Rel 198 - 04
Rel 198
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Essay
Exam Questions for all 3 exams of Fall 2004 To prepare for the exams you will need first to be clear on all major concepts, then create an orderly outline of how to explain the ideas or materials, and then select some clear and detailed illustrations wherever that is relevant. I strongly recommend creating a series of topic sentences to memorize. My goal is to increase your understanding of the materials to the point where you can explain them clearly to someone else. Do not write as though for me, the instructor. Write for intelligent high school seniors who are unfamiliar with the information and analyses and who therefore need to have everything explained clearly and illustrated well. For each exam one questions will be selected by a draw of the card for all to answer. You will each individually then select one of the other questions to answer also. REL 198: Essay questions for Exam #1. Context: The introduction to the textbook establishes a few background ideas for the book as a whole by describing ideas about the nature of religion (and unreligion) as part of human development both individually and through history. Chs. 2 through 4 then review the basic evolution of ideas about the mysteries of life from primitive beginnings up through the establishment of the universalist religions with belief in a single Ultimate. All this provides a framework for subsequent chapters. The essay questions are intended to provide a chance to review this framework in some detail so that it is familiar enough to be useful in understanding later chapters. (There will also be 20 multiple choice questions on the exam.) Questions 1. The introduction describes religion as a courageous response to mystery. Explain what this means, describing also the alternatives of agnosticism and atheism, and how because of our peculiar human consciousness mystery is present even when we may try to ignore it. [You may use material from other chapters to illustrate or explain further.] 2. Describe animism and polytheism in some detail, showing how aspects of each is related to cultural-economic forms of life. Include a description of ? and illustrate clearly ? how much overall order is perceived in the universe by animism and polytheism respectively and how the forms of stories they tell differ from each other. [This is primarily on ch. 1 but some ideas from ch. 2 and 3 will be helpful also.] 3. Illustrate the differences between religious and non-religious explanations of religion by describing well at least two instances of each, explaining explicitly what makes them religious or non-religious. Argue for or against at least one instance of each (to show your understanding of them: you can take any position you like). [This is primarily on ch. 2, but you may find relevant material in other chapters.] 4. The axial age was the time of origin of many "universalist" religions. Explain clearly and specifically what is universalist about each of the following: Western monotheisms, Hindu beliefs, Buddhism, and Taoism. Explain why this full universalism probably should not be attributed to early Zoroastrianism and the earliest beliefs of the Israelites. [This questions draws heavily from the historical material of ch. 3, though the beginning of ch. 4 may be of some help.] 5. Describe the "ultimate questions," and explain what it means to say that these ultimate questions which arise from the experiences of life's limitations have led some religions beyond belief in a Merely Perfect Person to the affirmation of the reality of an incomprehensible Ultimate. [This is focused on ch. 4, but material in ch. 3 will be of help also.] Questions for exam #2
1. Describe how primitive and archaic religions characteristically deal with the three salvation issues -- dealing with this world's limitations, with the need to belong and relations among people, and with a need for a worthwhile identity. (chs 5-6-7) Use the "After Death" or Apocalyptic readings (Deut, Dan. Matt, Rev) to illustrate archaic ideas. 2. Describe how classic or historic religions typically deal with the three forms of salvation issues -- the world's limitations, the need to belong, and the need for a worthwhile identity (chs. 5-6-7) Use the handout with the selection from Plato's Phaedo to illustrate the historic sense of the world's limitations, and the disagreement between Lewis and Huxley on how to achieve final happiness. 3. Describe some significant moral issue (assisted suicide, or stealing food to save a life, or . . . .). Show how taboo, allegiance, universal laws and basic value moralities each might analyze the pros and cons of what to do, in such a way as to make clear what each of these moralities is like. (ch. 8) Briefly connect these four types of morality to Kohlberg's stages of moral development. 4. Invent an imaginary person and describe specific instances in that person's life through which the person is guided by a) at least two different kinds of leaders, b) some sacred text, c) a particular interpretation of that text, d) a specific ritual, and a specific symbol. (chs. 9-10) Explain something of the difficulties of interpretation, and use the reading selection on "bida" to illustrate some aspect of this. 5. Describe the differences between a) systematic theology, b) natural theology, and c) faith as a reasonable commitment, giving a specific example in each case. (ch. 11) Use Aquinas' 3rd proof for God's existence and the reading from James to illustrate b) and c). Questions for exam #3
[final exam] 2. Describe the "modern" notion of individual autonomy -- what it is, its potential value and its risks; and describe how the method of modern science may have led to increased appreciation of autonomy. (ch. 13) How does Sartre's position go further even than agnosticism? (ch. 13) Use ideas from the selection from Sartre's writings to illustrate. 3. Explain how liberation theologies (note the plural) (ch. 14) represent a response both to Marx's claim that religions hurt human well-being in this world (ch. 12), and also to the modern appreciation of pluralism and openness to change. Use ideas from the brief excerpt from Marx to illustrate his thought, and ideas from Gutierrez to illustrate his ideas. 4. Compare and contrast a) Fowler's 4th stage [which is called "individuative-reflective"], which relies on systematic rational analysis, b) Postmodernism, including its response to "Enlightenment rationalism," and c) Fowler's 5th, "conjunctive" stage. (ch. 15) 5. If you were to engage in an academic evaluation of the relative validity and value of primitive, archaic, historic, modern and late modern forms of religion, which standards would you use. Be sure to refer to the section on faith styles and criteria for belief, and also address the issue of the impact on beliefs and practices on people's lives. (Epilogue). |
