The 15 quiz questions
Question 1 : In which language was the Quran revealed?
Possible answers:
- Aramaic
- Hebrew
- Arabic
- Persian
Explanation: The Quran was revealed in Arabic to Prophet Muhammad. For Muslims, only the Arabic text is considered God's exact word. Translations are interpretations, not the Quran itself.
Question 2 : What is the first book of the Bible, which tells the story of the creation of the world?
Possible answers:
- Genesis
- Revelation
- Exodus
- Psalms
Explanation: Genesis (Bereshit in Hebrew) is the first book of the Bible and the Torah. It tells of the creation of the world in 6 days, Adam and Eve, the Flood, and the story of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Question 3 : What is the Buddhist canon called, whose name means "three baskets"?
Possible answers:
- Tripitaka
- Lotus Sutra
- Bardo Thodol
- Dhammapada
Explanation: The Tripitaka ("three baskets") is the Theravada Buddhist canon. It includes the Vinaya Pitaka (monastic rules), Sutta Pitaka (Buddha's teachings) and Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophy).
Question 4 : How many Gospels does the New Testament contain?
Possible answers:
- 2
- 4
- 7
- 12
Explanation: The New Testament contains 4 canonical Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They tell the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus. Other "apocryphal" gospels exist but are not recognized.
Question 5 : Which Sikh holy book is treated as a living guru and placed on a throne in temples?
Possible answers:
- Japji Sahib
- Guru Granth Sahib
- Dasam Granth
- Rehat Maryada
Explanation: The Guru Granth Sahib is the Sikh holy book, treated with exceptional devotion: it is placed on a throne, fanned, covered at night and carried in procession. It contains hymns from the 10 gurus and poets from other religions.
Question 6 : What is the rabbinic text that comments on and interprets the Torah in Judaism called?
Possible answers:
- The Mishnah
- The Talmud
- The Halakha
- The Midrash
Explanation: The Talmud ("teaching") is a vast collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Torah. It exists in two versions: the Jerusalem Talmud (~400 CE) and the Babylonian Talmud (~500 CE), which is more complete.
Question 7 : In which ancient language are the Vedas, Hinduism's oldest texts, written?
Possible answers:
- Tamil
- Sanskrit
- Hindi
- Pali
Explanation: The Vedas are written in Vedic Sanskrit, an ancient form of Sanskrit. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and is still used in religious rituals and philosophy.
Question 8 : What is the first surah of the Quran called, recited in every Muslim prayer?
Possible answers:
- Al-Baqara
- Ya-Sin
- Al-Ikhlas
- Al-Fatiha
Explanation: Al-Fatiha ("The Opening") is the first surah of the Quran, composed of 7 verses. It is recited in every prayer (salat) and is considered a summary of the entire Quran.
Question 9 : To which biblical king are the Psalms, a collection of 150 poems and prayers, traditionally attributed?
Possible answers:
- David
- Isaiah
- Moses
- Solomon
Explanation: The Psalms (Tehillim) are traditionally attributed to King David, though many authors contributed. They are used in Judaism and Christianity for prayer and liturgical singing.
Question 10 : How many chapters (verses) does the Tao Te Ching, the founding text of Taoism, contain?
Possible answers:
- 33
- 66
- 81
- 108
Explanation: The Tao Te Ching contains 81 short chapters, divided into two parts: the Book of Tao (chapters 1-37) and the Book of Te (chapters 38-81). It is one of the most translated texts in the world after the Bible.
Question 11 : Which sacred text is the most translated book in the world, available in over 3,000 languages?
Possible answers:
- The Quran
- The Bible
- The Torah
- The Bhagavad Gita
Explanation: The Bible is the most translated and best-selling book in history. The New Testament alone is available in over 1,600 languages, and portions of the Bible in over 3,500 languages.
Question 12 : What are the collections of Prophet Muhammad's sayings and deeds, complementary to the Quran, called?
Possible answers:
- Surahs
- Tafsirs
- Fatwas
- Hadiths
Explanation: Hadiths are the sayings, deeds and approvals of Prophet Muhammad reported by his companions. They complement the Quran and are the second source of Islamic law. The most reliable are those of Bukhari and Muslim.
Question 13 : Which ancient Egyptian text contains formulas and prayers to guide the dead in the afterlife?
Possible answers:
- The Papyrus of Ani
- The Book of Amun
- The Book of the Dead
- The Pyramid Texts
Explanation: The Book of the Dead (actually "Book of Coming Forth by Day") is a collection of Egyptian funerary formulas from the New Kingdom (~1550 BCE). It guided the soul of the deceased on its journey to the afterlife.
Question 14 : How many parts does the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) consist of?
Possible answers:
- 2
- 3
- 5
- 7
Explanation: The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) consists of 3 parts: Torah (Law, 5 books), Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). The word "Tanakh" is an acronym formed from the initials of these three sections.
Question 15 : Which sacred text, dating from around 1500 BCE, is considered the oldest still used in religious rituals?
Possible answers:
- The Avesta
- The Torah
- The Kojiki
- The Rig Veda
Explanation: The Rig Veda is the oldest of the four Vedas and one of humanity's oldest religious texts still in use. Its 1,028 hymns in Vedic Sanskrit are still recited during Hindu ceremonies.
