Question 1

Which of the following is a similarity of perspective for systems theory and structural functional theory?

Accepted Answer

A) There is an assumption of value-consensus of all parties within the system. 
B) There is a supposition that societies are static and unchanging. 
C) There is an affirmation that different aspects of society are interrelated and interdependent. 
D) There is awareness that institutions or groups within a system may focus primarily on their own self-interests, thus causing tensions and strife. 
E) None of the above.There are no commonalties between systems theory and structural functional theory. 
A) There is an assumption of value-consensus of all parties within the system. 
B) There is a supposition that societies are static and unchanging. 
C) There is an affirmation that different aspects of society are interrelated and interdependent. 
D) There is awareness that institutions or groups within a system may focus primarily on their own self-interests, thus causing tensions and strife. 
E) None of the above.There are no commonalties between systems theory and structural functional theory. C

Question 2

Which of the following is a similarity of perspective for systems theory and conflict theory?

Accepted Answer

A) There is an assumption of value-consensus of all parties within the system. 
B) There is a supposition that societies are static and unchanging. 
C) There is an affirmation that different aspects of society are interrelated and interdependent. 
D) There is awareness that institutions or groups within a system may focus primarily on their own self-interests, thus causing tensions and strife. 
E) None of the above.There are no commonalties between systems theory and conflict theory. 
A) There is an assumption of value-consensus of all parties within the system. 
B) There is a supposition that societies are static and unchanging. 
C) There is an affirmation that different aspects of society are interrelated and interdependent. 
D) There is awareness that institutions or groups within a system may focus primarily on their own self-interests, thus causing tensions and strife. 
E) None of the above.There are no commonalties between systems theory and conflict theory. D

Question 3

According to Durkheim's functional model,

Accepted Answer

A) religion is fading into oblivion because it is being replaced by science. 
B) God stands in the same relationship to worshippers as does a society to its members. 
C) religion serves individual functions but not societal ones. 
D) religion is the cause of social change because it increases conflict in the society. 
E) religious groups are a tool of the "haves" in society which they purposely use to protect their own privileged position and keep the "have-nots" in their place. 
A) religion is fading into oblivion because it is being replaced by science. 
B) God stands in the same relationship to worshippers as does a society to its members. 
C) religion serves individual functions but not societal ones. 
D) religion is the cause of social change because it increases conflict in the society. 
E) religious groups are a tool of the "haves" in society which they purposely use to protect their own privileged position and keep the "have-nots" in their place. B

Question 4

__________ functions are conscious and/or intended, while __________ functions are unconscious and/or unintended.Either of these can be dysfunctional from the perspective of individuals or society.

Accepted Answer

A) Meaning; belonging 
B) Mental; structural 
C) Identity; cultural 
D) Manifest; latent 
A) Meaning; belonging 
B) Mental; structural 
C) Identity; cultural 
D) Manifest; latent

Question 5

The rules that govern how a religious organization makes decisions and who has legal authority to act on behalf of the congregation are part of the church's

Accepted Answer

A) in-put. 
B) out-put. 
C) process. 
D) structure. 
E) seminated sacral system. 
A) in-put. 
B) out-put. 
C) process. 
D) structure. 
E) seminated sacral system.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT posited by one or more versions of conflict theory?

Accepted Answer

A) Conflict can be an important source of change. 
B) Conflict often involves clashes of interests between the affluent and the disfranchised of society. 
C) Conflict can be a source of in-group solidarity. 
D) Conflicts between groups are often self-serving and act to protect the material interests of the group or its members. 
E) While conflict is normal within many social institutions, it is rare in religious groups. 
A) Conflict can be an important source of change. 
B) Conflict often involves clashes of interests between the affluent and the disfranchised of society. 
C) Conflict can be a source of in-group solidarity. 
D) Conflicts between groups are often self-serving and act to protect the material interests of the group or its members. 
E) While conflict is normal within many social institutions, it is rare in religious groups.

