Q 01/05

Which apostle did Jesus call the rock on which he would build his church?

A) Paul

B) Peter

C) John

D) Thomas

Answer · why

B) Peter

Peter denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of his arrest, yet he went on to lead the early church.

Q 02/05

What is the name of the tower from which a mosque's call to prayer is traditionally given?

A) Minbar

B) Mihrab

C) Minaret

D) Muezzin

Answer · why

C) Minaret

Minarets went to a national vote in 2009, when more than 57% of Swiss voters approved a ban on building new ones.

Q 03/05

Which Hindu god is usually shown with the head of an elephant?

A) Ganesha

B) Hanuman

C) Vishnu

D) Shiva

Answer · why

A) Ganesha

In one popular telling, Shiva beheaded the boy Ganesha for blocking his path, then replaced the head with an elephant's.

Q 04/05

Which eight-night Jewish festival marks the Maccabees' rededication of the Temple?

A) Passover

B) Purim

C) Sukkot

D) Hanukkah

Answer · why

D) Hanukkah

Hanukkah lasts eight nights because, in the Talmud's telling, one day's supply of oil kept the Temple menorah burning for eight days.

Q 05/05

In which region of the Indian subcontinent did Sikhism originate?

A) Gujarat

B) Bengal

C) Kerala

D) Punjab

Answer · why

D) Punjab

Punjab, where Sikhism began, was split between India and Pakistan in 1947, and Sikhs on the Pakistani side left for India.