Study Questions for WW , "Primal Religions" Novak
1. How many religions does the anthropologist Wallace estimate to have existed since the dawn of humankind? (333)
2. How do the small-scale, pre-literate traditions we call "primal religions" transmit their sacred lore? (333)
3. Why else are these traditions called "primal"? (333)
BEGINNINGS
This section samples a number of primal creation myths. Please keep in mind that the origins of most of these myths predate the famous Jewish-Christian "Garden of Eden" myth by many thousand years.
4. First, define myth. (Not in book. Look up in a dictionary or other source.) Does your definition fit what is here being called "myth"?
5. a. What is the first thing that Io creates? (334)
b. At the top of 335, the myth says that something in particular brought the world into being. What?
c. Give one example of how Maori people imitate Io's creative activity in the activities of their daily life.
6. In the Omaha myth, are human beings considered the pinnacle of creation?
7. Sects.3 and 4 are especially charming. No questions. But do read.
8. Selections 5, 6, and 7 are indicative of the kind of religious outlook that Stone talks about in When God Was A Woman and which she believes was widespread for many thousands of years before the advent of patriarchal cultures. Judging from these three myths, what is the central aspect of this outlook?
9. In the Kagaba myth, who are the "older brothers" of human beings?
10. Did the Goddess Kuma (Yaruro myth) need a God to impregnate her?
11. a. In the Tahitian myth, does the God Ta'aroa create the universe outside himself or out of himself?
b. Why do you think the editor included the sentence with which this excerpt ends? What aspect of the Garden of Eden myth was he thinking of?
12. The introduction to the Wulamba myth briefly describes a certain ritual. What is the aim of that ritual? The Wulamba myth is amusingly bawdy. Do read.
13. The Yao myth concerning the God Mulungu is another real charmer. Don't miss it. One question: In this story, through what "sin" does humankind fall from grace, i.e., get distanced from the divine?
14. Questions for the Hopi myth:
a. With what natural object is the God Sotuknang identified? (bottom 346)
b. What is the "only thing" he asks of his creatures? (bottom 346)
c. The section called "The Primal Way" beautifully emphasizes in a number of ways one central teaching. Summarize it. (347)
RETURNING TO THE SACRED REALM
15. How do primal peoples enter that Sacred Time of Beginnings in the midst of their current lives? (Intro, 350).
16. a. What do the events of birth, marriage and death all have in common according to the Dayak people of Borneo ? (350-51)
b. Summarize the affirmation with which selection 14 closes.
17. Why, once a year, do the Dayak people allow themselves a period of open and free sexual exchange? (352)
THE SPIRIT-FILLED WORLD
18. Primal religions can usually be characterized as animistic . Look up the meaning of this word (i.e., animism ). Or, see if you can derive its meaning from what is said in sect. 17 and its intro.
THE SHAMAN
19. What is the original meaning of the word s(h)aman ?
20. How does Novak define a shaman here? (355)
Read sections 18-22 as exemplifications of this definition.
THE SACRED EARTH
21. Why do primal peoples consider the Earth, or their part of it, sacred and holy? Enjoy exemplifications of this idea in sections 26-29.
22. Section 30 is from a famous speech by Native American chief Seathl.
a. In par. 2 what difference does he note about how his people and the white man treat their ancestors?
b. What, in Seathl's view, is the difference between his God and the God of the white man?
23. Why does the Balinese priest say he can accept Jesus only as one among many other gods? (368)
24. Sections 33 and 34 may also be taken as indicative of the kind of spirituality that Stone emphasizes in WGW .
Also enjoy sections 35-39 as examples of Earth-spirituality (as opposed to otherworldly or afterlife spirituality).
25. Is Black Elk's God tribal or universal? Is that God separate from or one with his creation?
26. Jumping Mouse is a masterpiece, a universally resonant parable of the inner life, taken from the Native American tradition. Enjoy.
