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The modern English word 'altar' is primarily derived from the Old English 'wēofod,' which it eventually replaced.
Answer: False
The modern English word 'altar' is primarily derived from the Latin 'altare,' and it replaced the Old English 'wēofod,' rather than being derived from it.
What is the fundamental purpose of an altar across various religions?
Answer: To act as a table or platform for religious offerings, sacrifices, or ritualistic purposes.
Across diverse religious traditions, the primary function of an altar is to serve as a dedicated surface for the presentation of offerings, the performance of sacrifices, or other sacred rituals.
From which language is the modern English word 'altar' primarily derived?
Answer: Latin 'altare'
The modern English word 'altar' traces its primary etymological root to the Latin term 'altare,' which signifies a 'burning place' or 'high place.'
In antiquity, altars were exclusively used for animal sacrifices, with libations being a later development.
Answer: False
In antiquity, altars were used for both libations and animal sacrifices, indicating that libations were not a later development but an integral part of early ritual practices.
The Ara Pacis, a significant ancient Roman altar, was dedicated by Augustus Caesar to the Roman goddess of war, Bellona, at the start of the Pax Romana.
Answer: False
The Ara Pacis was dedicated by Augustus Caesar to Pax, the Roman goddess of peace, marking the beginning of the Pax Romana.
Archaeological evidence in the Land of Israel includes the remains of three rock-hewn altars found below Tel Zorah, at the base of Sebastia, and near Shiloh.
Answer: True
Archaeological discoveries in the Land of Israel have indeed revealed the remains of three rock-hewn altars in the specified locations, providing concrete evidence of ancient sacrificial sites.
Altars described in the Hebrew Bible were typically constructed from finely cut and shaped stones, placed in secluded areas for private worship.
Answer: False
Altars in the Hebrew Bible were typically constructed from earth or unwrought stone and were erected in conspicuous places for public worship, not from finely cut stones in secluded areas.
Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses are all recorded in the Hebrew Bible as having erected altars.
Answer: True
The Hebrew Bible explicitly mentions Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses as having constructed altars for religious purposes.
After the theophany on Mount Sinai, the Tabernacle and later the Jerusalem Temple utilized two main altars: the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Altar of Incense.
Answer: True
Following the divine manifestation on Mount Sinai, both the Tabernacle and the subsequent Jerusalem Temple featured the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Altar of Incense as their primary altars.
Which Roman goddess was the Ara Pacis dedicated to by Augustus Caesar?
Answer: Pax
The Ara Pacis, a monumental Roman altar, was dedicated by Augustus Caesar to Pax, the goddess personifying peace, at the inception of the Pax Romana.
Which of the following materials were typically used for altars described in the Hebrew Bible?
Answer: Earth or unwrought stone.
According to descriptions in the Hebrew Bible, altars were commonly constructed from natural materials such as earth or stones that had not been shaped or cut by tools.
What were the two primary altars used in the Tabernacle and later in the Jerusalem Temple?
Answer: The Altar of Burnt Offering and the Altar of Incense.
The Tabernacle and the subsequent Jerusalem Temple featured two principal altars: the Altar of Burnt Offering for animal sacrifices and the Altar of Incense for aromatic offerings.
Which of the following figures from the Hebrew Bible is NOT mentioned as having erected an altar?
Answer: David.
While Noah, Abraham, and Moses are explicitly mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as having erected altars, David is not listed among these figures in the provided source material.
In Catholic and Orthodox Christian theology, the Eucharist is understood as a symbolic remembrance of Christ's sacrifice, not a re-presentation.
Answer: False
Catholic and Orthodox Christian theology understands the Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christ's single sacrifice on the cross, making it present again in a literal sense, rather than merely a symbolic remembrance.
Christian altars are exclusively found within designated communal worship areas known as 'sanctuaries.'
Answer: False
While commonly found in sanctuaries, Christian altars can also be located in less regular spaces such as outdoors, in cemeteries, mausoleums, crypts, and even in private family dwellings for personal devotion.
The area around a Christian altar is often distinguished by structures like an iconostasis or altar rails to signify its greater holiness.
Answer: True
The area surrounding a Christian altar is typically set apart and elevated, often using structures such as an iconostasis, rood screen, or altar rails, to emphasize its sacred nature.
Early Christian altars were always permanently attached to the eastern wall of the chancel, a tradition that has remained unchanged.
