Got to Get You Into My Life Trivia Quiz

Answer: Shinto

A number of Japanese towns incorporate the name Hachiman (or its alternative, Yahata) within their names. Some towns were even built around the shrine to the god. Hachiman is often called the Japanese god of war, but that is not quite correct. Hachiman is the "patron" of warriors and, as a result, is the target of worship from most samurai. Hachiman's name means the "God of Eight Banners" and he is seen as the divine "protector of Japan".

Answer: Hinduism

The Om, sometimes pronounced "Aum", in Hinduism, is a symbol of the ultimate consciousness and the soul and is usually uttered as a primordial sound. Yes, it is also present in Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism, but in Hinduism it is their most sacred of mantras.

In addition, in Hindu writings it can be found at the start and finish of texts and it is uttered during prayers and sanskaras (rites of passage).

Answer: Bahai Faith

Using the Abjad system of Isopsephy (adding up the number values of a single word written in Arabic to form a single number), the word Bahá' is equal to the number nine. As a consequence, the number nine figures prominently in the religious symbolism of the Bahai Faith and, the most common representation of this is the nine-pointed star.

However, this star is not "the" symbol for the faith, that honour belongs to the five-pointed star, nor is it significant in the Bahai teachings. It is, however, an emblem that the faith regularly uses because of its connection to the concepts of unity and perfection.

Answer: Judaism

The Star of David has come to be seen by most as the symbol of the Jewish people. Its hexagram shape is created by the joining of two equilateral triangles and it is also known as the "Shield of David". Borrowed from Arabic literature, the Star of David, stamped itself as the Jewish symbol when it was emblazoned on a flag for the First Zionist Congress, held in Basel, Switzerland, in 1897.

Answer: Sikhism

The construction of the current Khandra dates back to the early 1900s. It shows a khanda (a double-edged sword) running through its centre and piercing a chakram (a circular throwing weapon) and it is embraced on each side by kirpans (single edge swords).

These latter swords represent the spiritual (the sword on the left) and the political (right) sovereignty of the Sikh faith. These two swords are, respectively, known as Piri and Miri, and must always remain in balance.

Answer: Buddhism

The Dharma Chakra also has firm links with both Hinduism and Jainism, hence the addition to the question of the "Path of Enlightenment", to draw a firm line toward Buddhism. The Dharma Chakra, alternatively known as the Dharma Wheel, is the most significant symbol of Buddhism as it is seen as the vehicle that is able to cut through the illusions and/or obstacles that hinder those seeking the Path to Enlightenment.

It is one of the oldest symbols of the faith and it is said to have been put into motion with the deliverance of Buddha's first sermon.

Answer: Islam

This translates as "the testimony". The Shahada is an Islamic creed that dictates as follows: "There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God."

It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and, in that simple statement, it declares the belief in the oneness of God and that Mohammad is his true prophet.

Answer: Jainism

Ahimsa means non-injury or, non-violence. It represents the most important of obligations within Jainism. Suffice to say it is one of its cornerstones of their faith, so much so, that it is a non-negotiable condition when seeking to free one's self from the cycle of reincarnation.

The obligation is not merely restricted to the physical harm to other creatures but also the thought or the desire to inflict some form of violence. You may have noted that the extension was to "creatures" and not restricted to human beings. Accordingly, Jainism promotes the culture of vegetarianism.

Answer: Christianity

"Fish" is the common description of what is correctly called the "ichthys". It is made up of two arcs. The left ends meet at a single point while the right ends extend a little beyond their intersection to create a shape that resembles a fish. The symbol was used by Christians, at one point, to secretly identify churches, people or meeting places. The secrecy was required to avoid persecution by the Romans. The fish is symbolic in Christian teachings and makes many appearances, particularly in the Gospels. Amongst others you can find:

-Jesus describing his apostles as "fishers of men"
-Peter paying a tax by casting a line and catching a fish with a coin in its mouth, sufficient to meet the levy.
-The feeding of the five thousand was completed with loaves and fishes.
-Jesus being offered a meal of fish upon his resurrection.

Answer: Wicca

The common description of the Pentacle is that of a pentagram (a five-pointed star) within a circle. This has been one of the most powerful of symbols throughout history and, whilst the pentagram has collected some baggage along the way as a possible representation of evil, the Pentacle has always been seen as a protector (talisman) against the forces of evil.

The pentacle has been adopted by Wiccans as an altar tool where it is used to represent the element of earth and used in the cleansing ceremonies of sacred items.