Study Questions for Novak's World's Wisdom , "Hinduism"
The Early Vedas
1. What ancient people were the authors of the Vedas? Where did they come from?
2. What are the Vedas?
3. What was the main ritual of Vedic religion?
4. According to Novak, were death and the afterlife central concerns of early Vedic religion?
5. Was Vedic religion a monotheism or polytheism?
6. True or False: Indra can be called a creator-god.
7. Of what natural element is Agni thought to be the divine source?
8. Novak says that the god Soma is connected to a mysterious psychotropic beverage. What does "psychotropic" mean?
9. What is the meaning of self-immolation?
10. What are the four Vedic occupational divisions (castes)?
Upanishads
11. Briefly define: samsara, karma, Brahman, moksha, Atman. (9)
12. In the Katha Upanishad (sect. 9):
a. why does Death try to bribe Nachiketas? (11)
b. Why does Nachiketas refuse the bribe? (11)
c. What two paths does Death teach about? (11-12)
d. What mistake is made by the childish, the careless and the deluded? (12)
e. Where is the Atman? (13)
f. How does a person become free of death? (13)
g. Is God inside, outside, or both? (sect. 9e)
h. How does death define yoga? (sect. 9g)
13. Note the characteristics of Brahman (sect 10a-c).
14. Who are the "two sweet friends" spoken of in 10d?
15. In 10e, the writer uses the image of rivers flowing into the ocean. What do the rivers represent? The ocean?
16. After reading 11 a-e, define OM.
17. What kind of afterlife-belief is described in 12b?
18. Selection 15 contains a story that ends with the words: "THOU ART
THAT!" What do these words signify?
Bhagavad-Gita
19. What is the central message of the Gita ?
20. At the end of selection 17 what does Arjuna the warrior seem ready to do?
21. What contrary advice does Krishna give? (18a)
22. What are Krishna's main reasons for giving this advice? (18b)
23. Why is the Atman called the universal Self?
24. Name at least 3 key features of the illumined soul (the enlightened person). Pick the ones that seem most interesting or impressive to you.)
25. The basic question for 20a--d is: what is karma yoga? You should have a very clear understanding of this.
26. What is a theophany? (selection 22).
27. Why does Ramakrishna think that saying "My religion alone is true" is a form of insanity? (25 b)
28. By what quality do we know a religion or religious teaching as true? (See "Single Obstacle, Single Aim, Many Paths under 25b).
29. What does Ramana Maharshi mean when he says that it is easier to wear shoes than to try and cover the whole world with leather? (47)
Study questions for Buddhism in WW , pages 49-77 Novak / 178
1. What is the meaning of the term "Buddha"? (49)
2. What is the Buddha's actual name? (49)
3. What is the meaning of the word "Dharma" in Buddhism? (49)
4. What things are miraculous in the account of the Buddha's birth?
(50)
5. What does the wise man predict about the Buddha's future activity?
6. What lessons does Siddhartha learn in seeing the three passing sights? (52-53)
7. Does Siddhartha withdraw from contact with sensual delights because they are wrong? If not, why does he?
8. Describe in a few words the basic content of Siddhartha's first meditative insight? (53-54)
9. What effect does the sight of the religious mendicant have on him? (54-55)
10. Why does Siddhartha say that his father should not grieve for him? (55)
11. What conclusion does Siddhartha come to after trying the path of extreme asceticism? (55-56)
12. What is the basic theme of the insights Buddha has during the first three watches of the night of his Enlightenment?
13. What exactly is it that the Buddha understands and which constitutes the essence of his enlightenment? (58)
14. Who (or what) is the "housemaker" referred to in sect. b on p. 58.
15. Acc. to section c, p. 58, who is it that cause someone to suffer?
16. AS the Buddha begins to die, does he tell his disciples to believe in him (as a "God")? If not, what does he tell them? (60)
17. Why does the Buddha say that his disciples don't need a teacher after he is gone? (61)
18. What should our criterion be for following or rejecting a given teaching, acc. to the Buddha? (62)
19. If rituals don't work (are not efficacious), what does work? (62-63)
20. On p. 64, 7-8 lines from the bottom, the Buddha says: the religious life does not depend on an answer to these questions. Which questions is he referring to?
21. Name the four noble truths and the eight parts of the eightfold path. (65-66)
22. Between what extremes does the Middle Way cut? (66)
23. What causes rebirth? (sect. 23, pp. 66-67).
24. Name the three marks of existence and the five skandhas.
25. What is meant by Dependent Origination? (69)
26. What are the five moral precepts of Buddhism?
27. "Right speech" requires telling the truth, but much more. For example?
28. What is metta? Toward whom does the Buddhist meditator practice metta (74-75)
29. Note the various ways the Buddha characterized the ultimate goal of Nibbana (Nirvana).
30. What is an Arhant?
31. What are the three jewels of Buddhism?
Study Questions for "Confucianism" in Novak's The World's Wisdom
1. In the first paragraph on p. 111, what is Novak's reason for saying that Confucianism is more than a social ethic, more than an system of "do's" and "don'ts" for human behavior?
