Religion Trivia Quiz

Think you know Religion? Here are 50 Religion trivia questions with answers — then play them live against real players in the free Triviarena quiz app.

1. Who is considered the central figure in the proclamation of the gospel in Christianity?
   • Paul
   • Jesus Christ
   • John the Baptist
   • Moses
   Answer: Jesus Christ
2. What is the term for the direction towards Mecca that Muslims face during prayer?
   • Qibla
   • Mihrab
   • Wudu
   • Khutbah
   Answer: Qibla
   The qibla is the direction of the city of Mecca, which Muslims must face during prayer.
3. Which famous explorer's remains are buried within the Catholic Cathedral of Seville?
   • Christopher Columbus
   • Ferdinand Magellan
   • Vasco da Gama
   • Hernán Cortés
   Answer: Christopher Columbus
   Christopher Columbus and his son Diego are buried in Seville Cathedral.
4. Which major sun kami is considered the most venerated deity in the Shinto religion?
   • Susanoo
   • Tsukuyomi
   • Inari
   • Amaterasu
   Answer: Amaterasu
   Amaterasu is the sun kami in Shinto mythology, from whom the Japanese imperial family claims descent, making her highly venerated.
5. In Islamic tradition, Abraham is highly revered and called "Khalīlullāh", meaning what?
   • Sword of Heaven
   • The First Prophet
   • Friend of God
   • Voice of the Desert
   Answer: Friend of God
   In Islam, Abraham holds an exalted position and is known as Khalīlullāh, which translates to 'Friend of God'.
6. In the concept of yin and yang, which traits are traditionally associated with yin?
   • Passive and feminine
   • Active and masculine
   • Bright and expansive
   • Hot and repelling
   Answer: Passive and feminine
   Yin is traditionally associated with passive, receptive, dark, and feminine characteristics.
7. What are the five fundamental practices of Sunni Islam commonly called?
   • The Five Pillars
   • The Five Doors
   • The Five Testaments
   • The Five Sacraments
   Answer: The Five Pillars
   The fundamental practices in Islam, considered obligatory acts of worship, are known as the Five Pillars.
8. On what material were the Pali Canon scriptures first written down in 29 BC?
   • Silk scrolls
   • Clay tablets
   • Papyrus sheets
   • Palm leaves
   Answer: Palm leaves
   After being preserved orally for centuries, the teachings were first written down on palm leaves during the Fourth Buddhist Council.
9. The Book of Kells is a lavishly decorated early medieval copy of which religious text?
   • The four Christian Gospels
   • The Jewish Torah
   • The Book of Revelation
   • The Dead Sea Scrolls
   Answer: The four Christian Gospels
   The manuscript is a Celtic Gospel book containing the four Gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
10. What is the name of the highest mountain in Judaism where Moses received the commandments?
    • Mount Ararat
    • Berg Hermon
    • Mount Sinai
    • Ölberg
    Answer: Mount Sinai
11. In ancient Egyptian religion, the goddess Bastet is most famously depicted as what animal?
    • Falcon
    • Jackal
    • Cat
    • Crocodile
    Answer: Cat
    Though originally a lioness, Bastet is most famous for her later depiction as a domestic cat or cat-headed woman.
12. Where did the principal Greek gods, known as the Olympians, reside according to myth?
    • The Underworld
    • Mount Olympus
    • The city of Athens
    • Mount Parnassus
    Answer: Mount Olympus
    The principal pantheon of Greek gods, the Olympians, were believed to live on Mount Olympus under the rule of Zeus.
13. What Greek-derived term describes the shared substance of the Trinity?
    • Homoousion
    • Hypostases
    • Trinitas
    • Consubstantial
    Answer: Homoousion
    The text states the three persons share one essence, substance, or nature, referred to by the term 'homoousion'.
14. Which 19th-century philosopher famously used the name Zarathustra in a book title?
    • Immanuel Kant
    • Friedrich Nietzsche
    • Karl Marx
    • Arthur Schopenhauer
    Answer: Friedrich Nietzsche
    Friedrich Nietzsche wrote the seminal philosophical novel "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" in 1885.
15. What religion are most pagodas primarily built to serve?
    • Hinduism
    • Taoism
    • Buddhism
    • Shinto
    Answer: Buddhism
    While some pagodas serve other faiths, the vast majority were built for Buddhist religious functions.
16. To which Italian city were Saint Nicholas's major bones taken in 1087?
    • Bari
    • Venice
    • Myra
    • Rome
    Answer: Bari
    According to the content, merchants from the Italian city of Bari removed the major bones and brought them to their hometown.
17. What is the name of the supreme creator deity worshipped in Zoroastrianism?
    • Ahura Mazda
    • Shiva
    • Zeus
    • Yahweh
    Answer: Ahura Mazda
    Zoroaster experienced a divine revelation introducing him to Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord.
