Quizzes
Test what you know about the world’s religions: 18 short quizzes, 150 questions, each answer explained.
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A warm-up
Ten questions, one from each of ten traditions.
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Question 1 of 10
Which are the oldest Hindu scriptures?
The Vedas, composed from about 1500 BCE and passed on orally, are shruti, “what is heard”.
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The Vedas. The Vedas, composed from about 1500 BCE and passed on orally, are shruti, “what is heard”.
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Question 2 of 10
Which collection of scriptures does Theravada Buddhism keep?
The Pali Canon, the “three baskets”, was written down in Sri Lanka in the 1st century BCE.
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The Pali Canon. The Pali Canon, the “three baskets”, was written down in Sri Lanka in the 1st century BCE.
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Question 3 of 10
Why do many observant Jains avoid root vegetables?
Many also avoid onions and garlic and do not eat after sunset.
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Pulling up roots kills the whole plant and many tiny organisms. Many also avoid onions and garlic and do not eat after sunset.
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Question 4 of 10
How many human Gurus led the Sikhs?
Ten Gurus led the Sikhs from Guru Nanak until the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708.
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Ten. Ten Gurus led the Sikhs from Guru Nanak until the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708.
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Question 5 of 10
What sets the Quanzhen order apart?
Quanzhen was founded in 1167; the married priests are the Zhengyi order.
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Celibate monks and nuns living in monasteries. Quanzhen was founded in 1167; the married priests are the Zhengyi order.
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Question 6 of 10
Who is Amaterasu?
Her brother Susanoo is the storm god; the first emperor, Jimmu, is counted among her descendants.
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The sun goddess, ancestor of the imperial line. Her brother Susanoo is the storm god; the first emperor, Jimmu, is counted among her descendants.
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Question 7 of 10
Which of these is NOT one of the five Confucian relationships?
The five are ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, elder and younger sibling, friend and friend.
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Teacher and student. The five are ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, elder and younger sibling, friend and friend.
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Question 8 of 10
What does the soul cross after death?
The bridge widens for the righteous and narrows for the wicked.
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The Chinvat Bridge. The bridge widens for the righteous and narrows for the wicked.
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Question 9 of 10
What does the word “Torah” mean?
The Torah, “teaching”, is the first and holiest part of the Hebrew Bible: the five books of Moses.
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Teaching or instruction. The Torah, “teaching”, is the first and holiest part of the Hebrew Bible: the five books of Moses.
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Question 10 of 10
Martin Luther’s Ninety-five Theses began the Reformation in…
Printing helped turn Luther’s protest of 1517 into the Reformation, from which the Protestant churches grew.
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1517. Printing helped turn Luther’s protest of 1517 into the Reformation, from which the Protestant churches grew.
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Whose symbol is this?
Ten medallions from the symbol collection. Name the tradition each belongs to.
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Question 1 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
It is the Khanda: a double-edged sword in a ring between two curved swords, the emblem of the Khalsa.
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Sikhism. It is the Khanda: a double-edged sword in a ring between two curved swords, the emblem of the Khalsa.
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Question 2 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
The open hand with a wheel in the palm is the Jain sign of ahimsa, non-violence: stop and think before acting.
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Jainism. The open hand with a wheel in the palm is the Jain sign of ahimsa, non-violence: stop and think before acting.
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Question 3 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
The Faravahar, a winged figure from ancient Persian art, is read today as the soul rising through good thoughts, words and deeds.
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Zoroastrianism. The Faravahar, a winged figure from ancient Persian art, is read today as the soul rising through good thoughts, words and deeds.
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Question 4 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
The torii gate marks the entrance to the sacred space of a Shinto shrine.
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Shinto. The torii gate marks the entrance to the sacred space of a Shinto shrine.
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Question 5 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
Nine, the highest single number, stands for completeness and unity; the nine-pointed star is a common Bahá’í emblem.
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Bahá’í Faith. Nine, the highest single number, stands for completeness and unity; the nine-pointed star is a common Bahá’í emblem.
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Question 6 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
The ankh is the hieroglyph for “life”, held by gods to the noses of kings.
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Ancient Egyptian religion. The ankh is the hieroglyph for “life”, held by gods to the noses of kings.
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Question 7 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
The Chi-Rho joins X and P, the first two Greek letters of “Christ”.
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Christianity. The Chi-Rho joins X and P, the first two Greek letters of “Christ”.
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Question 8 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
The endless knot, one of the eight auspicious signs of Tibetan Buddhism, has no beginning and no end.
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Buddhism. The endless knot, one of the eight auspicious signs of Tibetan Buddhism, has no beginning and no end.
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Question 9 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
It is the oshe, the double-headed axe of Sango, orisa of thunder, carried by his devotees.
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Yoruba religion. It is the oshe, the double-headed axe of Sango, orisa of thunder, carried by his devotees.
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Question 10 of 10
Which tradition does this symbol belong to?
The trishula is the trident of Shiva, often read as creation, preservation and destruction.
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Hinduism. The trishula is the trident of Shiva, often read as creation, preservation and destruction.
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Festivals of the year
Ten questions on feasts, fasts and new years from the calendar of sacred days.
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Question 1 of 10
Vaisakhi recalls the founding of the Khalsa in 1699. Which faith keeps it?
Vaisakhi, on 13 or 14 April, is also a harvest festival in Punjab, marked with processions (nagar kirtan).
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Sikhism. Vaisakhi, on 13 or 14 April, is also a harvest festival in Punjab, marked with processions (nagar kirtan).