Question 7

Conflict theorists criticize functional theorists for

Accepted Answer

A) using circular reasoning. 
B) assuming that people act out of self-interest. 
C) over-emphasizing historical processes. 
D) focusing on micro processes and missing the big picture. 
E) failing to understand factors that contribute to social stability. 
A) using circular reasoning. 
B) assuming that people act out of self-interest. 
C) over-emphasizing historical processes. 
D) focusing on micro processes and missing the big picture. 
E) failing to understand factors that contribute to social stability.

Question 8

Why did Karl Marx refer to religion as the "opiate of the people"?

Accepted Answer

A) Religion promised people an afterlife in which they would be "high on God" 
B) The use of opiates was widespread in religious groups during the industrial revolution 
C) Religion was a positive, stabilizing institution for both society and individuals 
D) Religion united people under a false sense of common interests and kept them subdued 
A) Religion promised people an afterlife in which they would be "high on God" 
B) The use of opiates was widespread in religious groups during the industrial revolution 
C) Religion was a positive, stabilizing institution for both society and individuals 
D) Religion united people under a false sense of common interests and kept them subdued

Question 9

On what aspect of religion did Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown disagree?

Accepted Answer

A) Whether or not religion can be found in all societies. 
B) Whether religion serves to meet the basic needs of individual humans, or whether it serves to meet the needs or requirements of a society as a whole. 
C) Whether religion served to enhance social stability or created conflict. 
D) Whether religion created we/they thinking or united society. 
E) None of the above.Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown formulated their theories about religion together. 
A) Whether or not religion can be found in all societies. 
B) Whether religion serves to meet the basic needs of individual humans, or whether it serves to meet the needs or requirements of a society as a whole. 
C) Whether religion served to enhance social stability or created conflict. 
D) Whether religion created we/they thinking or united society. 
E) None of the above.Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown formulated their theories about religion together.

Question 10

Your textbook indicates that religion serves the individual meaning function most effectively when

Accepted Answer

A) believers experience high degrees of threat or guilt. 
B) church and state are closely integrated. 
C) beliefs are highly rational and logically coherent and consistent. 
D) believers feel they are holding the beliefs voluntarily; they have chosen their beliefs. 
E) believers feel they are held by the beliefs; that the beliefs themselves are primary. 
A) believers experience high degrees of threat or guilt. 
B) church and state are closely integrated. 
C) beliefs are highly rational and logically coherent and consistent. 
D) believers feel they are holding the beliefs voluntarily; they have chosen their beliefs. 
E) believers feel they are held by the beliefs; that the beliefs themselves are primary.

Question 11

Religion

Accepted Answer

A) reinforces social stability, but never stimulates social change. 
B) often stimulates social change, but seldom contributes to social stability. 
C) may either reinforce social stability or foster social change, depending on social circumstances. 
D) is concerned with otherworldly matters and is unrelated to secular processes of social change or stability. 
A) reinforces social stability, but never stimulates social change. 
B) often stimulates social change, but seldom contributes to social stability. 
C) may either reinforce social stability or foster social change, depending on social circumstances. 
D) is concerned with otherworldly matters and is unrelated to secular processes of social change or stability.

Question 12

Consider the following two statements in relation to the course material: (A) Religious conflict can be a source of disruption in society; and (B) Religious conflict can be a source of unity in religious groups.Which of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

A) Only A is an accurate statement 
B) Only B is an accurate statement 
C) Both A and B are accurate statements 
D) Neither A nor B are accurate statements 
A) Only A is an accurate statement 
B) Only B is an accurate statement 
C) Both A and B are accurate statements 
D) Neither A nor B are accurate statements

Question 13

Consider the following two statements in relation to the course material: (A) Religion can be both functional and dysfunctional at the same time; and (B) What is functional at the level of the social system must also be functional for individuals.Which of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

A) Only A is an accurate statement 
B) Only B is an accurate statement 
C) Both A and B are accurate statements 
D) Neither A nor B are accurate statements 
A) Only A is an accurate statement 
B) Only B is an accurate statement 
C) Both A and B are accurate statements 
D) Neither A nor B are accurate statements

Question 14

According to your textbook, which of the following is the most important source of religious differentiation and exclusion?

