for their ancestors in the Northern Lights. They believe the departed dance in the skies. But there are also negative myths about the lights. If someone sings or whistles while the lights were moving about the sky, it is considered an invitation for the spirit of death to come and cut off your head.
From Quiz: Inuit Lore and Mythology
Answer: Persia (modern Iran)
Zoroastrianism was founded by Zoroaster, or Zarathushtra, around the 7th century BCE. Zarathushtra means "he of the golden light" in Greek. Zoroastrians believe that life is a battle between good and evil.
From Quiz: Zoroastrianism
Answer: Roman Catholicism
According to 2001 census data, more than 40% of Canadians identify themselves as Roman Catholic.
From Quiz: Religion in Canada
Answer: Paul Twitchell
Paul Twitchell was the founder of Eckankar, while Darwin Gross and Harold Klemp subsequently became the succeeding Living ECK masters. An historic Eckankar teacher, Gakko, is believed by Eckists to have been Venusian or come from the planet Venus.
From Quiz: Eckankar
Answer: Volcanoes
Pele is the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. She is also considered the goddess of lightning, fire, dance and violence. When any of these occur in Hawaii, think of Pele. Pele is often seen dancing in her lava.
From Quiz: Hawaiian Goddess: Pele
Answer: Irenaeus, of Lyon
This information comes to us from Irenaeus's writings against Gnosticism. Although the Gnostics left many writings, they left but little to explain their beliefs. It's kind of ironic that much of what we know of the group comes from its biggest detractor!
From Quiz: ...According to the Gnostics
Answer: pious gentiles
B'nai Noach is Hebrew for children or descendants of Noah. They are also called righteous gentiles.
From Quiz: How much do you Noah?
Answer: Kansas
From Quiz: The Flying Spaghetti Monster
Answer: Jah
Jah is everything which is good in the world, a name derived from the Old Testament's name for God, Jahve.
From Quiz: Rastafarianism
Answer: March 21
Naw-Rúz, which is the vernal equinox, is also the first day of the Iranian calendar, where it is usually spelled as Norouz. In Iran, the day of Naw-Rúz is determined when the equinox actually occurs, which can be on March 20, March 21, or March 22, and determines the calendar for that year. Outside of Iran, the holy day is fixed to the Gregorian date.
From Quiz: Bahá'í Holy Days and Festivals
Answer: Ron Hubbard
Described by his followers as a "writer and a humanitarian", Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (1911 - 1986) was a writer of both pulp and Science Fiction in the U.S. and a "professional in dozens of fields". He first became well known for his book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health", and the principles of Dianetics are fundamental to the creation of Scientology.
His resume is amazing, or would be if it were true. However the disparity between his accounts of his exploits in the Second World War and official Navy records throws doubt on many of his other claims. (He even claimed to have been awarded medals that never existed.)
Interestingly enough, in the late 1940s he was quoted as saying, "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." ("What is Scientology?" - reprinted from "Reader's Digest").
From Quiz: Scientology
Answer: Reverend Steve Galindo
The Church of Ed Wood's fundamental rule is that you should follow your own ontos. Your ontos is everything that makes you, you! Ed Wood used the disgust for his transvestism as an allegory for all illogical bigotry/fears in his magnus opus "Glen or Glenda".
From Quiz: Holy Wood
Answer: Japan
Shinto is the oldest known religion in Japan and is considered to be the country's indigenous faith. Although no-one knows for certain, it is estimated that it originated during the Yayoi Culture which flourished between 300BC and 300CE. It has no recognised founder, but developed as a way of protecting the country's traditional beliefs from the influence of Buddhism which was introduced to Japan around the 6th century.
It is the largest religion in Japan, although it does not require followers to declare themselves. The name, Shinto, arises from the combination of two kanji, the characters used in Japan's system of writing, 'shin' which means gods or spirits and 'to' which means path or way. In this way, Shinto is translated as "Way of the Gods".
From Quiz: Shinto - The Way of the Gods
Answer: Maui's fish
When Maui and his brothers went out fishing, Maui caught a giant fish. He pulled and pulled his line until the huge fish surfaced. According to legend, this fish became the North Island. The rivers and mountains are said to be the cuts made in the fish's flesh whilst his brothers tried to kill the fish, even after Maui told them not to. The Maori name for the North Island is Te Ika-a-Maui (The Fish of Maui.) As a punishment for cutting up the fish, the cuts remained forever, leaving mountains, plains and rivers in the land fish. If it were not for the brothers, legend has it the land would be smooth and flat.
From Quiz: Mighty Maui
Answer: His father
His dad died when he was three, leaving his mom to raise the family. It's hard to imagine losing a parent at the age of three.
From Quiz: Confucianism
Answer: Amaterasu
The full name of the sun goddess is Amaterasu Omikami, one of the rare instances in world myth where the sun is personified as female.
From Quiz: Japanese Goddess of the Sun
Answer: Neither exactly reproduces the sound.
Translating Chinese pronunciations into English spellings is hard stuff; spelling it as 'Taoism' or 'Daoism' is perfectly acceptable, because neither letter truly captures the original sound. The Chinese word begins with an non-aspirated T, a sound which is not present in English and which sounds like a T or a D to native English speakers. Thanks to alison_lb for this clarification.
