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

Otto described the numinous as a non-rational, sui generis religious experience characterized by awe (tremendum) and attraction (fascinans) before a wholly other mystery.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of no-self or non-self

Answer

Anatta is one of the Three Marks of Existence in Buddhism, denying the existence of a permanent, unchanging self or soul.

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

Moore argued that 'goodness' is a non-natural, indefinable property, and equating it with any natural property (like pleasure) commits a logical error.

Question 4

In Islamic philosophy, 'ijtihad' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Independent legal reasoning to derive rulings from primary sources

Answer

Ijtihad is the exercise of independent juristic reasoning to interpret Quran and Sunnah in addressing new legal questions not explicitly covered by existing rulings.

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

Campbell's 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' (1949) identified a universal narrative pattern — the monomyth — shared across cultures' heroic myths.

MH - Master of Humanities Practice Test

MH - Master of Humanities Practice Test

MH Religious Studies and Ethics 3