Answer: False
Early Christian altars were often free-standing in the middle of the sanctuary, and their orientation and attachment to walls evolved significantly over time, particularly in Western Europe.
The Latin Church prefers movable altars over fixed altars because they offer greater flexibility in liturgical arrangements.
Answer: False
The Latin Church generally prefers fixed altars for new churches, as they more clearly and permanently symbolize Christ Jesus, the 'Living Stone,' over movable altars.
For fixed altars in the Latin Church, the top slab must exclusively be made of natural stone, with no other materials permitted.
Answer: False
While natural stone is generally recommended for the top slab of fixed altars in the Latin Church, dignified, well-crafted solid wood is also permitted in many places.
Catholic norms for relics beneath altars permit the insertion of small, authenticated relics into a cavity within the altar table itself.
Answer: False
Catholic norms explicitly state that a reliquary must be placed beneath the altar table, not on or within it, and prohibit the insertion of relics into a cavity within the altar table or altar stone.
In Catholic churches, the altar should ideally be separate from the wall to allow clergy to walk around it and celebrate Mass facing the congregation.
Answer: True
Current Catholic guidelines recommend that the altar be free-standing and separate from the wall, enabling the clergy to circumambulate it and celebrate Mass *versus populum* (facing the people).
Lutheran churches typically use a 'Communion Table' instead of an 'altar' because they do not view the Lord's Supper as a sacrificial act.
Answer: False
Lutheran churches often feature altars similar to Catholic and Anglican ones, reflecting their sacramental understanding of the Lord's Supper as a re-presentation of Christ's sacrifice. It is Calvinist churches that typically use a 'Communion Table' due to a different theological understanding.
An 'altar call' is a practice where individuals are invited to publicly commit to Jesus Christ, often by kneeling at altar rails to recite a 'sinner's prayer.'
Answer: True
The 'altar call' is a well-established practice in many Methodist and evangelical churches, inviting individuals to public commitment and often involving kneeling at altar rails for prayer and spiritual guidance.
The Oxford Movement in the 19th century led to the removal of candles and tabernacles from Anglican altars, aligning with earlier canon law.
Answer: False
The Oxford Movement, in fact, led to the reintroduction of candles and tabernacles on Anglican altars, reversing earlier prohibitions by canon law.
In Western Christian tradition, 'altar stones' were small consecrated stones carried by priests to celebrate Mass on ordinary tables, while in Eastern Christianity, the *antimension* serves a similar purpose.
Answer: True
The description accurately differentiates between Western 'altar stones' and the Eastern *antimension*, both serving as consecrated surfaces for liturgical celebrations, especially when a permanent altar is unavailable.
The high altar of St. Michael's Church in Munich is notable for its minimalist design, with a small reredos that does not overshadow the altar.
Answer: False
The high altar of St. Michael's Church in Munich is notable for being dwarfed by a huge reredos, indicating a design that is far from minimalist and where the reredos significantly overshadows the altar.
The Batak Christian Protestant Church in North Sumatra places its altar in the middle of the pulpit, a unique arrangement for a Lutheran church.
Answer: True
The Batak Christian Protestant Church in North Sumatra indeed features a distinctive arrangement where the altar is positioned within the pulpit, which is an uncommon design for a Lutheran denomination.
How is the Eucharist understood in Catholic and Orthodox Christian theology regarding Christ's sacrifice?
Answer: As a re-presentation of Christ's single sacrifice on the cross.
In Catholic and Orthodox Christian theology, the Eucharist is understood not merely as a symbol, but as a sacramental re-presentation that makes Christ's unique sacrifice on the cross present again.
Which of the following is NOT a common location for altars in Christian churches?
Answer: Kitchens for food preparation.
While Christian altars are primarily found in sanctuaries, and occasionally in other sacred or devotional spaces like crypts or outdoors, they are not used in kitchens for food preparation.
What architectural form did Christian altars often take initially, after Christianity was legalized?
Answer: Free-standing in the middle of the sanctuary, often at the west end.
Following the legalization of Christianity, early altars were frequently free-standing, often positioned in the center or at the west end of the sanctuary, allowing for a different liturgical orientation than later traditions.
What is the Latin Church's general preference for altar type in new churches?
Answer: Fixed altars to symbolize Christ Jesus, the 'Living Stone.'
