How can religion be both a unifying and a dividing force? Use examples to explain this seeming contradiction.
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Religion is a powerful aspect of culture: it can unit people, but it can also divide people. Most major religions developed in one distinct area and spread over time. Today, each of the five major religions is practiced by people who speak different languages and live in different countries but are unifed by their common religious belief. Religion can also be a cause for division. One example of this is in modern-day Nigeria, where Christians and Muslims are fighting over political control of the country. In situations like this, religion is used to highlight differences within a population.
Christianity began in the same region as __________. A. Islam and Judaism B. Islam and Hinduism C. Buddhism and Judaism D. Buddhism and Hinduism Please select the best answer from the choices provided.
Explain where Buddhism originated and how it spread.
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Buddhism orginated in India. Missionaries later spread the faith through the Himalayan region into Tibet and China. Migrants, missionaries, and traders spread the religion throughout Southeast Asia.
Explain how the Tuareg practice Islam in a unique way.
What is the primary role of missionaries within Christian faiths? A. to help govern Christian churches B. to interpret Biblical text C. to convert others to Christianity D. to raise money to support their church’s headquarters Please select the best answer from the choices provided.
What do the Tuareg culture and the Candomblé faith have in common? A. Both originated in the South Pacific. B. Both appropriated cultural traditions from multiple sources. C. Both developed close ties with the Catholic Church. D. Both have a long history of religious persecution. Please select the best answer from the choices provided.
Describe the religious conflict in Nigeria. What are factors that contribute to the violence?
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Although Nigeria has had a democratic government since 1999, the country faces major social, political, and economic challenges. Charges of election fraud and embezzlement have marred the government. High unemployment, widespread poverty, and an unequal distribution of wealth have created ongoing economic problems. At the forefront of the nation's problems, however, is the ongoing religious conflict between the Muslim north and the Christian south. Sharia law was enacted in 1999 in the Muslim areas, and many are pushing to make Sharia law apply to the entire nation. Violence is common and is particularly bad in the "Middle Belt," or middle region, which divides the nation in half. Politicans exploit these religious differences for political gain, which adds to the struggles the country is facing.
Prior to the Diaspora, __________ had already been conquered by the Assyrians and Babylonians. A. Mecca B. Rome C. Israel D. Constantinople Please select the best answer from the choices provided.
Why is it significant that the name "Tuareg" may have been derived from the Arabic word meaning "abandoned by Allah"? A. This illustrates the religious tension in the region and the battle for believers waging along the "Middle Belt." B. This shows what more traditional North African Arabs may think of the way the Tuareg blend Islam with traditional African religions. C. This isn't signficiant, because it ignores more important elements of Tuareg culture, such as the blue-colored clothing and the salt trade. D. North African governments use this as a means to discriminate against the Tuareg people. Please select the best answer from the choices provided.
Explain the role of colonialism in spreading Christianity around the world.
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Colonialism involves people of one country traveling to a new area and building colonies. European countries began widespread colonization in the 1500s, and colonizing efforts lasted until the end of the 20th century. The colonists often brought European culture to colonized regions. Missionaries spread European faiths to remote regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
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