Deck 8: What Do You Believe? Religion and Deviance

Question 1

Religious belief systems play a role in social typing of deviance on an individual level.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Following European colonization of Canada, every aspect of Aboriginal cultures came to be perceived as "deviant" and in need of social control.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Estimates are that more than half of Aboriginal children in residential schools were physically or sexually abused.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

In the public mind, cults have been associated with sexual deviance for more than 100 years.

Question 5

Sects tend to have more traditional beliefs while cults tend to have more novel beliefs, which create differences in the level of tension that exists with the larger society.

Question 6

Sociological analyses of religious belief systems attempt to prove or disprove particular religious belief systems (e.g. Hinduism; Catholicism)

Question 7

It is estimated that more than one million people were persecuted as witches in Europe from the 14th through the 17th centuries.

Question 8

An investigation into the McMartin preschool case found that a satanic cult had been engaged in the ritual sexual abuse of children at the preschool.

Question 9

Every religious belief system in the world has been socially typed as "deviant" at some times in history and in some societies.

Question 10

Child abuse was deviantized in the late 19th century, in part due to the efforts of the child-savers movement.

Question 11

Jehovah's Witnesses are frequently categorized as a denominational sect, while Seventh-Day Adventists are categorized as an established sect.

Question 12

In every region in Europe during the "witchcraze" of the 14th through 17th centuries, more women than men were persecuted.

Question 13

According to scientific research on cults, the public concerns that emerge as a consequence of popular images of cults are entirely unfounded.

Question 14

The media, including its use of the Internet, create a moral panic in their coverage of cults, in part due to the media's profit motive.

Question 15

In the Soviet Union, all religious groups were socially typed as "deviant" and made subject to social control.

Question 16

Counter-cult groups identify Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism as "cults".

Question 17

The European Court has overturned a number of the convictions faced by individuals and groups under France's new anti-sect laws.

Question 18

A belief is something thought to be true, regardless of whether it is supported by scientific evidence.

Question 19

One of the rationales for the witch persecutions was harm.

Question 20

Within the traditional typology used in discussing religious belief systems, ecclesia refers to state religions, where a specific religious belief system is adopted at the government level.

Question 21

Which of the following is an example of a belief system?

A) Christianity
B) the doctrine of the federal New Democratic Party
C) astronomy
D) Islam
E) religions (e.g., Christianity, Islam), the doctrine of political parties (e.g., New Democratic Party), and branches of science (e.g, astronomy) all constitute belief systems

Question 22

In popular discourse, which of the following religious groups is typically socially typed as "deviant"?

A) ecclesia
B) churches
C) sects
D) cults
E) sects and cults are socially typed as deviant

Question 23

The social typing of "deviant" religious groups is resisted through

A) the recruitment of new members.
B) hiring public relations firms to represent themselves in the media.
C) questioning the traditional distinction between ecclesia, churches, sects, and cults.
D) defending themselves in court cases.
E) a variety of activities, including all of those listed above.

Question 24

Which of the following is an example of ecclesia?

A) the Christian Church in Canada
B) "The Family of Love" (formerly known as the "Children of God"), as found in many nations around the world
C) the Anglican Church in England
D) Catholicism in Boston, Massachusetts
E) Sikhism in India

Question 25

The blurring of boundaries between religious and political belief systems can be perceived as religion as a social typer of deviance as well as religion as deviance, depending on one's point of view.

Question 26

Which of the following religious groups is the least likely to be socially typed as "deviant" within the society in which they exist?

A) ecclesia
B) churches
C) sects
D) cults
E) denomination

Question 27

In the social control of cults, those groups that emphasize their concern that cults utilize the "wrong" interpretation of the Bible are called

A) cult awareness groups.
B) anti-cult groups.
C) counter-cult groups.
D) cult control groups.
E) cult awareness groups and anti-cult groups.

Question 28

Despite their intensive efforts, the Christian Coalition has had little influence on American politics.

Question 29

Why, in part, does a greater degree of tension exist with the larger society for the Jehovah's Witnesses than for the Seventh-Day Adventists?

A) The Jehovah's Witnesses have merged with the larger society to a greater extent as a result of the hospitals, colleges, schools, and businesses they have built.
B) The Jehovah's Witnesses have held onto their original apocalyptic vision more stringently.
C) The boundaries surrounding the Jehovah's Witnesses have become more permeable than those surrounding the Seventh-Day Adventists
D) The behavioral requirements for members of the Jehovah's Witnesses have become less rigid over time.
E) The Jehovah's Witnesses have changed more over time than the Seventh-Day Adventists.