The Latin Church generally prefers fixed altars for new churches, as they serve as a more enduring and explicit symbol of Christ Jesus, referred to as the 'Living Stone' in Christian scripture.
According to Catholic norms, where must relics be placed in relation to the altar table?
Answer: Within a reliquary placed beneath the altar table.
Catholic norms specify that relics must be placed within a reliquary situated beneath the altar table, explicitly prohibiting their insertion into the altar table or altar stone itself.
What is a key characteristic of altars in Lutheran churches?
Answer: They are often similar to Roman Catholic and Anglican altars, representing Christ.
Lutheran altars frequently resemble those in Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions, symbolizing Christ and serving as the exclusive site for the consecration and distribution of the Eucharist.
How do Calvinist churches typically refer to their communion furniture?
Answer: Communion Table.
Calvinist churches, including Reformed and Baptist denominations, refer to their communion furniture as a 'Communion Table' to reflect their theological understanding of Holy Communion as a symbolic meal rather than a sacrificial act.
What was a significant impact of the Oxford Movement on Anglican altars in the 19th century?
Answer: It re-introduced candles and tabernacles, which had previously been banned.
The Oxford Movement in the 19th century significantly influenced Anglican altars by reintroducing elements such as candles and tabernacles, which had been previously prohibited by canon law.
What is the primary difference between a 'Communion Table' in Calvinist churches and an 'altar' in Catholic churches?
Answer: Calvinist churches view Holy Communion as a symbolic meal, not a sacrificial act, unlike Catholic altars.
The fundamental distinction lies in theological interpretation: Calvinist churches regard Holy Communion as a symbolic meal, whereas Catholic theology views the altar as the site for the re-presentation of Christ's sacrifice.
In Byzantine Rite churches, the Greek word *bōmós* specifically refers only to the altar itself, not the broader sanctuary area.
Answer: False
In Byzantine Rite churches, the Greek word *bōmós* can refer to an altar of any religion or, more broadly, to the entire sanctuary area, also known as the *bēma*.
The Holy Table in Byzantine Rite churches is typically attached to the eastern wall and is covered by a single, ornate altar cloth.
Answer: False
The Holy Table in Byzantine Rite churches is typically free-standing, not attached to the eastern wall, and is covered by two distinct cloths: the *Katasarkion* (plain linen) and the *Indítia* (ornamented).
The *Indítia*, an ornamented altar cloth in Byzantine Rite churches, often made of brocade, symbolizes God's Throne.
Answer: True
The *Indítia* is indeed the ornamented outer altar cloth in Byzantine Rite churches, typically made of brocade, and it symbolically represents God's Throne.
The Table of Oblation in Byzantine Rite churches is located on the southern side of the sanctuary and is where the reserved sacrament for the sick is kept.
Answer: False
The Table of Oblation (*Prothesis*) is located on the northern side of the sanctuary and is used for preparing the bread and wine before the Divine Liturgy. The reserved sacrament for the sick is kept in the *Kovtchég* (tabernacle) on the Holy Table.
Armenian Rite altars are distinctively rectangular and feature several steps on top of the table for placing sacred items.
Answer: True
Altars in the Armenian Rite are indeed rectangular and are characterized by multiple steps on their surface, which are used for the hierarchical placement of sacred vessels and liturgical items.
Altars in the Alexandrian Rite must be attached to a wall, as the Coptic liturgy requires the priest to face the wall during consecration.
Answer: False
In the Alexandrian Rite, particularly the Coptic Orthodox Church, altars are never attached to a wall, as the liturgy requires the priest to encircle the altar during the consecration.
In the Indian Orthodox Church, the altar is referred to as 'Madbaha' and is placed towards the western side of the sanctuary.
Answer: False
In the Indian Orthodox Church, the altar is referred to as 'thronose' (throne), and the sanctuary area is called the 'Madbaha.' The altar is placed towards the eastern side of the sanctuary, not the western.
The *antimension* in Eastern Christianity is a consecrated cloth with a relic sewn into it, required for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
Answer: True
The *antimension* is a consecrated silk cloth, essential for the Divine Liturgy in Eastern Christianity, featuring an icon of Christ's burial and containing a sewn-in relic, along with the bishop's signature.
The *Katasarkion* is the ornamented altar cloth in Byzantine Rite churches, often made of brocade, symbolizing God's Throne.