Accepted Answer

A) Monotheism 
B) Polytheism 
C) Theological particularism 
D) Coincidence of religious and ethnic/class lines 
E) Charismatic leaders 
A) Monotheism 
B) Polytheism 
C) Theological particularism 
D) Coincidence of religious and ethnic/class lines 
E) Charismatic leaders

Question 15

An open systems theory of religion emphasizes that churches, mosques, and synagogues

Accepted Answer

A) have no influence on the larger society of which they are a part. 
B) are not influenced by the larger society of which they are a part. 
C) are influenced by local events but not by global processes and structures. 
D) are pretty invulnerable to variations and changes in the subsystems within the group. 
E) none of the above 
A) have no influence on the larger society of which they are a part. 
B) are not influenced by the larger society of which they are a part. 
C) are influenced by local events but not by global processes and structures. 
D) are pretty invulnerable to variations and changes in the subsystems within the group. 
E) none of the above

Question 16

Which of the following would NOT be an in-put to a religious group?

Accepted Answer

A) Ideas and values from science and technology. 
B) A mission project by the group to help the homeless. 
C) Ideas from the field of organizational management about how to operate an organization. 
D) Sacred symbols from the larger society - such as the nation's flag and a feeling of reverence for it. 
E) Racial and ethnic attitudes in the larger society. 
A) Ideas and values from science and technology. 
B) A mission project by the group to help the homeless. 
C) Ideas from the field of organizational management about how to operate an organization. 
D) Sacred symbols from the larger society - such as the nation's flag and a feeling of reverence for it. 
E) Racial and ethnic attitudes in the larger society.

Question 17

As opposed to an open system, a closed system

Accepted Answer

A) tries to increase the ratio of inputs to outputs. 
B) tries to stress its ability to influence the larger culture. 
C) tries to insulate itself from the larger culture. 
D) tries to increase its recruitment of members. 
E) tries to assimilate to the values of the larger society. 
A) tries to increase the ratio of inputs to outputs. 
B) tries to stress its ability to influence the larger culture. 
C) tries to insulate itself from the larger culture. 
D) tries to increase its recruitment of members. 
E) tries to assimilate to the values of the larger society.

Question 18

According to Peter Berger, in the modernist vs.conservative conflict within churches, who is least likely to be a theological modernist?

Accepted Answer

A) Clergy 
B) Members of the helping professions 
C) The business elite 
D) Social planners 
E) Professionals in the information technology field 
A) Clergy 
B) Members of the helping professions 
C) The business elite 
D) Social planners 
E) Professionals in the information technology field

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT posited by functionalists to be integral to social systems:

Accepted Answer

A) Social systems involve interdependency of the parts of the system. 
B) Social systems are dynamic and always changing. 
C) Social systems are designed to meet human needs in an orderly way. 
D) Social systems are relatively well integrated and harmonious. 
E) Social systems may have diverse consequences which affect individuals and the society as a whole. 
A) Social systems involve interdependency of the parts of the system. 
B) Social systems are dynamic and always changing. 
C) Social systems are designed to meet human needs in an orderly way. 
D) Social systems are relatively well integrated and harmonious. 
E) Social systems may have diverse consequences which affect individuals and the society as a whole.

Question 20

What does Durkheim's "metaphoric parallelism" refer to?

Accepted Answer

A) The parallels between religious beliefs and the authority structure of the society. 
B) The parallels between religious myths from one religion to another. 
C) The parallels of symbolic metaphors within a religion to other symbols within the same religion. 
D) The parallels between religious myths and secular legends, fairy-tales, and folk stories. 
A) The parallels between religious beliefs and the authority structure of the society. 
B) The parallels between religious myths from one religion to another. 
C) The parallels of symbolic metaphors within a religion to other symbols within the same religion. 
D) The parallels between religious myths and secular legends, fairy-tales, and folk stories.

Which of the following is a similarity of perspective for systems theory and structural functional theory?

Which of the following is a similarity of perspective for systems theory and conflict theory?

According to Durkheim's functional model,

functions are conscious and/or intended, while functions are unconscious and/or unintended.Either of these can be dysfunctional from the perspective of individuals or society.

