General Awareness

World Religions and Beliefs

4,025 Questions

World religions and beliefs encompass core theological principles, religious art, and the influence of spirituality on decision making. This topic is essential for general awareness and civics. Practice this set to master comparative religion facts.

Religious principlesTheological conceptsAnimism beliefsEconomic views on religionSpirituality and gratitude

World Religions and Beliefs Questions

Multiple choice

Inter-religious prayer means

  1. to create communal harmony

  2. to create unity among all religions

  3. to respect other religion

  4. God is living in all creatures
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Inter-religious prayer means respect other religions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the world's oldest religion?

  1. Judaism

  2. Islam

  3. Hinduism

  4. Christianity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Hinduism is widely considered the world's oldest living major religion, with origins tracing back to at least 2000-1500 BCE in the Indus Valley civilization. While Judaism is also very old (around 1500-1200 BCE), Hinduism's roots are older. Islam (7th century CE) and Christianity (1st century CE) emerged much later.

Multiple choice

What is Tajkir?

  1. A critique of Quran

  2. A kind of religious sermon

  3. Royal stamp

  4. The highest rank in the army
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Tajkir refers to a religious sermon or expository discourse on Islamic teachings, typically delivered in mosques or religious gatherings. It involves explanation and interpretation of religious texts, unlike a critique (which would be critical analysis). The term is associated with Islamic scholarly traditions of explaining religious concepts to the community.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose appropriate meaning of the words in bold as per their contextual use.

Religions provide ethical paradigms according to which one may lead one's life.

  1. reasonings

  2. concepts

  3. examples

  4. ideals
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 Paradigm means a prototype or perfect example, i.e. ideal. This meaning fits the context. Example is incorrect as it does not fit the context. Religion cannot provide an example but can provide ideals to follow.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the option that fills in the blanks most suitably (in the same order).

The ________ of religion expressed by Epicures and Lucretius is not altogether easy to understand, if one accepts the conventional accounts of the ________ of the Greek religion and ritual.

  1. symbolism, enigma

  2. adulation, interrogation

  3. hatred, cheerfulness

  4. trauma, grandness

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(3) is most meaningful as it points out that given the 'cheerfulness' of conventional accounts of their religion, the philosophers 'hatred' is what is surprising. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Zend Avesta is the holy book of

  1. Christians

  2. Hindus

  3. Muslim

  4. Parsis

  5. Sikhs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A Parsi is a member of Zoroastrian community in India. Today, very few Parsis are left in India. Their holy book is Zend Avesta. They go to fire temple for worshipping. The fire temple is also called the Agiary.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, an incomplete statement is provided which is most logically completed by one of the given options. Select the proper option.

The fundamental tenets are the same in all religions,

  1. but none has been able to serve mankind

  2. except that some tenets have been written down while others have been laid down orally

  3. but god-men have interpreted them separately

  4. only the rituals are different
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) Religions are the same at core; only the outer rituals are different.

Multiple choice

The term secularism' implies that

  1. Parliament should support religions

  2. State and religion are inseparable

  3. State does not recognise any religion as a State religion

  4. People arc free to worship State recognised religion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Secularism in the Indian context means the State does not recognize any religion as the official 'State religion' and maintains neutrality toward all religions. Unlike some Western secular models that may separate church and state more strictly, Indian secularism allows state support for all religions equally (principled distance) while not privileging any single faith as the state religion.

Multiple choice

The main sources of Muslim law are Holy Quran, Sunna & Ahadhis and Ijmaa.

  1. True

  2. False

  3. Partly true and partly false

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The primary sources of Islamic (Muslim) law are: 1) The Quran (the holy book), 2) Sunnah (traditions/practices of Prophet Muhammad), and 3) Ijma (consensus of Islamic scholars/jurists). While Hadith (recorded sayings of the Prophet) are technically part of Sunnah, they're often listed separately for clarity. The statement correctly identifies the main sources.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts:

  1. India has given birth to many great religions, and religion in India has never been a static concept.
  2. Among the various religions practiced in India, five are said to have Indian origin. These are - Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Sikhism.

Which of the above is/are true?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Religion bound ancient civilizations and culture in India. Religion began as a set of beliefs regarding nature and purpose of the Universe and gradually became organized system of belief binding people together into close knit groups with religion as their identity. Religion in India has never been static; it has continued to evolve through various movements, ideas and responses to those ideas. India has given birth to four religions - Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Others which have been 'imported' from abroad are Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Bahai faith.