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Question 2 of 10
Which festival celebrates the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad?
Mawlid falls on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal; many Shia Muslims keep the 17th.
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Mawlid. Mawlid falls on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal; many Shia Muslims keep the 17th.
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Question 3 of 10
When does Nowruz, the Persian new year, begin?
Nowruz falls on 20 or 21 March, and is kept across Iran and Central Asia and by Zoroastrians and Bahá’ís.
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At the spring equinox. Nowruz falls on 20 or 21 March, and is kept across Iran and Central Asia and by Zoroastrians and Bahá’ís.
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Question 4 of 10
Which festival is known for throwing coloured powder?
Holi, at the full moon of Phalguna in March, follows a bonfire on the night before.
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Holi. Holi, at the full moon of Phalguna in March, follows a bonfire on the night before.
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Question 5 of 10
Paryushana, a time of fasting and asking forgiveness of all beings, belongs to…
It lasts eight days for Shvetambaras and ten for Digambaras, in August or September.
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Jainism. It lasts eight days for Shvetambaras and ten for Digambaras, in August or September.
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Question 6 of 10
Whom does the Japanese festival of Obon honour?
Lanterns guide the spirits home and dances welcome them, in mid-August in most of Japan.
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The spirits of the ancestors. Lanterns guide the spirits home and dances welcome them, in mid-August in most of Japan.
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Question 7 of 10
What do Bahá’ís celebrate during the twelve days of Ridván?
He declared his mission in the Ridván garden outside Baghdad; it is the holiest Bahá’í festival.
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Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration of his mission in 1863. He declared his mission in the Ridván garden outside Baghdad; it is the holiest Bahá’í festival.
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Question 8 of 10
Which festival retells the exodus from Egypt at a seder meal?
Passover begins on the 15th of Nisan, in March or April, with matzah eaten for the week.
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Passover. Passover begins on the 15th of Nisan, in March or April, with matzah eaten for the week.
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Question 9 of 10
The festival of the river goddess Osun is held each August in which country?
It takes place in the sacred grove at Osogbo, a UNESCO World Heritage site; the king of Osogbo sets the date each year.
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Nigeria. It takes place in the sacred grove at Osogbo, a UNESCO World Heritage site; the king of Osogbo sets the date each year.
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Question 10 of 10
Why do most Orthodox churches keep Easter on a different date from Western churches?
Both use the same rule, but with different calendars, so the dates often differ by one or more weeks.
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They calculate it with the Julian calendar. Both use the same rule, but with different calendars, so the dates often differ by one or more weeks.
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Which holy book?
Ten famous passages from the manuscript leaves on the faith pages. Name the book each comes from.
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Question 1 of 10
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1, the first verse of the Hebrew Bible: Bereshit bara Elohim…
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The Torah (Genesis). Genesis 1:1, the first verse of the Hebrew Bible: Bereshit bara Elohim…
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Question 2 of 10
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:1, written in Greek: En archē ēn ho logos…
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The Gospel of John. John 1:1, written in Greek: En archē ēn ho logos…
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Question 3 of 10
“Your right is to the action alone, never to its fruits.”
Bhagavad Gita 2.47: Krishna’s teaching of action without attachment to its results.
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The Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita 2.47: Krishna’s teaching of action without attachment to its results.
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Question 4 of 10
“Mind precedes all things; mind is their chief; they are made by mind.”
The first verse of the Dhammapada, in Pali: Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā…
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The Dhammapada. The first verse of the Dhammapada, in Pali: Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā…
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Question 5 of 10
“The Way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way.”
The opening of the Daodejing, chapter 1.
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The Daodejing. The opening of the Daodejing, chapter 1.
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Question 6 of 10
“To learn and in due time to practise what one has learned: is that not a pleasure?”
Analects 1.1, the first saying of the collection.
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The Analects of Confucius. Analects 1.1, the first saying of the collection.
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Question 7 of 10
“One Creator. Truth is the Name. Maker of all, without fear, without hate…”
The Mul Mantar, which opens the Sikh scripture on its first page.
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The Guru Granth Sahib. The Mul Mantar, which opens the Sikh scripture on its first page.
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Question 8 of 10
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
The opening verse of al-Fātiḥa, the first sura, recited in every prayer.
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The Qur’an. The opening verse of al-Fātiḥa, the first sura, recited in every prayer.
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Question 9 of 10
“I have not done wrong. I have not robbed. I have not killed people… I am pure.”
Spell 125: the declarations of innocence before the judgement of Osiris.
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The Egyptian Book of the Dead. Spell 125: the declarations of innocence before the judgement of Osiris.
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Question 10 of 10
“Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus.”
Iliad 1.1. The Greeks had no scripture, but Homer shaped how they imagined their gods.
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Homer’s Iliad. Iliad 1.1. The Greeks had no scripture, but Homer shaped how they imagined their gods.
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Play the timeline game Put five moments from five traditions in order.
Glossary flashcards Learn the words of the world’s religions, one card at a time.
A quiz for every faith
Each quiz sits at the end of its faith’s page, so the answers are never far away.
- Hinduism 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Buddhism 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Jainism 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Sikhism 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Daoism 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Shinto 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Confucianism 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Zoroastrianism 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Judaism 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Christianity 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Islam 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Bahá’í 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Ancient Egyptian religion 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Greek and Roman religion 8 questions Printable worksheet
- Yoruba religion 8 questions Printable worksheet