Deck 17: Religion

Question 1

Mahayana Hinduism is centered in Japan,China,and Korea and primarily focuses on meditation and the Four Noble Truths.One of the Four Noble Truths professes that overcoming desire can be accomplished through the Eightfold Path to Nirvana-this path is a way of living that avoids extremes of indulgence.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The Islamic notion of jihad,meaning "struggle," is a core belief.The Greater Jihad is believed to be the internal struggle against sin within a person's heart,whereas the Lesser Jihad is the external struggle that takes place in the world,including violence and war.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

According to Emile Durkheim,all religions share three elements: (1)membership that includes radical elements, (2)a disbelief in the legitimacy of other competing religions,and (3)religious leaders who attempt to dupe the congregation.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The Qur'an,also known as the Pentateuch,is the sacred book of contemporary Judaism.The Jewish people believe that they have a unique relationship with God.Judaism has three key components: God (the deity),Qur'an (God's teachings),and Israel (the community or holy nation).

Question 5

According to sociologist Max Weber and the Protestant ethic,those who have faith,perform good works,and achieve economic success are more likely to be among the chosen of God.As a result,people work hard,save their money,and do not spend it on worldly frivolity.

Question 6

According to Christian beliefs,the Supreme Being is a sacred trinity consisting of God the Father,Jesus the Son,and the Holy Spirit.

Question 7

According to sociologist Emile Durkheim,sacred refers to those aspects of life that are extraordinary or supernatural (those things that are set apart as "holy").People feel a sense of awe,reverence,deep respect,or fear of that which is considered sacred.

Question 8

Whereas Judaism is basically an inherited religion and most adherents are born into the community,Christianity has cosmopolitan criteria for membership,meaning that it does not have ethnic or tribal qualifications based on acceptance of a set of beliefs.

Question 9

From a functionalist perspective,religion has three important functions in any society: providing meaning and purpose to life,promoting social cohesion and a sense of belonging,and providing social control and support for the government.

Question 10

Polarization is the process by which religious beliefs,practices,and institutions lose their significance in sectors of society and culture.It involves a decline of religion in everyday life and a corresponding increase in organizations that are highly bureaucratized,fragmented,and impersonal.

Question 11

Since Hinduism has no scriptures that are thought to be inspired by a god or gods and is not based on the teachings of any one person,religion scholars refer to it as an ethical religion-a system of beliefs that calls upon adherents to follow an ideal way of life.

Question 12

Conflict theorists focus their attention on a microlevel analysis that examines the meanings people give to religion in their everyday lives.For many people,religion serves as a reference group to help them define themselves.For example,religious symbols have meaning for large bodies of people (such as the cross holds special meaning for Christians).

Question 13

The relationship between the individual and something larger than oneself,such as a broader sense of connection with the surrounding world,is referred to as spirituality.

Question 14

Horticultural societies were among the first to practice monotheism,a belief in a single,supreme being or god who is responsible for significant events such as the creation of the world.Three of the major world religions-Christianity,Judaism,and Islam-are monotheistic.

Question 15

Confucianism is based on the belief that Heaven and Earth are not separate places,but rather a continuum in which both realms are constantly in touch with each other.According to this approach,those who inhabit Heaven are ruled over by a supreme ancestor and are the ancestors of those persons who are on Earth.

Question 16

Spirituality involves the individual's inner,subjective feelings.

Question 17

In postindustrial societies,religion often takes the form of animism,which is the belief that
supernatural forces affect people's lives either positively or negatively.

Question 18

From a functionalist perspective,religion tends to promote strife between groups and societies.For example,the new religious right in the United States has incorporated both the priestly and prophetic functions into its agenda.While calling for moral reform,it also calls the nation back to a covenant with God.

Question 19

Civil religion is not tied to any one denomination or religious group;it has an identity all its own.The U.S.flag is the primary sacred object of our civil religion.

Question 20

An ecclesia is a religious organization that is so integrated into the dominant culture that it claims as its membership all members of a society.Membership in the ecclesia occurs as a result of being born into the society,rather than by any conscious decision on the part of the individual member.