2. The population of China represents about what fraction of the world's population? (111)
3. What are some of the other worldviews that have influenced the Chinese mind? (112)
4. Did Confucius personally write everything that is in the so-called Confucian canon? (112) By the way, look up the literary meaning of the word "canon" in your dictionary; what is it?
5. Novak says that Confucius is a "different kind of sage." What two classical sage types is he different from? (112-113)
6. Finally, how does Novak characterize Confucius? (113)
Confucius the Man
1. How many years did it take Confucius to overcome the distance between merely knowing what is right and actually being able to desire and do what is right? (see 1b, 113-114)
2. What does Confucius claim about his own originality? (2b, 114)
3. List the key characteristics of human conduct in the time that Confucius calls the time of the Grand Unity. (2b, 114-115)
Also, what does Confucius say is wrong with people in his time? (115)
4. What must the good teacher do with the lessons of the past? (3a, 115)
5. How does Confucius express the fact that for learning to occur, one needs not only a willing teacher but a motivated student? (115)
6. What does Confucius not claim about himself? What does he claim about himself? (115)
7. What advice does C. give to people who feel hurt because their merits don't get enough recognition? (4b 116)
In your opinion, how rare or common in human beings is the feeling of being underappreciated?
8. In C's view, how rare is it to find a person who is honestly self-
critical? (4c, 116)
9. Claiming to have knowledge means two things, acc. to C. What are they? (4c 116)
Compare Socrates' famous dictum: "The only way in which I am wiser than others is that I know how ignorant I am whereas they claim to know what they really do not."
10. 4 d is called "Earnestness and Perseverance". In a word, what is the focus of C's earnestness and effort? What one thing is he always concerned with? (116-117)
11. How does Confucius feel about cheating in order to cash in? (4e, 117)
12. Which one of the following is more the focus of Confucius concern: life or the afterlife? (4g 117)
13. After reading "His Demeanor" which of the following single words best sums up Confucius' bearing: a) rigid b) relaxed c) energetic d) balanced.
The Confucian Project (119)
1. What is it? (119)
2. How does authentic humanity evolve? (that is, how does one become a good person?) (119)
3. Given what is said in no. 6 on pp. 119-120, Confucius would agree with a Christian who affirmed that the basic aim of life is to live in harmony with the will of God. (True or false?)
4. In the last, short item under 6, what does Confucius mean by "the Way"?
5. What are the two basic meanings of li ? (120)
6. Why, according to Novak, does Confucius stress attentive and proper performance of everyday social etiquette? (120)
Do read 7a, but no questions.
7. What is the quality that should be "in everything"? (122)
8. What kind of person does Confucius liken to a beast? (123)
9. for c on pp.123-24: The answer is not given directly in the text, but where do you think Confucius thinks ritual comes from?
10. What are the three bases on which li rests? And what are rites
supposed to do for each of these three groups? (7d, 124, first par.)
11. A crucial aspect of li is hsiao ? What is hsiao ? (125)
12. What do some people say is the real religion of China? (125)
13. What does Confucius mean by "the rectification of names"? (126)
14. What are the "five constant relationships." (126)
15. Jen is sometimes called the master virtue in the Confucian outlook. How is it translated here? What phrase does Smith use to translate it?
16. What is a "chun-tzu"? From the sayings given under 13, name at least five key qualities of a chun-tzu. (129-130)
17. A number of sayings under 13 point out that the chun-tzu is one who is more concerned to be self-critical than to be criticizing others or casting blame. True or false?
18. The chun-tzu balances naturalness and sophistication. True of false? (130)
19. What is te ? After studying the sayings in this section, answer: In Confucius' view, why (or how) does moral power (te) work? (131)
20. What is the basis of Confucius' high opinion of music and other arts?
21. It is fair to say the main message of the great learning is that the transformation of the world begins with the transformation of the individual character. True or false? (134)
Mencius
1. Who was he? What was his belief about of human nature? (134-35)
2. If people are by good by nature, what is it that turns some of them bad? (18, pp. 135-36).
3. What example does Mencius use to indicate that all people have similar instincts for goodness? (19, 136)
4. Would Mencius be for or against an economic system that gives aid to the poor? Why? (137)
Enjoy the grace notes. No questions.