Question 30

According to Wright (1997), why is media coverage of cults distorted and selective?

A) due to a lack of accurate information about cults and the groups in question
B) due to a lack of in-depth information about cults and the groups in questions
C) due to the use of biased sources of information (e.g. ex-members of cults)
D) due to limited time or financial resources
E) media coverage of cults is distorted and selective as a result of all of the reasons listed above

Question 31

Which of the following statements about religious belief systems is true?

A) religious belief systems proclaim "truth", just as scientific belief systems proclaim "truth"
B) sociological analyses of religious belief systems try to disprove particular beliefs rather than prove particular beliefs
C) Karl Marx claimed that the only way to find "truth" was through religion
D) beliefs are things that someone thinks are "true" (whether they are actually true or not), but belief systems are sets of interrelated beliefs that have been proven to be "true"
E) religious belief systems no longer have any significant influence in modern state systems

Question 32

Because of which barrier to religious freedom has the Baptist Church had to register with the Russian government and meet a long list of requirements in order to have the right to meet, rent property, and distribute literature?

A) hostility toward non-approved religious groups
B) state neglect of the problem of discrimination against non-approved religions
C) authoritarian measures to control religious beliefs and practices
D) discriminatory legislation or policies disadvantaging certain groups
E) stigmatization of certain religions by wrongfully associating them with dangerous "cults" or "sects"

Question 33

According to the U. S Secretary of State, which barrier to religious freedom involves governments that try to intimidate people to either convert to a state-approved religion, or leave the country?

A) hostility toward non-approved religious groups
B) state neglect of the problem of discrimination against non-approved religions
C) authoritarian measures to control religious beliefs and practices
D) discriminatory legislation or policies disadvantaging certain groups
E) stigmatization of certain religions by wrongfully associating them with dangerous "cults" or "sects"

Question 34

The blurring of religious and political boundaries inevitably has negative consequences.

Question 35

Because of which barrier to religious freedom has China been described as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) every year since 1999, in the U. S. Secretary of State's annual report on religious freedom in the world?

A) hostility toward non-approved religious groups
B) state neglect of the problem of discrimination against non-approved religions
C) authoritarian measures to control religious beliefs and practices
D) discriminatory legislation or policies disadvantaging certain groups
E) stigmatization of certain religions by wrongfully associating them with dangerous "cults" or "sects"

Question 36

In reaction to the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States in 2008, the political power of the ultra-conservative religious right increased.

Question 37

The level of tension with the larger society that is experienced by a particular sect is determined by

A) the level of antagonism that the sect feels for society.
B) the size of the sect.
C) the level of organization that exists within the sect.
D) whether the sect has broken away from a Christian or non-Christian church.
E) the number of societies within which the sect maintains a presence.

Question 38

Which of the following is a characteristic of The Family of Love?

A) "flirty fishing"
B) antagonism toward patriotic symbols, such as flags
C) celibacy
D) a required period of service in the nation's military
E) complete segregation from the outside world

Question 39

The groups that use the word "cult" to refer to very specific religious groups that have "destructive" characteristics are

A) cult awareness groups.
B) anti-cult groups.
C) counter-cult groups.
D) cult control groups.
E) cult awareness groups and anti-cult groups.

Question 40

An analysis of the phenomenon of mass suicides by cult members reveals the belief that

A) they are isolated and estranged from society.
B) they are persecuted by the society.
C) society's rules do not apply to them.
D) they do not belong in this world, they are destined to be somewhere better.
E) they are isolated and persecuted, the rules do not apply to them, and they do not belong in this world.

Question 41

Who faced accusations of witchcraft?

A) followers of pre-Christian religions
B) midwives
C) women who outlived their husbands
D) children
E) during the peak of the European witchcraze, just about anyone (including all of those listed above) could be accused of witchcraft

Question 42

Which of the following statements about the labelling of religious groups is true?

A) the anti-cult movement uses the word "cult" on the basis of the theology of certain religious groups
B) the counter-cult movement prefaces the word "cult" with the term "destructive", focusing their attention on those religious groups that are believed to engage in mind control
C) in an international context, the word "cult" may be applied to any religious group that a particular government disapproves of
D) in contemporary society, the media emphasizes "new religious movements" rather than "cults"
E) legislation now prevents the media from portraying any religious group in a negative way

Question 43

Distinguish among the characteristics of ecclesia, churches, sects, and cults.