Answer: False
The *Katasarkion* is the plain linen cloth symbolizing Christ's winding sheet, permanently covering the Holy Table. The *Indítia* is the ornamented brocade cloth symbolizing God's Throne.
In Byzantine Rite churches, what is the specific term for the altar itself?
Answer: Holy Table or Throne.
In Byzantine Rite churches, the altar itself is specifically referred to as the 'Holy Table' (*Hagia Trapéza*) or the 'Throne' (*Prestól*).
Which sacred item kept atop the Holy Table in Byzantine Rite churches is a miniature shrine containing the reserved sacrament for the sick?
Answer: The *Kovtchég* (tabernacle).
The *Kovtchég*, or tabernacle, is a miniature shrine placed on the Holy Table in Byzantine Rite churches, specifically designed to hold the reserved sacrament for the sick.
What is the primary function of the Table of Oblation (*Prothesis*) in Byzantine Rite worship?
Answer: To prepare the bread and wine before the Divine Liturgy.
The Table of Oblation (*Prothesis*) in Byzantine Rite worship serves as the location for the Liturgy of Preparation, where the bread and wine are prepared prior to the Divine Liturgy.
What is a distinctive feature of altars in the Armenian Rite?
Answer: They feature several steps on top of the table for sacred items.
A distinctive characteristic of altars in the Armenian Rite is the presence of multiple steps on the altar table itself, designed for the hierarchical placement of various sacred items.
What is a specific requirement for altars in the Alexandrian Rite, particularly in the Coptic Orthodox Church?
Answer: They must have a square face for the offering of the sacrifice and never be attached to any wall.
In the Alexandrian Rite, specifically the Coptic Orthodox Church, altars are required to have a square face for the offering of the sacrifice and must never be attached to any wall, facilitating the priest's circumambulation during the liturgy.
What is the purpose of the *Katasarkion* on the Holy Table in Byzantine Rite churches?
Answer: To symbolize Christ's winding sheet and is never removed.
The *Katasarkion* is the plain linen cloth that permanently covers the Holy Table in Byzantine Rite churches, symbolizing Christ's winding sheet, and it is never removed.
What does the *ilitón* wrap for protection beneath the Gospel Book on the Byzantine Holy Table?
Answer: The *antimension*.
The *ilitón* is a simpler cloth used to wrap and protect the *antimension*, which is placed beneath the Gospel Book on the Byzantine Holy Table.
In Hinduism, the word *mandir* refers exclusively to large, ornate temples, not to the smaller altars found in homes.
Answer: False
In Hinduism, the word *mandir* refers to both large temples and the smaller altars found in homes, as the altar itself is considered a miniature temple.
In South Indian temples, each deity often has a separate shrine resembling a miniature house, with the deity's statue on a stone pedestal.
Answer: True
South Indian temples are characterized by individual shrines for each deity, often designed as miniature houses, housing the deity's statue on a stone pedestal.
North Indian temples typically feature one main altar at the front of the room, sometimes with several altars in alcoves, often with statues in pairs.
Answer: True
North Indian temples commonly feature a central main altar, often supplemented by additional altars in alcoves, frequently displaying deity statues in pairs.
Taoist altars are primarily used for burning 'Hell Bank Notes' as the main form of offering to deities and ancestral spirits.
Answer: False
While burning 'Hell Bank Notes' is a practiced offering, Taoist altars are used for various offerings, including incense, candles, and vegetarian items, and orthodox Daoist practice primarily uses these, not 'Hell Bank Notes' as the main form.
The Japanese *butsudan* is a wooden cabinet designed to enclose and protect a religious image of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas, or a mandala scroll.
Answer: True
The Japanese *butsudan* serves as a wooden cabinet specifically designed to house and safeguard religious images of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas, or mandala scrolls, as a central element of Buddhist worship.
Buddhist shrines like the *butsudan* serve as a focal point for worship of the Buddha and the Law of the Universe, with devotees praying before them morning and evening.
Answer: True
Buddhist shrines, including the *butsudan*, function as central points for devotion, where practitioners engage in prayer and meditation, typically in the mornings and evenings, to honor the Buddha and the universal Dharma.
In Shinto, *himorogi* are permanent stone structures erected as altars for the *kami*.
Answer: False
In Shinto, *himorogi* are temporarily erected sacred spaces or 'altars,' demarcated by natural elements like bamboo or *sakaki* branches and sacred ropes, rather than permanent stone structures.
