History of Religion

The passage deals with an issue that is

Directions: Answer the question based on the following passage.

Edict of Restitution from 1629 was Ferdinand-II, Holy Roman Emperor’s attempt to restore the religious and territorial settlement after the Peace of Augsburg (1555). The "Ecclesiastical Reservation" forbade the secularisation of Catholic land after 1555. However, during the decades of weak emperors, princes had secularised Catholic land simply because it was so valuable and they had got away with it as no emperor was powerful enough to enforce the "Ecclesiastical Reservation".

The main proposal of the "Edict of Restitution" was to ensure that the "Ecclesiastical Reservation" was enforced and it affected the secularised archbishoprics of Bremen and Magdeburg, 12 bishoprics and over 100 religious houses. The Edict resulted in a great transfer of power and property away from the Protestants to the Catholics. Thousands of Protestants had to leave where they lived and go to states that were Protestant.

The greatest impact of this was in north-east Germany. It was in this area that Ferdinand’s power was at its weakest, so this move was very understandable and potentially very rewarding for him. Ferdinand appointed Imperial administrators to take over the secularised states/cities. By doing this, he was re-establishing Imperial authority to an area that had enjoyed freedom from Imperial rule for nearly 100 years. The threat was implicit to the German princes. It was a move that alarmed the French - though Ferdinand was well within his rights to do what he did.

The German princes could do nothing. They had seen the Coalition destroyed and Wallenstein had a massive army in the field - 134,000 troops - to enforce Imperial authority if required.

Ironically, Wallenstein disliked the Edict as it trespassed into the region his considered his own but he played his part for the emperor to the full. He stated that "he would teach the Electors manners. They must be dependent on the emperor, not the emperor on them." Ferdinand would have approved of such words. The response of the princes was to group behind Maximillian of Bavaria to pressurise Ferdinand into dismissing Wallenstein.

Their chance came in 1630 when Ferdinand had to call a meeting of the Electors because he wanted his son, also called Ferdinand, elected King of the Romans. Ironically, the man with so much apparent power, had to rely, by law, on the votes of the Electors to maintain his dynasty in power. The meeting was held in Regensburg. Ferdinand also hoped to persuade the Electors to approve greater Imperial involvement in the wars that were being fought in Europe.

Directions: For the given question, select one entry for the blank from the given choices, to best complete the text.

The late Tudor and early Stuart polity was held together by careful negotiation, qualified tolerance and mobile networks of allegiance. What's remarkable is not how ________ the European society was, but on the contrary, how accommodating.

Select the sentence in the second paragraph that points towards Knights of Columbus being an organization being deeply rooted in religion despite being a philanthropic body.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

The Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney founded the order of the Knights of Columbus in 1881 at a time when America was witnessing a renewed interest in the intrepid explorer who had discovered the country. Founded ten years prior to the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering America, this organization, by its very name sought to bridge the ideological gap between the Irish American Catholics who founded the fraternity, and the immigrant Catholics of other nationalities. Another reason for the formation of this establishment was that the Catholics were either barred from other fraternities like the Freemasons, or were asked to give up their religious roots before being considered for membership. Father McGivney believed that Catholic belief and fraternization were not mutually exclusive, and that one did not have to give up his faith to do good for the community.
The fraternity works on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity, the principles that were the very bedrock of its foundation. Knights of Columbus organize blood donation camps, raise money for charity, and offer annuity and insurance to millions in the nations that they operate in. According to one estimate, the Knights gave away more than one billion dollars in direct charity and through millions of manhours of volunteer work in 2010. Also, the Order takes special interest in supporting those with physical and mental disabilities, and has given away nearly $400 million towards the cause in the last three decades. Raising money for papal edicts is another focus area for the Order. The Order also helps those pursuing studies in theology to cover part of their tuition and other expenses. What started off as a concentrated effort to help its members have a fall back option in the time of ill health, and to replace the economic loss to a family in the event of one of its member brother dying, the Order is now ranked among Fortune 1000 companies in terms of annual turnover.

As per the passage, which of the following CANNOT be true about the Knights of Columbus Order?

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

The Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney founded the order of the Knights of Columbus in 1881 at a time when America was witnessing a renewed interest in the intrepid explorer who had discovered the country. Founded ten years prior to the 400th anniversary of Columbus discovering America, this organization, by its very name sought to bridge the ideological gap between the Irish American Catholics who founded the fraternity, and the immigrant Catholics of other nationalities. Another reason for the formation of this establishment was that the Catholics were either barred from other fraternities like the Freemasons, or were asked to give up their religious roots before being considered for membership. Father McGivney believed that Catholic belief and fraternization were not mutually exclusive, and that one did not have to give up his faith to do good for the community.
The fraternity works on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity, the principles that were the very bedrock of its foundation. Knights of Columbus organize blood donation camps, raise money for charity, and offer annuity and insurance to millions in the nations that they operate in. According to one estimate, the Knights gave away more than one billion dollars in direct charity and through millions of manhours of volunteer work in 2010. Also, the Order takes special interest in supporting those with physical and mental disabilities, and has given away nearly $400 million towards the cause in the last three decades. Raising money for papal edicts is another focus area for the Order. The Order also helps those pursuing studies in theology to cover part of their tuition and other expenses. What started off as a concentrated effort to help its members have a fall back option in the time of ill health, and to replace the economic loss to a family in the event of one of its member brother dying, the Order is now ranked among Fortune 1000 companies in terms of annual turnover.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows it.

Historians have usually believed that the British introduced Christianity in India. But recent findings by archaeologists clearly show that the advent of Christianity possibly pre-dates the arrival of British in India.

Which of the following provides the best evidence for the author’s conclusion?

Directions: In the following question, four statements are provided. These statements form a coherent paragraph when properly arranged. Select the alternative representing the proper and logical sequencing of these statements.

A. Quite early on, the name catechesis was given to the totality of the Churchs efforts to make disciples, to help men believe that Jesus is the Son of God so that believing they might have life in his name, and to educate and instruct them in this life, thus building up the body of Christ. B. This catechism aims at presenting an organic synthesis of the essential and fundamental contents of Catholic doctrine, as regards both faith and morals, in the light of the Second Vatican Council and the whole of the Churchs Tradition. C. Its principal sources are the Sacred Scriptures, the Fathers of the Church, the liturgy, and the Church's Magisterium. It is intended to serve as a point of reference for the catechisms or compendia that are composed in the various countries. D. Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life.