ASU REL 100 Final Questions And Answers With
Updated Solutions
What is Atheism? ANS ±Absence of belief in the existence of god/gods
-Remember: Atheism does not necessarily equal non-religious (e.g: some Buddhists and Hindus are atheists)
-not lack of religion
Is Atheism a modern idea? ANS -No, Hindu and Buddhist atheism, Greek skepticism
-Early christians were called atheists because they refused to worship the roman gods
-Always has been a mockery of religious belief
Is Atheism a religion? What does Prothero think about that? ANS According to Prothero it is a religion.
But it is more of a belief.
How would you distinguish between what Prothero calls "Angry Atheism" (or "New Atheism") and what he
calls "Friendly Atheism?" ANS Angry Atheism attacks the ideas and individuals for all religions in the
same way they claim religious people do.
Friendly Atheism will still accept a person for being religious and respects it
Why do scholars use the term "new religious movements" for what are sometimes popularly called "cults" or
"sects?" ANS They are neutral terms because cult carries a bad image
What are the general characteristics of new religious movements? ANS -They occur during times of rapid
social change
-usually begin with a charismatic founder
-sometimes create new scriptures
-sometimes based on an apocalyptic event
-overtime become more established and create hierarchy
-sometimes but rarely, violent
What are four forms of new religious movements? ANS 1. Offshoots of older religions:
-Mormonism (Christianity) and Hare Krishna (Hinduism)
, 2. Universal Religions:
-Baha'i
3. Ethnic-based religions:
-Rastafarian
4. Nature/ "New Age" spirituality:
Neo-Paganism, Wicca, indigenous spiritual traditions
-Draw from: spiritism/ channeling, nature-reverence, and universalism
Atman ANS Hinduism, Eternal self/soul "God within"
Brahman ANS Hinduism, Supreme reality or principle that underlies all things; the Absolute.
Karma (Hinduism) ANS "Action"; sometimes specifically action which leads to rebirth
Samsara (hinduism) ANS Hinduism, The repeating cycle of birth, death, rebirth; the cyclical process of
reincarnation
Dharma (Hinduism) ANS "Duty"; right conduct; one's proper path in life
Yoga and types of yoga ANS Hinduism, part of achieving Moksha,
1. Philosophical wisdom (jnana yoga): "the discipline of wisdom"
2. Rituals and sacrifices (karma yoga): "the discipline of action"
-understood more broadly as following one's dharma (duty or path in life)
3. Love of the Gods (bhakti yoga): "the discipline of devotion"
Vedas ANS Hinduism, the most ancient scriptures of Hinduism (including the oldest section, the Rig Veda)
Buddha ANS Buddhism, "Awakened One" or "Enlightened One" (a title, not a name)
Duhkha ANS Buddhism, "disease"; the suffering which is characteristic of all material existence.
Updated Solutions
What is Atheism? ANS ±Absence of belief in the existence of god/gods
-Remember: Atheism does not necessarily equal non-religious (e.g: some Buddhists and Hindus are atheists)
-not lack of religion
Is Atheism a modern idea? ANS -No, Hindu and Buddhist atheism, Greek skepticism
-Early christians were called atheists because they refused to worship the roman gods
-Always has been a mockery of religious belief
Is Atheism a religion? What does Prothero think about that? ANS According to Prothero it is a religion.
But it is more of a belief.
How would you distinguish between what Prothero calls "Angry Atheism" (or "New Atheism") and what he
calls "Friendly Atheism?" ANS Angry Atheism attacks the ideas and individuals for all religions in the
same way they claim religious people do.
Friendly Atheism will still accept a person for being religious and respects it
Why do scholars use the term "new religious movements" for what are sometimes popularly called "cults" or
"sects?" ANS They are neutral terms because cult carries a bad image
What are the general characteristics of new religious movements? ANS -They occur during times of rapid
social change
-usually begin with a charismatic founder
-sometimes create new scriptures
-sometimes based on an apocalyptic event
-overtime become more established and create hierarchy
-sometimes but rarely, violent
What are four forms of new religious movements? ANS 1. Offshoots of older religions:
-Mormonism (Christianity) and Hare Krishna (Hinduism)
, 2. Universal Religions:
-Baha'i
3. Ethnic-based religions:
-Rastafarian
4. Nature/ "New Age" spirituality:
Neo-Paganism, Wicca, indigenous spiritual traditions
-Draw from: spiritism/ channeling, nature-reverence, and universalism
Atman ANS Hinduism, Eternal self/soul "God within"
Brahman ANS Hinduism, Supreme reality or principle that underlies all things; the Absolute.
Karma (Hinduism) ANS "Action"; sometimes specifically action which leads to rebirth
Samsara (hinduism) ANS Hinduism, The repeating cycle of birth, death, rebirth; the cyclical process of
reincarnation
Dharma (Hinduism) ANS "Duty"; right conduct; one's proper path in life
Yoga and types of yoga ANS Hinduism, part of achieving Moksha,
1. Philosophical wisdom (jnana yoga): "the discipline of wisdom"
2. Rituals and sacrifices (karma yoga): "the discipline of action"
-understood more broadly as following one's dharma (duty or path in life)
3. Love of the Gods (bhakti yoga): "the discipline of devotion"
Vedas ANS Hinduism, the most ancient scriptures of Hinduism (including the oldest section, the Rig Veda)
Buddha ANS Buddhism, "Awakened One" or "Enlightened One" (a title, not a name)
Duhkha ANS Buddhism, "disease"; the suffering which is characteristic of all material existence.