Question 21

Anthropologists have concluded that all known groups over the past hundred thousand years have had some form of religion one of which is______________.

A)externalism
B)transubstantiation
C)atheism
D)animism

Question 22

When Muslims bow toward Mecca,the holy city of Islam,five times a day at fixed times to pray to God,and Christians participate in the celebration of communion to commemorate the life,death,and resurrection of Jesus,they are engaging in:

A)mandated systems
B)magical thinking
C)supernatural rites
D)rituals

Question 23

______________ has been used to explain mystifying events of nature,such as sunrises and thunderstorms,and the ways in which some objects may bring a person good or bad luck.

A)Transcendent idealism
B)Animism
C)Theism
D)Simple supernaturalism

Question 24

People often act out their religious beliefs in the form of______________,which are regularly repeated and carefully prescribed forms of behaviors that symbolize a cherished value or belief.

A)sacred ceremonies
B)supernatural rites
C)rituals
D)magical rites

Question 25

A sect is a loosely organized religious group with practices and teachings outside the dominant cultural and religious traditions of a society.Sect leadership is based on charismatic characteristics of the individual leader,including an unusual ability to communicate and to form attachments with other people.

Question 26

______________ is a system of beliefs and practices (rituals)-based on some sacred or supernatural realm-that guides human behavior,gives meaning to life,and unites believers into a single moral community.

A)Secularization
B)Fundamentalism
C)Religion
D)Liberation theology

Question 27

Not only are we seeing the creation of new religious forms,but we are also seeing a dramatic revitalization of traditional forms of religious life.One example of this change is religious fundamentalism,which has found a new audience among young people age eighteen to twenty- four.

Question 28

Secular humanism is the belief that human beings can become better through their own efforts rather than through belief in God and a religious conversion.

Question 29

The argument over______________is the latest debate in a lengthy battle over the teaching of creationism versus evolutionism in public schools,and is only one of many arguments that will continue to take place regarding the appropriate relationship between public education and religion in the United States.

A)secularization
B)fundamentalism
C)intelligent design
D)flawed design

Question 30

In very simple preindustrial societies,religion often takes the form of______________-the belief that supernatural forces affect people's lives either positively or negatively.

A)simple supernaturalism
B)animism
C)theism
D)transcendent idealism

Question 31

______________ is the belief that plants,animals,or other elements of the natural world are endowed with spirits or life forces having an impact on events in society.

A)Theism
B)Animism
C)Simple supernaturalism
D)Transcendent idealism

Question 32

A traditional religious doctrine that is conservative,typically opposed to modernity,and rejects
"worldly pleasure" in favor of otherworldly spirituality is known as secularization.

Question 33

According to sociologist Emile Durkheim,______________refers to those aspects of life that are extraordinary or supernatural-in other words,those things that are set apart as "holy."

A)profane
B)sacred
C)spiritual
D)magical

Question 34

In the educational debate over creationism and evolutionism,advocates of creationism view their belief as founded in______________teachings.

A)scientific
B)profane
C)ritualistic
D)sacred

Question 35

Both religion and spirituality require that persons engage in______________,which is a confident belief that cannot be proven or disproven but is accepted as true.

A)trust
B)security
C)faith
D)confidence

Question 36

Some sociologists believe that a more accurate metaphor for religion______________in the global village is that of the______________,in which religious institutions and traditions compete for adherents,and worshippers shop for a religion in much the same way that consumers decide what goods and services they will purchase.

A)sacred marketplace
B)religious marketplace
C)profane canopy
D)sacred canopy

Question 37

Religion in the United States is very diverse.Pluralism and religious freedom are among the cultural values most widely espoused,and no state church or single denomination predominates.Protestants constitute the largest religious body in the United States,followed by Roman Catholics.

Question 38

In the educational debate over creationism and evolutionism,advocates of evolutionism argue that their beliefs are based on______________facts.

A)ritualistic
B)profane
C)sacred
D)spiritual

Question 39

The relationship between the individual and something larger than oneself,such as a broader sense of connection with the surrounding world,is referred to as:

A)religion
B)spirituality
C)theology
D)psychology

Question 40

The______________refers to the everyday,secular,or "worldly" aspects of life.Secular beliefs have their foundation in scientific knowledge or everyday explanations.