From Quiz: Don't Know Nothin' About Taoism
Answer: Recognized some formerly excommunicated bishops
When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) brought the Peoples Republic of China to fruition in 1949, all religions came under intense scrutiny by the government. The state did not recognize the declarations and appointments by the Pope and local Bishops. This was a time of oppression for the practicing Catholics and clergy if they were unapproved by the state.
While decades passed, many letters and visits occurred but China still wanted to control Papal appointees. In 2018, during the time of Pope Francis, an agreement was made that allowed China to appoint clergy, but the Holy See had final authority. But soon after, the Chinese government essentially went against the agreement by not recognizing the Holy See's approval. The agreement was to be renewed every two years. While full religious freedom was not achieved, the Catholic church felt that it was a step in the right direction by having open communication with the Chinese government.
Jaknginger appointed this question into the PR Red Crew's quiz.
From Quiz: Religion in China
Answer: It is merged from two (or more) religions
Dating back to the 6th century CE, when Buddhism was introduced to Japan from China, there was an amalgamation of these two belief systems. This is, however, disputed by some scholars, who contend that Shinto arose from Buddhism during the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, the two religions were intertwined to such an extent that Buddhist temples were alongside Shinto shrines with worship of both Buddhas and kami. One of the linking aspects was that like the worshippers, the kami were needing to be "freed" through Buddhism. During the Meiji Restoration, which commenced in 1868, there was an edict, the Shinbutsu Hanzenrei, that formally separated the two religions - which created significant social upheaval and some persecution of the Buddhists. However, despite this attempt, syncretization prevailed. Buddhism itself is syncretic, with aspects and gods drawn from different religions.
Most homes maintain a Buddhist altar and a Shinto shrine. The two religions have existed in a syncretic, even harmonious manner, even when Shinto became "state Shinto" in 1868. After WWII the new constitution allowed religious freedom, but most households continued to practise both.
This question was pondered upon by Phoenix Rising member MikeMaster, who is enjoying learning more about how syncretism has influenced religion through the ages.
From Quiz: Divine Wind: An Introduction to Shinto
Answer: The People of Monotheism
The Arabic word "tawhid" refers to unity, specifically of God. Therefore, the Druze believe themselves to be the people who believe in the unitarian existence of God, having a belief in the one alone and denying all other beliefs for themselves. Another term that the Druze refer to themselves as is "Al-Muwahhidun" which has a similar meaning to "Ahl al-Tawhid".
From Quiz: Mysterious Ways
Answer: Cairo
It began in 1017 AD during the reign of the sixth Fatimid caliph, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. Al-Hakim began the Divine Call to convert to the religion that year, which caused riots in Cairo. Then Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad then began to spread the religion.
From Quiz: The Druze Religion
Answer: Poland Is the only country out of the eight with Roman Catholicism exceeding 90% of the population
There are two important factors in church denomination in the region around Poland:
1. The suppression of the church and organised religion as a whole by the Soviet regime in the cold war era has meant the region is seen as one of the most irreligious regions in the world, Poland being the exception.
2. Poland is the centre of Catholicism in central Europe:
- Germany is a state almost equally divided between the irreligious, the Catholics and the Protestant Lutherans. However the Catholic majority are by far on the eastern side of the country near where the (present) borders of Poland are. (The borders of Poland have changed radically over the years - both with Germany on its west and with Russia to the east).
- The Czech republic is one of the most irreligious countries in the world with practicing Christians (mainly Protestants) a small minority.
-Slovakia, once part of Czechoslovakia, by contrast has a sizable christian population and a Catholic propensity concentrated near the Polish border
-Lithuania is predominantly Roman Catholic once you allow for the irreligious component. This is not surprising, given Poland and Lithuania were the same country (as a commonwealth or dual state which was a bi-confederation of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch, both King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania) from 1569-1795.
- Russia, Ukraine and Belarus have sizable Christian populations given the large proportion of irreligious people. The predominant religion is Eastern Orthodoxy with Belarus having a significant Catholic population concentrated near its Polish border.
From Quiz: Religion in Poland
Answer: West Africa
The Yoruba religion was brought to Cuba by West African slaves, particularly the Lucemi people of Nigeria. This religion was banned by the Christian slave owners, so the followers created a hybrid system which appeared to worship Roman Catholic saints to appease masters whilst practising their own religion.
The Yoruba religion had unique customs, including ancestor communication through trance and divination ideology, animal sacrifice, sacred drumming and story-line dances. By the appearance of worshipping saints on their sacred days, slave owners believed they were adopting Roman Catholic beliefs when in fact this was a mask for being able to practice their original beliefs.
Vodun (meaning spirit in the Fon and Ewe languages) has similar beliefs to Santeria, having originated in a neighbouring part of the world in West Africa. Vodun (also known as Voodoo) has its own followers in Cuba, but in far fewer numbers than in Haiti, where this religion is quite prevalent.
From Quiz: Religion in Cuba
Answer: There is no holy book
Candomblé is a religion of oral traditions and therefore has no holy book, although efforts are now being made to record practices.
From Quiz: Candomblé