Study questions for "Taoism" in Novak's The World's Wisdom
1. Chinese philosophy sees the universe as a living process governed by the dynamic interplay of opposite forces. It calls these forces
and . (145)
2. How does Novak contrast the emphases within Confucianism and Taoism? (145)
3. Who is Lao Tzu and what is the Tao Te Ching ?
4. What does Novak say are the two basic topics of the Tao Te Ching ? (146)
It is probably impossible, but surely perverse, to ask little factual questions about poetry as subtle and profound as that contained in the Tao Te Ching --so I won't. But do read the entire text.
5. Describe the meaning of Taoism's teaching on wei wu wei .
6. Describe how water is a natural example of wei wu wei . (160)
7. Who is Chuang-Tzu?
8. After reading sect. 11, why do you think Chuang-Tzu would counsel us not to identify to strongly with our emotions? (165)
9. Section 12 seems to be saying that viewed from the standpoint of the Tao, all things, seemingly different, are actually identical. This is hard for me to understand unless "identical" means "of equal value." Then it seems clearer. How about for you?
10. Section 13, the famous "Butterfly" story...what is your response to this story?
11. What philosopher's views is Chuang-Tzu attacking in selection 14?
12. Chuang-Tzu (and Lao Tzu) seem to be against moral rules and the explicit promotion of virtue, yet it would be wrong to call them immoral or promoting vice. Based on your reading of Chuang-Tzu and Lao Tzu, how do they believe that human good is best promoted? (sections 14, 15, 16, and 17).
13. Enjoy the grace notes.
Study Question's for World's Wisdom , "Judaism" Novak
1. What is the proper name for the Jewish Bible? (175)
2. What is the meaning of the word "Torah" and to what does it refer? (175)
3. Who or what are the Nevi'im? (175)
4. What are the "two great ideas" of Judaism? (176)
5. On p. 180, Novak gives 4 reasons why the Abraham story is important. What is the first one?
6. According to the Biblical account what two promises does God make to Abraham? (sect. 4a)
7. Of what is circumcision the sign?
8. How does God test Abraham's faith? (182)
9. Why do the people we today refer to as the Jews also refer to themselves as Israelites? (182-83)
10. Briefly define: Passover and Exodus
11. Who is the key figure in the story of the Exodus from Egypt?
12. What is the "Covenant at Sinai"? What supposedly happened there? Why is this a key moment in the history of the Jewish people?
13. Part of the Covenant at Sinai was the ten commandments. How many commandments were said to have been given by God to the Israelites at this time? (188)
14. Why does Novak include the story of Moses' death? What point is does he believe this story makes about the Jewish iconoclasm?
15. Name at least two key themes of the teachings of the prophets.
16. Name at least three Jewish prophets.
17. How does Novak define idolatry? (195)
18. What does this mean: "They sow the wind, and they shall reap whirlwind..." (196)
19. What do the prophetic sayings in 17 a--e all have in common?
20. What is it that is hoped for in awaiting the Messiah? (198-201)
21. Please read the selections from Psalms and Proverbs. No questions.
22. What is the basic story of the Book of Job? What philosophical question does it wrestle with? (206-08)
23. After Job makes his complaint, God responds. What is the basic theme of God's response to Job?
24. After reading the selection from Ecclesiastes, answer: Which of the following phrases best captures the dominant mood of these selections: a) joy and celebration b) analysis and investigation
c) awe and celebration d) futility and resignation e) anger and condemnation.
25. What is the basic point of the story of Rabbi Eliezer and his ten fellow sages? (sect. 23)
26. How does Rabbi Hillel summarize the Torah, i.e., the entire teaching of Judaism?
27. What is the Shema?
28. What does Einstein mean by the "sanctification of life"?
29. Acc. to Wouk, (sect. 36), what is the meaning of kosher ?
30. What is Wouk's main point in speaking of Jewish rules for slaughtering animals for meat?
31. In saying that God feels (has pathos ) what conception of God does Heschel want to resist, and what understanding does he want to promote?
32. Why does Heschel call the Sabbath (Shabbat) a "sanctification of time"? What does he mean by this phrase and how does the practice of Sabbath accomplish this.
Study Questions for Christianity in WW Novak
Intro
1. Of what Hebrew word is "Christ" the translation? (225)
2. The first Christians were a Jewish sect. True or false? (225)
Life
Even if you feel you know the story of Jesus' life quite well, read through this first section of the chapter, stopping occasionally on the way to answer the following.