The Shinto *himorogi* is a sacred space created by demarcating an area with green bamboo or *sakaki* branches at its corners, strung with sacred border ropes.
Answer: True
The Shinto *himorogi* is indeed a sacred space formed by delineating an area with green bamboo or *sakaki* branches at its corners, connected by sacred border ropes (*shimenawa*), with a central *sakaki* branch serving as a *yorishiro* for the *kami*.
Hindu home shrines often include a separate shrine for departed relatives, to whom offerings are made before those to the gods.
Answer: True
Some Hindu households, particularly in South India, maintain a distinct shrine for deceased relatives within their home altars, where offerings are customarily presented to ancestors prior to those made to the deities.
In Hinduism, what does the word *mandir* refer to?
Answer: Both to temples and to the altar, seen as a miniature temple.
In Hinduism, the term *mandir* encompasses both large, ornate temples and the smaller altars found in homes, as the altar itself is conceptualized as a miniature temple.
What is a common practice associated with Taoist altars, involving bowing with incense sticks?
Answer: *Baibai*.
*Baibai* is a common practice associated with Taoist altars, involving bowing towards the altar with one or three sticks of incense as a form of veneration.
What is the primary purpose of the Japanese *butsudan*?
Answer: To enclose and protect a religious image of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas.
The primary function of the Japanese *butsudan* is to serve as a wooden cabinet that encloses and protects a religious image of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas, or a mandala scroll, acting as a focal point for worship.
In Shinto, what are *himorogi*?
Answer: Temporarily erected sacred spaces or 'altars' demarcated by branches and ropes.
In Shinto, *himorogi* are temporary sacred spaces or altars created by demarcating an area with green bamboo or *sakaki* branches at its corners, strung with sacred border ropes, and featuring a central *sakaki* branch as a *yorishiro*.
In South Indian temples, what is often found outside each deity's separate shrine?
Answer: A *vahana* (vehicle) statue.
Outside each individual deity's shrine in South Indian temples, a *vahana* (vehicle) statue, representing the deity's mount, is commonly found.
The *carroccio* was a stationary altar used in medieval Italian city-states for Mass before battles, serving as a religious focal point.
Answer: False
The *carroccio* was a *mobile* altar, a four-wheeled shrine used in medieval Italian city-states to celebrate Mass before battles, serving as both a religious focal point and an army standard.
In Norse paganism, a *hórgr* was a basic altar constructed from piled stones, sometimes located in a wood, used for sacrifices.
Answer: True
A *hórgr* in Norse paganism was a simple altar made of piled stones, often found in natural settings like woods, and was central to sacrificial rituals.
Modern Nordic Pagans (Asatru) and Neo-Druids strictly adhere to historically documented ancient practices for their altars, avoiding imaginative ceremonies.
Answer: False
Modern Nordic Pagans (Asatru) and Neo-Druids often develop imaginative ceremonies for their altars, as specific ancient Druid practices are largely unknown, and they adapt historical emulation with contemporary interpretation.
'High places' were elevated geographical areas where altars were erected, based on the belief that their proximity to heaven made them more favorable for prayer.
Answer: True
'High places' were indeed elevated sites chosen for altars and worship in ancient cultures, driven by the belief that their elevated position facilitated a closer connection to the divine.
The *Opferstein* at Maria Taferl, Austria, was historically used by ancient Romans for making sacrifices.
Answer: False
The *Opferstein* (Sacrifice Rock) at Maria Taferl, Austria, was historically used by the ancient Celts for sacrifices, not by ancient Romans.
What was the *carroccio* in medieval times?
Answer: A mobile altar used to celebrate Mass before a battle.
The *carroccio* was a notable 'war altar' from medieval Italian city-states, functioning as a mobile shrine used for celebrating Mass before military engagements.
What was a *hórgr* in Norse paganism?
Answer: A basic altar constructed from piled stones.
In Norse paganism, a *hórgr* was a rudimentary altar, typically constructed from piled stones, often situated in natural settings such as woods, and used for sacrificial rites.
What is the significance of 'high places' in ancient cultures?
Answer: They were elevated geographical areas where altars were erected, believed to be closer to heaven.
'High places' held significance in ancient cultures as elevated geographical sites where altars were constructed, based on the belief that their proximity to the heavens facilitated more effective prayer and divine connection.