Holy Spirit: An Interfaith Quiz



(Muhammad and Jibrael)

It’s possible to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and yet not know too much about its multifaceted history here on Earth.  This little quiz might therefore come in handy for those who wish to raise the bar during coffee-klatch chatter.

Where does the term “Holy Ghost” originate from?

It originates from the Old English word gast, which means

“spirit.”

Which two Hebrew prophets spoke directly about the

Holy Spirit?

Isaiah (44:3 and 63:10-11) and Joel 3:1 (Hebrew-English Mechon-Mamre Bible) did.

What does the Hebrew term Ruach HaKodesh mean?

It means the “Holy Spirit” of God.

In Islam, the “Holy Spirit” is often associated with which angel?

Islam often associates the Holy Spirit with the Archangel Gabriel (aka Jibral, Jibrail, Jibril, Jibrael, and Djibril).

Are “tongues of fire” mentioned anywhere besides the New Testament?

Thesacredpage.com reports that in 1 Enoch 14 a Heavenly Temple is composed of “tongues of fire.”   

What are five Bahai examples of the Holy Spirit?

Bahais recognize the Holy Spirit (aka Most Great Spirit) in these five examples:  Baha’u’llah’s maid of heaven, Zoroaster’s sacred fire, Moses’ burning bush, Jesus’ dove, and Muhammad’s angel Gabriel.  According to Wikipedia, Bahais believe that the Holy Spirit is “the conduit through which the wisdom of God becomes directly associated with the messenger.”

As the coffee-break comes to an end, there might be time for one last bonus question.  Here it is:  What is a major difference between the Holy Spirit in Christianity and the Holy Spirit in these other aforementioned religions (Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and the Bahai Faith)?  Final answer: 

Christianity is the only one of these religions that has the Trinity concept of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit_(Judaism)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit_(Islam)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Spirit_(Christianity)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maid_of_Heaven

http://www.pyracantha.com/Z/atarsh.html

http://www.thesacredpage.com/2008/05/pentecosts-tongues-of-fire-and-heavenly.html

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1403.htm

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1063.htm

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1044.htm

Copyright June 12, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved