The following examinations were administered in History 315 during the spring term 1998. They are typical of examinations for this course.

Mid-Term Examination

Part I: Essay Questions. Write essays on TWO of the following three topics. 40 points each.

1. Both the Goldberg and Rayner text and my lecture sought to construct a framework for understanding Moses and the Exodus in the absence of extra biblical materials. What can we say with some measure of historical confidence regarding the events of the Exodus? Consider questions such as: who were the Hebrews, who was Moses, where did Moses learn about Yahweh, when did these events likely occur, and what was the meaning of Exodus and Sinai for the Hebrew people?

2. Consider the written prophets and some of the wisdom literature as evidence of the impact of the destruction of Jerusalem and exile on the Jewish people. How were their religious ideas changing as a result of these events?

3. By the second century of this era, Christianity had spread throughout the Mediterranean world and seemed threatened by a lack of coherence with people as diverse as Marcion, Montanus, and the Gnostics seeking to speak for the new movement. What became the "orthodox" church (both Greek and Latin) sought to clarify its position. Discuss three major developments designed to clarify the question of "who is a Christian" or "who speaks for the church."

Part II: Objective Questions. 2 points each.

1. The Hebrew exodus from Egypt is generally assumed by historians to have taken place in the

a. 20^th century B.C.E.

b. 13^th century B.C.E.

c. 8^th century B.C.E.

d. there is no historical evidence for a reasonable guess

2. The three major divisions of Jewish scripture are

a. prophets, writings, and psalms

b. prophets, priests, and law

c. law, Pentateuch, and history

d. law, prophets, and writings

3. The Deuteronomic reform resulted in a bringing together of elements of both

prophetic and priestly religion

T

F

4. A Pharisee in the first century would probably have insisted that worship be

confined within the precincts of the Jerusalem temple.

T

F

5. All early Christian theologians agreed on the books of scripture and their

interpretation

T

F

6. E. P. Sanders, a New Testament scholar discussed in class, has concluded that we

can reconstruct no facts concerning the life of Jesus.

T

F

7. The Bishop of Alexandria whose position was declared orthodox at the Council of Nicaea in 325 was

a. Origen

b. Tertullian

c. Athanasius

d. Arius

8. The "Nicene Creed," as it is commonly called, was written at a council held in

a. Nicaea

b. Jerusalem

c. Ephesus

d. Chalcedon

9. Marcion particularly favored the writings of

a. Peter

b. James

c. Paul

d. Luke

10. The Donatists rejected orthodox belief in the Resurrection

T

F

Part III: Bonus Question for 10 points.

What is your approved research topic, what are the two sources you have examined to date, and what are a couple of important things you have learned from this endeavor?

Final Examination

Part I: Essay Question. Write an extensive essay on ONE of the following topics (40%)

1. The sixteenth century in Europe is described as the age of reformation. Yet everyone seemed to have a distinctive plan for reformation. Compare and contrast Catholic, Lutheran, and Anabaptist programs of reformation.

2. The eighteenth century gave rise both to rationalism and pietism. Discuss these two movements and explain how two such distinctive movements could be the product of the same age.

Part II: Essay Question. Write a short essay on ONE of the following topics (30%).

1. Islam is seldom regarded as a European religion though it contributed significantly to the shaping of Spain and though Christianity was transformed by encounter with this younger religious tradition. Discuss.

2. The French Revolution was supposed to be a liberating force for European Judaism, but anti-semitism continued in the nineteenth century; and our own century has witnessed a calculated effort at genocide directed against Jews. Discuss forces shaping the history of Judaism in the modern period.

Part III: Multiple-choice questions. Circle the letter before the most appropriate response. (40%)

1. Those in the Greek church who advocated veneration of icons are called

a. iconoclasts

b. iconodules

c. hesychasts

d. none of the above

2. The order of precedence of patriarchates in early Christianity as agreed upon at the Council of Chalcedon was

a. Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch

b. Constantinople, Jerusalem, Rome, Alexandria

c. Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem

d. Rome, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch

3. The PRIMARY issues leading to the schism between Greek and Latin churches had to do with

a. language and liturgy

b. the text of the creed and the authority of Rome

c. Bulgarian missions and the text of the creed

d. the authority of the Patriarch of Constantinople

4. The Great Schism between Greek and Latin churches in 1054 occurred when

a. the Latin church excommunicated the patriarch of Constantinople

b. the Byzantine church excommunicated the pope

c. a council could not agree on the Doctrine of the Trinity

d. the two groups could not agree on caesaropapism

5. The model figure for hermit monasticism was

a. Hugh of Cluny

b. St. Benedict

c. St. Antony

d. St. Basil

6. The Crusades were directed against

a. Albigensians in France

b. Muslims in the Holy Land

c. Greek Christians in Constantinople

d. all of the above

7. A devout Muslim is expected to do all of the following except

a. fast during Ramadan

b. pay the zakat

c. go on holy war

d. recite the profession of faith

8. The papacy reached the zenith of its temporal power under

a. Gregory VII

b. John XXIII

c. Benedict IX

d. Innocent III

9. The emperor Henry went to Canossa in 1077 and appeared as a penitent before

a. Gregory VII

b. Innocent III

c. Hugh of Cluny

d. Urban II

10. The term "great schism" may be applied to the split in Latin and Greek churches. It may also be applied to

a. the split between Protestants and Catholics

b. the removal of the papacy to Avignon

c. the division in the College of Cardinals and election of two rival popes

d. the separation of church and state

11. Objecting to the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, Luther insisted on what he termed

a. spiritual communion

b. Consubstantiation

c. Nonsubstantiation

d. elimination of all sacraments

12. The doctrine of predestination received special emphasis in the teachings of

a. Ignatius Loyola

b. Martin Luther

c. John Calvin

d. Erasmus

13. The most successful of the institutions identified with the Catholic reformation of the sixteenth century was

a. the Roman Inquisition

b. the Council of Trent

c. the Theatines

d. the Society of Jesus

14. The individual whose views would be least like those of the other three is

a. John Wesley

b. John Locke

c. Lord Herbert of Cherbury

d. Anthony Collins

15. The Peace of Westphalia

a. established the primacy of the pope

b. ended a struggle over the French throne

c. established the principle of the national church

d. guaranteed religious freedom to Western Europeans

16. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy

a. eliminated the church in revolutionary France

b. was supported by the pope

c. made the clergy into employees of the state

d. separated church and state in France

17. The priest who became known for his defense of native Americans was

a. Matteo Ricci

b. Bartolome de Las Casas

c. Francis Xavier

d. William Carey

18. The Asian countries in which Christianity has had the widest impact are

a. Japan and Thailand

b. China and Laos

c. Philippines and Korea

d. Indonesia and Cambodia

19. The author of the Pia Desideria was

a. John Wesley

b. Count Zinzendorf

c. George Whitefield

d. Philip Jakob Spener

20. The individual identified with the beginnings of Protestant missions in China was

a. Robert Morrison

b. William Carey

c. David Livingstone

d. John Newman