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Religious Studies 014:  Judaism - Christianity - Islam
Quiz #2
March 2, 1994

This is a take-home quiz due at the beginning of class on Monday, 
March 14th.  You may consult as many sources as you like and 
discuss the questions with your classmates, but when you write up 
your answers, please put aside all of your references and answer 
the questions on your own.  You must answer one of the questions 
in Part A and three of the questions in Part B.  Some of these 
questions address a portion of the same information from 
different perspectives, so feel free to cross reference your 
question responses. The Part A question is worth 40 points, while 
the Part B questions are worth 20 points each, so gauge your 
responses accordingly. Please type your responses. 

PART A (Answer ONE of the following - 40 points) Time: 1/2 hour 

1.  In developing into their classical forms, what specific 
"fences" did Judaism, Christianity and Islam build around 
themselves to insure their distinctive identities?  What part did 
their relationships with governmental power structures, threats 
from without and conflicts within play in these developments? 

2.  Trace the parallel development of the Jewish and Christian 
Canons.  Be sure to address the time span involved and the 
concerns which proved most significant.  What were the 
similarities and differences between the Jewish and Christian 
experiences and how did they influence one another?  How did the 
development of the Qur'an compare with that of the Jewish and 
Christian scriptures? 

PART B (Answer THREE of the following - 20 points each) 15 min each

1.  Where does authority reside in each tradition and what is the 
relationship between the people and that authority? (i.e. How 
does what is authoritative reach the adherents?) 

2.  In the creation of the classical forms, what were the key 
identifying features of the community of believers within each 
tradition?  How was leadership structured within the community 
and what divisions existed among its members? 

3.  How did the issue of eschatalogical perceptions and 
perspectives influence the development and expressions of the 
classical forms of each tradition? 

4.  Compare and contrast the Shema, the Apostle's Creed and the 
Shahadah.  What significant information does each tell us about 
its tradition? 

5.  What did the concept of "nation" or "kingdom" mean within 
each tradition?  How did these notions develop and how were they 
played out within the classical period?  What part, if any, did 
evangelism/proselytism play in these notions?