Deck 11: Religion and Art

Question 1

What is the definition of the following term:
-aniconic:

Answer 1

The characteristic of having no images (icons), or rejecting the use of images.

Question 2

What is the definition of the following term:
-calligraphy:

Answer 2

Literally "beautiful writing"; thus, the art of making letters (as in the Quran) or glyphs (as in Chinese) especially decorative or elaborate.

Question 3

What is the definition of the following term:
-mandala:

Answer 3

In Tibetan Buddhism, a detailed and colorful representation of, for example, the dwelling of an enlightened being; the artwork itself is meticulously and meditatively produced and then destroyed.

Question 4

What is the definition of the following term:
-performative art:

Question 5

Religions use art a great deal because

A) it helps make money through the sale of artworks.
B) all religions agree the artwork helps people "see" what God looks like.
C) artists are hired by churches, mosques and temples, which helps employment rates.
D) art adds beauty to truth.

Question 6

One of the purposes of depictive art and the use of icons is to

A) give people images to worship that mislead them from true worship of the invisible God.
B) instruct and inspire people in the stories of their own religion.
C) induce religious experience through the process of going to museums.
D) all of the above.

Question 7

Painting and sculpture find extensive use in religions such as

A) Christianity and Hinduism.
B) Judaism and Islam.
C) Buddhism and Scientology.
D) all of the above

Question 8

One tends to find visual art depicting Jesus or Hindu gods but nothing of the sort in Judaism or Islam because

A) Judaism and Islam generally think art is not something God would have us create.
B) Christianity and Hinduism think God is relational and interacts with humanity, but Judaism and Islam do not.
C) Judaism and Islam are religions with religious rules, but Christianity and Hinduism are not.
D) Christianity and Hinduism believe that God/gods have manifested in human form, but Judaism and Islam do not.

Question 9

The textbook suggests that the architecture of religious buildings

A) is another visual art that is used to express and evoke feelings of awe and wonder at Ultimate Being.
B) is a waste of money that should be spent on better things, such as caring for the poor.
C) was an important part of religious art in the past but is not important any more.
D) is found in Christian cathedrals but not so much in other religions.

Question 10

As exemplified in our text, beautiful calligraphic art is especially prominent in religious contexts of

A) Hinduism and Christianity.
B) Scientology and the Baha'i faith.
C) Islam and the religions of China.
D) online advertisements.

Question 11

Composers such as Bach and Handel wrote religious music because

A) they thought it would earn them a place in heaven.
B) they saw it as a way to glorify God.
C) it was required in obedience to Christian morality.
D) it was a well-paying job.

Question 12

Our reading suggests that the chanting of scriptures in Buddhism may be less about music than the use of singing in Christianity because

A) Jesus sang hymns, but the Buddha probably did not.
B) Buddhist chanting just is not as beautiful as, for example, the music of Bach.
C) Buddhism started later than Christianity and had to borrow musical styles from other cultures.
D) monotheism supports in a way Buddhism does not the view that "only you can make this world seem right."

Question 13

A major kind of verbal art described in our textbook is

A) dance.
B) calligraphy.
C) drama
D) poetry.

Question 14

One famous example of an inspired dance from the Bible includes

A) Abraham.
B) Moses.
C) King David.
D) The Buddha.

Question 15

The mystical practices of Sufi groups, such as the Whirling Dervishes, include dancing. Which religion are they considered to be a part of?

A) Hinduism
B) Islam
C) Buddhism
D) the Baha'i faith

Question 16

An example from our textbook of a religious use of the beauty of gardens is

A) Hinduism.
B) Islam.
C) Buddhism.
D) the Baha'i faith.

Question 17

An irony of religious art noted in our textbook is that religious art

A) is sometimes just not very pretty.
B) is often appreciated as beautiful art without any religious meaning attached to it.
C) comes in so many different forms.
D) all of the above

Question 18

Beautiful Christian music can be a problem if one finds the beauty of the music more important than the teachings of the faith. This was a point made by

A) Jesus.
B) Saint Augustine.
C) the current pope.
D) John Lennon.