1. Why did Jesus' parents go to Jerusalem every year?
2. What words did J use to call his first disciples? (23)
3. Why was John the Baptist's death a bad omen for Jesus?
4. Why does J wash the feet of his disciples at the last Passover?
5. Why do you suppose J feels forsaken as he is dying? (237)
Sayings
1. Why do you think J says that he can give people rest? (20d) What does he mean? Rest from what?
2. What "two most important facts about life" are stressed in J's teaching? (p. 241, sect. 21)
3. What is the point of the Parable of the Vineyard Laborers? (245-46).
4. What is the key message of the Parable of the Prodigal Son?
5. What is the key message of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Borg
6. What does Jesus mean when he warns against "throwing pearls before swine"? (252)
7. The early Christians were commune-ists. What does this mean? (254)
8. From the passages under 32b, answer: what exactly is meant by the word "incarnation"? (255)
9. What is the essential message of the Christian teaching called the Atonement? (256)
10. What caused tension between Jews and Jewish Christians in the year following Jesus's death? (33a p.259)
11. How does the Christian persecutor Saul get converted into the Christian enthusiast Paul? (260-61)
12. What was at issue between Christians who were "Hebraists" and those who were "Hellenists" (261-262)
13. Who called the first international Christian council at Nicaea and why?
14. Please read through the entirety of the chapter and enjoy the Grace Notes.
Study Questions for Islam in World's Wisdom Novak
1. What are the two central affirmations of Islam? (281)
2. What were wrong with God's revelations to the Jews and Christians (in Novak's terms)? (281)
3. How many years elapsed during the transmission of the Qur'an by God to Muhammad (281)
4. What analogy does Novak draw between Christ and the Qur'an? (281)
5. Of what religious tradition does Islam see itself as the culmination? (281-282)?
6. What are the two basic textual sources for the religion of Islam? (282)
7. Muhammad lived most of his life in two cities. Which two? Where did he live first?
8. What is a sura? (282)
9. Describe the basic difference between a Medinan and a Meccan sura. (282)
10. T or F: Muslims believe that Muhammad is the author of the Qur'an.
11. What characteristics of God are indicated in the Fatihah (1a) on p. 283?
12. When God first revealed himself to Muhammad through the angel Jibril (Gabriel) he told him to . (1b, 283)
13. Check out lines 5--11 of the Nicene Creed on p. 263. Now examine section 1d on p. 284 of the Islam chapter. What direct contradiction do you find between the two passages?
14. Who is the "whispering insinuator"? (1e, 284)
15. What are jinn ? (1e, 284)
16. What activity of God is stressed in both 1g and 1h? (284-85)
17. What sort of meat is prohibited in sect 2a? (285)
18. Section 2e condemns usury. What is usury?
19. What is going on in the two quotations under no. 4 on p. 288. What sort of dare is the Qur'an making to those who doubt its divine origins? (288)
Note : The least important thing about some of the passages in the rest of the chapter is their informational content. Therefore, it is difficult to ask question about it. Yet it is very important to read this passages carefully and slowly through, at least once, for the flavor and feeling of Islam that they convey.
20. What are the five elements of Islamic belief (or faith)? (288 ff.)
(Please read all passages.)
21. What does God mean when he says: "we are closer to man than his jugular vein?" (bottom 289)
22. State the meanings of the following Arabic phrases:
Insha'llah / Bismi'llah / Bismi'llah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim
23. What is said about the Jewish Torah and the Christian Gospel in section 5c? (291)
24. Do you have to be a Muslim to be saved? What does the first full passage on p. 292 imply about the answer to this question?
25. The Judgement Day, Paradise, and Hell are major repeated themes in the Qur'an, thus the reason for the extended quotations regarding them on p. 292--295. Read for flavor and feel.
26. Name the five pillars of Islam. (296-300)
27. State the meaning of the following Arabic phrases: (296)
La ilaha illa'llah / Muhammadun rasulu'llah.
28. To get the feel of the language, pronounce the Arabic words that make up the call to prayer. (297)
29. What is qiblah ? Define dhikr . (298)
30. What is the Ka`ba? (299)
31. What is shirk ? What is jihad? (299-300)
I have no specific question for pages 300-310, but you should read through all sections to increase your sense of the Qur'an. In light of contemporary discussion about Islam's treatment of women, you may be particularly interested in p. 302-304, section d, and also sections f, g and i on the following pages.
32. Summarize in a few phrases the position of the Qur'an on Jesus. (section 11, pp. 310-311).
For the rest of the chapter, too, it seems difficult to composes questions. Yet the material is important. Both the hadith of Muhammad and the selections from the sufis contain passages that are lovely and inspiring.