Question 44

In 1600, a local midwife is arrested for witchcraft, put on trial, and burned at the stake. In which of the following regions is she most likely to have lived?

A) a region where Catholicism had weakened, and trials were conducted by local authorities
B) a region where Catholicism had weakened, and trials were conducted by national authorities
C) a region where Catholicism maintained its power, and trials were conducted by local authorities
D) a region where Catholicism maintained its power, and trials were conducted by national authorities
E) because of the pervasiveness of witch persecutions throughout Europe, she was equally likely to have lived in any of the above regions

Question 45

Which of the following statements about the child-savers is true?

A) Protestant theology served as the foundation for their efforts
B) the efforts of the child-savers were directed primarily at the upper socioeconomic classes
C) popular discourse at the time defined upper class parents as inherently immoral
D) popular discourse at the time included the assumption that the inherent morality of the working classes meant that working class norms and values should be adopted by everyone in society
E) they struggled to prevent child abuse and neglect from being criminalized

Question 46

Which of the following is an example of religious belief systems acting as social typers of deviance?

A) the witch persecutions
B) residential schooling
C) the child-savers movement
D) the political activities of the Christian Coalition
E) religious beliefs systems have acted as social typers of deviance in all of the above situations

Question 47

The work of the Christian Coalition illustrates

A) an anti-cult group.
B) a counter-cult group.
C) a cult control group.
D) the blurring of boundaries between religious and political boundaries.
E) the targeting of religious groups by France's anti-sect legislation.

Question 48

Empirical research has found a relationship between religiosity and

A) positive attitudes toward school.
B) older age of first sexual intercourse.
C) positive attitudes toward a wider range of others.
D) earlier age at first marriage.
E) communalism.

Question 49

Describe how churches and the federal government have responded to the legacy of residential schooling.

Question 50

The Canadian residential schooling policy

A) provided Aboriginal children with similar levels and types of education as non-Aboriginal children received in Canada's public schools at the time.
B) placed an emphasis on teaching Aboriginal children to integrate their traditional cultures with Canadian culture.
C) allowed frequent visits between children and their parents, in an attempt to garner greater support for residential schooling in Aboriginal communities.
D) required the consent of parents before children could be removed from their communities.
E) combined formal education (e.g. arithmetic) with religious education (i.e. Christianity) and cultural education (i.e. how to act "White").

Question 51

Which of the following statements about the witch persecutions is true?

A) the Christian church was directly responsible for the arrest and trial of witches throughout Europe
B) one of the arenas for witch hunts was regions where there were peasant rebellions
C) women who were financially independent had enough power within their communities to avoid accusations of witchcraft
D) in every region of Europe, women were more likely than men to be persecuted
E) all of the statements listed above accurately describe the witch persecutions

Question 52

Provide an example of each of the five barriers to religious freedom found throughout the world.

Question 53

Differentiate between the anti-cult groups and counter-cult groups.

Question 54

Describe the criticisms that are directed at the traditional typology that distinguishes between churches, sects, and cults.

Question 55

Describe how residential schooling is an illustration of the blurring of boundaries between religious and political belief systems.

Question 56

Describe the variety of ways in which the European witchcraze varied across regions.

Question 57

Which religious group has been perceived as evil, dangerous and a threat to the social order?

A) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
B) Catholics
C) Branch Davidians
D) Protestants
E) every religious group in the world has been perceived this way in some societies and at some points in time

Question 58

Examine the two ways that the social typing process can be applied to deviance within the context of religion.

Question 59

The blurring of boundaries between religious and political belief systems is evident in

A) Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
B) the Canadian residential schooling initiative.
C) the witch persecutions.
D) the United States.
E) all of the situations and places listed above.

Question 60

Explain why there is a greater level of tension between the Jehovah's Witnesses and the larger society, than the Seventh-Day Adventists and the larger society. In your answer, refer to specific characteristics of these religious groups and how these groups have changed over time.

Question 61

Using specific examples, explain the notion of religion as deviance.

Question 62

Using specific examples, discuss the ways that the more "objective" characteristics of statistical rarity, harm, normative violation, and societal reaction are involved with the social typing of "deviant" religions.