MH Religious Studies and Ethics 3

Question 1

Rudolf Otto's concept of the 'numinous' in 'The Idea of the Holy' (1917) describes religious experience as:

Accepted Answer

A mysterium tremendum et fascinans — awesome, overwhelming, and compelling

Answer

A rational apprehension of divine truth

Answer

A social construction reinforcing community norms

Answer

A psychological projection of human fears

Question 2

In Buddhism, the concept of 'anatta' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of no-self or non-self

Answer

The cycle of death and rebirth

Answer

The path to enlightenment

Answer

The state of complete liberation

Question 3

The 'naturalistic fallacy,' identified by G.E. Moore in 'Principia Ethica' (1903), warns against:

Accepted Answer

Defining 'good' in terms of natural properties like pleasure

Answer

Using empirical science to inform ethics

Answer

Appealing to nature to justify cultural practices

Answer

Deriving ethical norms from evolutionary biology

Question 4

In Islamic philosophy, 'ijtihad' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Independent legal reasoning to derive rulings from primary sources

Answer

The consensus of Islamic scholars on a legal question

Answer

The collected sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad

Answer

The mystical path of Sufi orders

Question 5

Which approach in comparative religion, associated with Joseph Campbell, identifies universal narrative structures across world mythologies?

Accepted Answer

The monomyth or Hero's Journey

Answer

Structuralism

Answer

Phenomenology of religion

Answer

Social functionalism

Question 6

The principle of 'double effect' in Catholic moral theology is used to justify actions that:

Accepted Answer

Have both a good intended effect and a foreseen but unintended harmful effect

Answer

Serve the greater good even when the means are harmful

Answer

Are prohibited by natural law but permitted by civil law

Answer

Produce equally good and evil consequences by design