Final answer:
The false religious assumption underlying the play Everyman is the belief in salvation through good works alone. The play challenges this assumption by emphasizing the importance of faith and the acknowledgment of one's sinfulness as the true path to salvation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Everyman is a medieval morality play that explores religious themes and the concept of salvation. One false religious assumption that underlies the play is the belief in the Catholic doctrine of salvation through good works alone. This assumption suggests that a person's actions and deeds on Earth determine their fate in the afterlife.
Throughout the play, Everyman is confronted with the reality that his worldly possessions, accomplishments, and relationships cannot save him from death and judgment. Instead, he must rely on the representation of the seven deadly sins and the seven virtues to guide him towards salvation.
This false assumption illustrates the medieval belief that individuals could earn their way into heaven through acts of charity, penance, and adherence to religious rituals. However, the play ultimately challenges this belief by emphasizing the importance of faith and the acknowledgment of one's own sinfulness as the true path to salvation.