Religion and Culture #2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Nag Hammadi Library

Written in Coptic, these ancient Christian writings represent a unique example of the dynamic nature of the Christian religion prior to the canonization of the New Testament. Within the Nag Hammadi library are many of the 'gnostic' texts including "The Gospel of Thomas" and the "Gospel of Phillip."

Answer: Kukai

Kukai (774-835 CE), also known as Kobo daishi, established esoteric Buddhism in Japan. In 804 CE, inspired by his reading of the "Mahavairocana Sutra," he traveled to China to learn Sanskrit and seek out teachers who might help him to understand the teachings of the sutra.

In a mere two years, Kukai learned Sanskrit and became a master of esoteric Buddhism. Subsequently, he returned to Japan in 806 CE to establish the Shingon tradition.

Answer: Pierre Bourdieu

This quotation is from "The Logic of Practice" (1990). Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002) was a French sociologist and one of the most influential sociologists of our time. While Bourdieu regarded religion with suspicion, he also regarded it as a fundamental part the "habitus" of individuals and of societies.

Answer: All of these

All of these are syncretic religions. Christianity began within the Judaic tradition, but was then transformed as it spread throughout the Roman Empire; both through the subsequent military/colonizing encounters with other peoples and through more peaceful missions. Christianity has changed and adapted through cultural encounters. Likewise Buddhism combines elements of traditional Indian philosophy and belief systems with the beliefs and practices of China, Tibet, Japan, et. al. Vodun combines African, French Catholic, and indigenous Haitian religious practices and beliefs. Islam is also syncretic in that its members incorporate their own traditions and values into a belief system to create regional or "denominational" groups. All of these religions are "globalizing" in that they all, in their own way, have global influences.

Answer: Jihad

Shahada is the testament of faith and dedication to Allah and Islam. Salat is the prayer toward Mecca five times a day. Saum is the fast from dawn 'til dusk that occurs during Ramadan. The other two pillars are Zakat (charity) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca that duplicates the ritual of Abraham).

Answer: Noah

Genesis 9:20-27 states: "Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard. He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.

Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, "Cursed be Canaan; lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers." He also said, "Blessed by the LORD my God be Shem; and let Canaan be his slave. May God make space for Japheth, and let him live in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his slave." According to David M. Goldenberg's "The Curse of Ham" and Stephen R. Haynes's "Noah's Curse," this passage was influential in the justification of the American enslavement of Africans.

Answer: South-east Asia

Theravada, or "The Way of the Elders," is a form of Buddhism that is mostly practiced in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, and Cambodia. It is characterized by its historical tradition, its monastic system, and its emphasis on reason and practice as the path to enlightenment.

Answer: Soren Kierkegaard

Kierkegaard (1813-1855), while attacked by the Christian community for his criticism of the official religious officials of Denmark, was both an Existentialist philosopher and a Christian theologian.

Answer: Atman

According to scholar Huston Smith, the Atman is "a reservoir of being that never dies, is never exhausted, and is unrestricted in consciousness and bliss."

Answer: Zhuang Zi

Zhuang Zi was a Chinese philosopher from the 4th century B.C.E. His eponymous book tells the story: "Once Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuangzi.

But he didn't know if he was Zhuangzi who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. Between Zhuangzi and a butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things."