SACRED TEXTS + STORIES
The two main sections of the Christian Bible.
The Old Testament and the New Testament
The head of the Catholic Church
The Pope
Two physical objects used in the Catholic sacraments.
Water, oil, bread, wine, rings ....
The three persons of the Christian Trinity.
The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit
In the parable of Zacchaeus, Jesus visits the home of a tax collector despised by the community. The one word that describes what Jesus shows Zacchaeus that surprises everyone.
A) Anger
B) Judgement
C) Compassion
D) Indifference
C) Compassion
The primary scripture of Theravada Buddhism, whose name means "Three Baskets."
Hint: T
The Tipitaka
The title meaning "Ocean of Wisdom", held by the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism
The Dalai Lama
Three types of Buddhist worship or devotion practiced at a temple.
meditation, chanting, prostrations, making offerings, ringing a bell or gong, puja, reciting mantras.
The three foundations of Buddhist life (The Three Jewels)
- teacher, teachings and community
The Buddha
The Dharma
The Sangha
The Hare's Self-Sacrifice (Sasa Jataka) and the Widow's Offering (Mark 12:41–44) were paired together in class. Both characters give something precious at great personal cost. Name the value both stories share.
Generosity
Both give everything they have, holding nothing back.
The name for a Christian moral story
A parable
The process by which Cardinals gather in secret to pray and vote for a new Pope
The conclave
Placed before a statue of the Buddha, this offering symbolises impermanence (all things are beautiful but do not last).
Flowers
The Buddhist law of cause and effect — your actions shape your future and your next rebirth.
Karma
The Tipitaka was not written down during the Buddha's lifetime. Instead, his teachings were preserved in this way for several hundred years after his death.
Passed down orally - memorised and recited by monks.
The type of Buddhist story that teaches a moral lesson, often featuring animals and a past life of the Buddha.
A Jataka Tale
These are the three levels of ordained leadership in the Catholic Church, beneath the Pope, from highest to lowest.
Bishops, priests and deacons.
Name the 7 sacraments in Catholicism
Baptism, Confirmation, Confession/Reconciliation, Anointing the Sick, The Eucharist, Matrimony/Marriage, Holy Orders.
Christianity says it comes from original sin — humanity's separation from God. Buddhism says it comes from craving and attachment. These are each tradition's explanation for this universal human experience.
Suffering
Psalm 139 says: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" Name the belief about God that this psalm expresses.
God is present everywhere — omnipresent. There is nowhere a person can go where God is not.
One thing the Jataka Tales and Christian parables share (250 points)
One key difference between them (250 points)
Share: Both use characters and situations/stories to teach values
Difference: The Jataka tales are the Buddha's previous lives, often as an animal
Similarity: Parables use human characters in a single story.
Explain "Apostolic Succession"
The unbroken chain of authority passed from Jesus to Peter, continuing through every Pope and Bishop to today
Both Christianity and Buddhism include this practice: Travelling to a sacred place connected to important events in their tradition.
Pilgrimage
In Christianity, this is a gift from God, received through faith and the sacraments.
In Buddhism, it is achieved through your own effort on the path.
Both are answers to the same question: how do we overcome suffering?
Hint: S , L
Salvation
Liberation
In the story of the Widow's Offering (Mark 12:41–44), a poor widow gives two small coins while wealthy people give large amounts. Jesus says she has given more than all the others. Explain why Jesus says this.
She gave everything she had. The value of the gift is measured by the sacrifice it represents, not its size.