Part A

Question 1

What is dualism?

Answer 1

The belief that we are made of two distinct things, the body and the soul, these can be separated.

Question 2

What is disembodied existence?

Answer 2

The ultimate aim of Hinduism - the soul being set free

Question 3

Explain Plato’s influence on Christianity

Answer 3

He influenced Christianity with the idea of dualism as the soul is seen in Christian teachings. Plato believed that the soul returns to the world of the forms, like Christians going to heaven when we die.

Question 4

Explain Plato’s influence on Hinduism

Answer 4

Plato’s idea of recycling the soul from the world of appearance to the world of the forms is similar to reincarnation. Plato also thought that if you’re poorly behaved in this life, you could be reincarnated into a lower form (like Karma)

Question 5

Explain the catholic viewpoint on body and soul

Answer 5

The soul is the spiritual principle of human beings, it’s the subject of human consciousness. Body and soul together form one unique human nature. Every soul is individual and immortal immediately created by God.

Question 6

Catholic quote

Answer 6

“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being”

Question 7

John 3:16

Answer 7

“God so loved the world he gave is only son, that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

Question 8

What do Roman Catholics believe in?

Answer 8

Purgatory - an in-between state for the majority of people waiting for heaven, a place for them to cleanse and prepare themselves.

Question 9

Explain Brahman

Answer 9

Brahman in the supreme soul. It is the one who reveals himself in the minds of the sages and seers as the Supreme Consciousness. It is the only real thing in the universe, everything else is unreal and false.

Question 10

Explain Atman

Answer 10

Atman means ‘eternal self’ and refers to the real self beyond ego or false self. It is often referred to as ‘spirit’ or ‘soul.’

Question 11

Explain Karma

Answer 11

Karma is the Sanskrit word for ‘action’ and refers to the law that every action has an equal reaction. It doesn’t just operate in one lifetime, but across many.

Question 12

Explain resurrection

Answer 12

Resurrection is what happens when we die in order to get to heaven. OT teachings focus on physical body whereas NT teachings focus on spiritual body

Question 13

Quote from the book of Job

Answer 13

“After my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes” DUALISTIC VIEWPOINT

Question 14

Quote from the book of Matthew

Answer 14

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell” Commenting on our earthly bodies being separated from our souls.

Question 15

Explain reincarnation

Answer 15

It is a continuous cycle when the soul is reborn over and over again according to the law of action and reaction.

Question 16

What is Samsara?

Answer 16

The process of reincarnation

Question 17

What is Moksha?

Answer 17

The end goal of liberation, breaking us free from the cycle of action and reaction.

Question 18

What is oral tradition?

Answer 18

Scriptures being kept alive through telling stories before writing them down - causes mishaps in understanding

Question 19

What is the parousia?

Answer 19

Jesus returning to take everyone to heaven

Question 20

What did the Sadducees say?

Answer 20

Focused on purity laws and didn’t teach about life after death

Question 21

What did the Pharisees say?

Answer 21

Were influenced by Plato, and spoke on the soul, angels and the afterlife.

Question 22

What does eschatological mean?

Answer 22

Teachings on the afterlife (Jesus was influenced by the Pharisees)

Question 23

What are the three types of heaven?

Answer 23

1) A moral and spiritual state
2) An actual place
3) Judgement, reward and punishment

Question 24

Isiah 35:5-6

Answer 24

1) “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped” When Jesus performed these miracles, people thought heaven was on earth and that it was about living a moral life here and now.

Question 25

Revelations 21:1-4

Answer 25

2) “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea”

Question 26

Luke 16:25-36

Answer 26

3) “While Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted and you are here in agony”

Question 27

What is Yama?

Answer 27

The God of Death - judges Hindu’s

Question 28

What is Naraka?

Answer 28

Equivalent to hell, there are many layers

Question 29

What is Nirvana?

Answer 29

The ultimate aim of Buddhism

Question 30

Isiah 25:8

Answer 30

“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all earth”

Question 31

What is the 135th Hindu quote and who said it?

Answer 31

The 135th name of Vishnu (The God of protection) in the philosopher Sankara’s interpretation says “One who directly sees the merits (Dharma) and demerits (Adharma), of beings by bestowing their due rewards on them.”