18. In the Odyssey, what natural phenomenon serves as a divine omen from Zeus?
    • Earthquakes
    • Solar eclipses
    • Lightning strikes
    • Tidal waves
    Answer: Lightning strikes
    Lightning and thunder are used as divine omens representing Zeus and symbolizing Odysseus's rightful kingship.
19. What is the name of the central Sikh temple in Amritsar?
    • Blue Temple
    • Golden Temple
    • Green Temple
    • White Temple
    Answer: Golden Temple
20. Who did Billy Graham invite to preach with him in New York City in 1957?
    • Martin Luther King Jr.
    • Robert Schuller
    • Richard Nixon
    • Dwight D. Eisenhower
    Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.
    The text states that Graham invited Martin Luther King Jr. to preach jointly at a revival in New York City in 1957.
21. What temporary dwelling do Jewish people eat and sleep in during the holiday of Sukkot?
    • Mikveh
    • Sukkah
    • Chuppah
    • Menorah
    Answer: Sukkah
    During Sukkot, it is a commandment to dwell, eat, and sleep in a sukkah, a temporary hut with an organic roof.
22. Which of these is NOT one of the five main vows for Jain monks?
    • Asteya (not stealing)
    • Satya (truth)
    • Dhyāna (meditation)
    • Aparigraha (non-possessiveness)
    Answer: Dhyāna (meditation)
    The text lists the five main vows as ahiṃsā (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness). Dhyāna is not on this list.
23. What does the Aramaic name "Golgotha", the site of Jesus' crucifixion, translate to?
    • Place of a skull
    • Hill of tears
    • Valley of death
    • Mount of olives
    Answer: Place of a skull
    Golgotha translates to 'place of a skull', which is also where the Latin-derived name Calvary comes from.
24. Which Babylonian ziggurat is widely considered the inspiration for the Tower of Babel?
    • Etemenanki
    • Chogha Zanbil
    • Ziggurat of Ur
    • Dur-Kurigalzu
    Answer: Etemenanki
    Modern scholars believe the biblical story was inspired by Etemenanki, a ziggurat dedicated to the god Marduk in Babylon.
25. The Protestant Reformation initially began as a reaction against the Catholic Church selling what?
    • Indulgences
    • Bibles
    • Rosaries
    • Relics
    Answer: Indulgences
    The Reformation started as a protest against the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences, which claimed to offer buyers the remission of punishment for their sins.
26. Sikhism rejects that any religion has a monopoly on what?
    • Selfless service
    • Absolute truth
    • Monotheism
    • Spiritual teachers
    Answer: Absolute truth
    The content explicitly states that Sikhism rejects claims that any particular religious tradition has a monopoly on absolute truth.
27. In the Gospel of Luke, the archangel Gabriel announces the upcoming birth of Jesus to whom?
    • Elizabeth
    • Mary
    • Martha
    • Sarah
    Answer: Mary
    In the famous event known as the Annunciation, Gabriel appears to Mary to announce that she will conceive and give birth to Jesus.
28. What is the primary architectural function of the Tower of Pisa?
    • A watchtower
    • A campanile (bell tower)
    • An astronomical observatory
    • A royal residence
    Answer: A campanile (bell tower)
    The text explicitly states that the Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral.
29. Which Hindu goddess of knowledge and music is the wife of the creator god Brahma?
    • Lakshmi
    • Parvati
    • Sarasvati
    • Kali
    Answer: Sarasvati
    Sarasvati is the wife of Brahma, serving as the embodiment of his power and the instrument of creation.
30. What condition did the Dalai Lama set for abandoning specific Buddhist claims?
    • If science proves them false
    • If a global council votes against them
    • If the UN mandates their removal
    • If they cause political conflict
    Answer: If science proves them false
    The Dalai Lama has a deep interest in science and has stated that Buddhists must accept scientific findings and abandon religious claims if science conclusively proves them false.
31. What is the name of the meal eaten before dawn during Ramadan?
    • Suhur
    • Iftar
    • Salah
    • Thawab
    Answer: Suhur
32. In the original Greek, the prefix 'anti' in 'Antichrist' means 'against' and what else?
    • In place of
    • Less than
    • Born from
    • Servant to
    Answer: In place of
    The Greek word 'anti' can mean 'opposite of' or 'against', but it also translates to 'in place of', reflecting the Antichrist's role as a false substitute.
33. Under what type of tree did Siddhartha Gautama famously attain enlightenment?
    • Bodhi tree
    • Banyan tree
    • Lotus tree
    • Baobab tree
    Answer: Bodhi tree
    Buddhist tradition states that Siddhartha achieved full awakening while meditating under a pipal tree, famously known as the Bodhi tree.