Question 19

The text notes that some religious groups avoid the use of art. One such group is

A) Muslims.
B) Quakers.
C) Zen Buddhists.
D) Taoists.

Question 20

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Kailasa

A) The art of beautiful writing
B) The Buddhist symbol depicting only an empty circle
C) A Hindu temple carved entirely from the rock of the mountain where it is still attached.
D) Generally, the study and analysis of beauty, especially artistic beauty.
E) Generally, the use and meaning of symbols and images in religion

Question 21

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-The art of beautiful writing
B) The Buddhist symbol depicting only an empty circle
C) A Hindu temple carved entirely from the rock of the mountain where it is still attached.
D) Generally, the study and analysis of beauty, especially artistic beauty.
E) Generally, the use and meaning of symbols and images in religion

Question 22

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Iconography

A) The art of beautiful writing
B) The Buddhist symbol depicting only an empty circle
C) A Hindu temple carved entirely from the rock of the mountain where it is still attached.
D) Generally, the study and analysis of beauty, especially artistic beauty.
E) Generally, the use and meaning of symbols and images in religion

Question 23

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Calligraphy

A) The art of beautiful writing
B) The Buddhist symbol depicting only an empty circle
C) A Hindu temple carved entirely from the rock of the mountain where it is still attached.
D) Generally, the study and analysis of beauty, especially artistic beauty.
E) Generally, the use and meaning of symbols and images in religion

Question 24

Matching: The letter of the correct definition is given in the space provided.
-Aesthetics

A) The art of beautiful writing
B) The Buddhist symbol depicting only an empty circle
C) A Hindu temple carved entirely from the rock of the mountain where it is still attached.
D) Generally, the study and analysis of beauty, especially artistic beauty.
E) Generally, the use and meaning of symbols and images in religion

Question 25

According to the author, the religion known as Artology (i.e., the worship of art as ultimate being) began in San Diego, California, in the early twentieth century.

Question 26

According to the author, discussing the topics of religious experience and art is like trying to discuss what it is like to be in love with someone.

Question 27

Islam does not engage in any form of artwork of any kind.

Question 28

Hinduism avoids artwork of any kind as it is considered to be a form of idolatry.

Question 29

Buddhism uses art to help people understand its teachings.

Question 30

Christianity avoids artwork as it is considered a form of idolatry.

Question 31

In the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo portrays God as an old, white-haired man.

Question 32

The author argues that religions should always give their money to the poor rather than spending it on beautiful buildings and architecture.

Question 33

Sikhism forbids music as it distracts people from God.

Question 34

Hinduism includes poetry in their sacred writings.

Question 35

Even gardening can be a form of religious art.

Question 36

Find two examples of beautiful (in your own opinion) music or painting, one religious and the other not religious. What makes them beautiful? What makes them religious or not religious?

Question 37

Use an example from the text or one you know (or personally research) to describe the beauty and the importance of religious architecture. Explore how it may help followers relate to Ultimate Being.

Question 38

The textbook mentions both the Tibetan Buddhist creation of mandalas and Native traditions' use of imitative ritual as performative art. Explain what this means with one of these examples. Note, too, that there may be less "art" here than transformative ritual and consider whether you think one aspect or the other-the beauty of the art or the transformative ritual-is most important. Say why.

Question 39

It was noted in the reading that religious art naturally connects to religious emotion, and yet the emotion of such art can also become detached from the religion. Use an example from the reading or lecture-we noted Bach's music, the dancing of Dervishes, and the cathedrals of Europe-and explain first how the art enhances religion and then what happens when it ceases to be religious. Somewhere in this discussion you should make some reference to Ultimate Being.

Question 40

Find two examples of relatively well-known religious art in two different media (e.g., painting and poetry, or sculpture and music, etc.). Describe both pieces and the value they have for their religious followers. Consider as well how such art might in fact distract someone from religious life. In the end, defend which of these artworks you think is the best for its religious context.