The rules that govern how a religious organization makes decisions and who has legal authority to act on behalf of the congregation are part of the church's

Which of the following is NOT posited by one or more versions of conflict theory?

Conflict theorists criticize functional theorists for

Why did Karl Marx refer to religion as the "opiate of the people"?

On what aspect of religion did Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown disagree?

Your textbook indicates that religion serves the individual meaning function most effectively when

Religion

Consider the following two statements in relation to the course material: (A) Religious conflict can be a source of disruption in society; and (B) Religious conflict can be a source of unity in religious groups.Which of the following is correct?

Consider the following two statements in relation to the course material: (A) Religion can be both functional and dysfunctional at the same time; and (B) What is functional at the level of the social system must also be functional for individuals.Which of the following is correct?

According to your textbook, which of the following is the most important source of religious differentiation and exclusion?

An open systems theory of religion emphasizes that churches, mosques, and synagogues

Which of the following would NOT be an in-put to a religious group?

As opposed to an open system, a closed system

According to Peter Berger, in the modernist vs.conservative conflict within churches, who is least likely to be a theological modernist?

Which of the following is NOT posited by functionalists to be integral to social systems:

What does Durkheim's "metaphoric parallelism" refer to?

What Do We Mean by the Term Religion

A Social Scientific Approach to Studying Religion

The Cultural Construction of Religion: Experience, Myth, Ritual, Symbols, and Worldview

Becoming and Being Religious

Conversion and Switching

Organized Religion: Churches, Sects, Denominations, and Cults

Organized Religion: Denominationalism and Congregationalism

Religion, Economics, and Social Class

Religion and Race

Religion, Gender, and Sexuality

Religion, Inequality, and Social Activism

Secularization: Religion in Decline or in Transformation

Religion Outside the God Box

Religion and Globalization

Filters

Exam 3: Religion in the Larger Society: Macro Perspectives

Which of the following is a similarity of perspective for systems theory and structural functional theory?

Which of the following is a similarity of perspective for systems theory and conflict theory?

According to Durkheim's functional model,

__________ functions are conscious and/or intended, while __________ functions are unconscious and/or unintended.Either of these can be dysfunctional from the perspective of individuals or society.

The rules that govern how a religious organization makes decisions and who has legal authority to act on behalf of the congregation are part of the church's

Which of the following is NOT posited by one or more versions of conflict theory?

Conflict theorists criticize functional theorists for

Why did Karl Marx refer to religion as the "opiate of the people"?

On what aspect of religion did Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown disagree?

Your textbook indicates that religion serves the individual meaning function most effectively when

Religion

Consider the following two statements in relation to the course material: (A) Religious conflict can be a source of disruption in society; and (B) Religious conflict can be a source of unity in religious groups.Which of the following is correct?

Consider the following two statements in relation to the course material: (A) Religion can be both functional and dysfunctional at the same time; and (B) What is functional at the level of the social system must also be functional for individuals.Which of the following is correct?

According to your textbook, which of the following is the most important source of religious differentiation and exclusion?

An open systems theory of religion emphasizes that churches, mosques, and synagogues

Which of the following would NOT be an in-put to a religious group?

As opposed to an open system, a closed system

According to Peter Berger, in the modernist vs.conservative conflict within churches, who is least likely to be a theological modernist?

Which of the following is NOT posited by functionalists to be integral to social systems:

What does Durkheim's "metaphoric parallelism" refer to?

What Do We Mean by the Term Religion

A Social Scientific Approach to Studying Religion

The Cultural Construction of Religion: Experience, Myth, Ritual, Symbols, and Worldview

Becoming and Being Religious

Conversion and Switching

Organized Religion: Churches, Sects, Denominations, and Cults

Organized Religion: Denominationalism and Congregationalism

Religion, Economics, and Social Class

Religion and Race

Religion, Gender, and Sexuality

Religion, Inequality, and Social Activism

Secularization: Religion in Decline or in Transformation

Religion Outside the God Box

Religion and Globalization

Filters

functions are conscious and/or intended, while functions are unconscious and/or unintended.Either of these can be dysfunctional from the perspective of individuals or society.