34. Which major Hindu deity is worshipped as the supreme being in the Vaishnavism tradition?
    • Shiva
    • Brahma
    • Vishnu
    • Ganesha
    Answer: Vishnu
    Vaishnavism is a major Hindu denomination centered around the devotion and worship of Vishnu as the supreme being.
35. Which of these is a distinctive Marian dogma in the Catholic Church?
    • Immaculate Conception
    • Sola Scriptura
    • Papal Infallibility
    • Predestination
    Answer: Immaculate Conception
    The text explicitly names the Immaculate Conception as one of the distinctive Marian dogmas held by the Catholic Church.
36. Islamic tradition links the original Ashura fast to which Jewish holiday?
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Yom Kippur
    • Rosh Hashanah
    Answer: Yom Kippur
    Early Islamic fasting on Ashura was adopted from Jewish practices in Medina, explicitly linked to Yom Kippur.
37. According to Hindu tradition, in which ancient city was Lord Rama born?
    • Varanasi
    • Mathura
    • Ayodhya
    • Dwarka
    Answer: Ayodhya
    Rama was born in the city of Ayodhya, which remains the central hub for Rama Navami celebrations today.
38. Which number represented light and held significant ritual importance in Mesoamerican religion?
    • 7
    • 9
    • 13
    • 20
    Answer: 13
    In Mesoamerican arithmetic and religious ideology, numbers had symbolic values. The number 13 was specifically associated with light.
39. Before facing Mecca, the original qibla wall of the Prophet's Mosque faced which city?
    • Damascus
    • Jerusalem
    • Cairo
    • Baghdad
    Answer: Jerusalem
    In the early history of the mosque, the direction of prayer (qibla) faced north toward Jerusalem before it was changed to Mecca.
40. Who is the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity known as the eternal consort of Vishnu?
    • Parvati
    • Saraswati
    • Lakshmi
    • Kali
    Answer: Lakshmi
    Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and the complementary partner of Vishnu, often incarnating alongside his avatars.
41. In the Catholic Church, how many posthumous miracles are typically required for sainthood?
    • One
    • Two
    • Three
    • Four
    Answer: Two
    The Catholic Church maintains strict requirements for canonization, requiring proof of two posthumous miracles.
42. Which three people are considered the patriarchs of Judaism?
    • Joseph, Benjamin and Levi
    • Moses, David and Solomon
    • Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
    • Samuel, Nathan and Elijah
    Answer: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
43. Which of the Five Pillars of Islam refers to the giving of obligatory charity?
    • Zakat
    • Shahada
    • Sawm
    • Hajj
    Answer: Zakat
    Zakat is the practice of systematic giving of a percentage of one's wealth to the poor and needy.
44. In Indian religious art, what term describes sacred hand gestures with specific meanings?
    • Mudra
    • Asana
    • Chakra
    • Mantra
    Answer: Mudra
    Mudras are symbolic hand gestures used in the iconography of Indian religions to convey specific meanings and spiritual states.
45. What do Sikhs regard as the 11th and eternally living guru?
    • The Golden Temple
    • The Guru Granth Sahib
    • The Khalsa
    • The Ik Onkar
    Answer: The Guru Granth Sahib
    According to the text, Sikhs consider the Guru Granth Sahib, their central religious scripture, to be the 11th and eternal guru.
46. In ancient Judaism, which group took vows to abstain from wine, grapes, and cutting their hair?
    • Nazirites
    • Essenes
    • Pharisees
    • Sadducees
    Answer: Nazirites
    The Nazirites were an ancient Jewish group whose members took specific ascetic vows, which included abstaining from wine and grapes, and letting their hair grow.
47. What is the three-person Christian conception of God shared by most denominations?
    • Trinitarianism
    • Trinity
    • Hypostatic Union
    • Unitarianism
    Answer: Trinity
48. Which citrus fruit is one of the "Four Species" shaken during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot?
    • Etrog (Citron)
    • Pomelo
    • Bergamot
    • Yuzu
    Answer: Etrog (Citron)
    The etrog, or citron, is held together with palm, myrtle, and willow branches to fulfill the mitzvah of the Four Species.
49. What short phrase is considered the earliest creed of Christianity?
    • Jesus is Lord
    • God is Love
    • Christ is Risen
    • Father, Son, Holy Spirit
    Answer: Jesus is Lord
    Before the development of longer statements of faith like the Apostles' Creed, 'Jesus is Lord' served as the earliest Christian creed.
50. In Buddhism, the 'Middle Way' avoids the extreme of sensual indulgence and which other extreme?
    • Extreme asceticism
    • Constant meditation
    • Total silence
    • Absolute poverty
    Answer: Extreme asceticism
    The Middle Way is a spiritual practice that steers clear of both extreme asceticism (self-mortification) and sensual indulgence.