A)profane
B)anti-spiritual
C)sacred
D)mundane

Question 41

Central to Hindu teachings is the belief that individual souls enter the world and roam the universe until they break free into the limitless atmosphere of illumination known as:

A)samsara
B)jivas
C)dharma
D)moska

Question 42

______________ founder,Siddhartha Gautama of the Sakyas,was born into the privileged class.He was referred to as Buddha,meaning "the Enlightened One," and spent his life teaching others how to reach nirvana.

A)Hinduism's
B)Confucianism's
C)Buddhism's
D)Islam's

Question 43

______________ is a nontheistic religion-a religion based on a belief in divine spiritual forces such as sacred principles of thought and conduct,rather than a god or gods.

A)Theism
B)Animism
C)Simple supernaturalism
D)Transcendent idealism

Question 44

______________ refers to a belief in more than one god.

A)Multitheism
B)Masstheism
C)Polytheism
D)Unitheism

Question 45

Religions classified as world religions cover vast expanses of the Earth and have millions of followers.Which of the following are NOT one of the six world religions?

A)Hinduism
B)Judaism
C)Confucianism
D)Samaritanism

Question 46

A category of religion called______________refers to a belief in a god or gods.

A)animism
B)simple supernaturalism
C)transcendent idealism
D)theism

Question 47

Horticultural societies were among the first to practice______________,which is a belief in a single,supreme being or god who is responsible for significant events such as the creation of the world.

A)nontheism
B)monotheism
C)polytheism
D)unitheism

Question 48

In Hinduism,the soul's acquisition of each new body is tied to the law of______________(deed or act),which is a doctrine of the moral law of cause and effect.

A)nirvana
B)samsara
C)moksha
D)karma

Question 49

When______________first emerged in India some twenty-five hundred years ago,it was thought of as a "new religious movement."

A)Judaism
B)Islam
C)Buddhism
D)Hinduism

Question 50

______________ focuses on principles such as truth,justice,affirmation of life,and tolerance for others,and its adherents seek an elevated state of consciousness in which they can fulfill their true potential.

A)Transcendent idealism
B)Simple supernaturalism
C)Animism
D)Theism

Question 51

According to Hinduism,individual souls pass through a sequence of bodies over time as they undergo a process known as______________(reincarnation),an endless passage through cycles of life,death,and rebirth until the soul earns liberation.

A)samsara
B)moksha
C)karma
D)nirvana

Question 52

Central to Hindu teachings is the belief that individual souls enter the world and roam the universe until they break free into the limitless atmosphere of illumination by discovering their own (duties or responsibilities).

A)moksha
B)dharma
C)samsara
D)karma

Question 53

Since Hinduism has no scriptures that are thought to be inspired by a god or gods and is not based on the teachings of any one person,religion scholars refer to it as a(n)______________-a system of beliefs that calls upon adherents to follow an ideal way of life.

A)ethical religion
B)cultural religion
C)societal religion
D)universal religion

Question 54

______________ is associated with early hunting and gathering societies and with many Native American societies,in which everyday life was not separated from the elements of the natural world.

A)Transcendent idealism
B)Theism
C)Animism
D)Simple supernaturalism

Question 55

Central to Hindu teachings is the belief that individual souls,referred to as______________,enter the world and roam the universe.

A)dharma
B)jivas
C)samsara
D)moksha

Question 56

______________ is believed to be one of the world's oldest current religions,having originated along the banks of the Indus River in______________between 3,500 and 4,500 years ago.

A)Buddhism;Jordan
B)Islam;Nepal
C)Hinduism;Pakistan
D)Confucianism;India

Question 57

Hindu beliefs and practice have been preserved through an oral tradition and expressed in texts and hymns known as the:

A)Jivas
B)Nirvana
C)Vedas
D)Samsara

Question 58

Which of the following religions are monotheistic?

A)Confucianism
B)Buddhism
C)Atheism
D)Islam

Question 59

One of the best known religious leaders of modern times was Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi,the champion of India's independence movement,who was devoted to the______________ideals of nonviolence,honesty,and courage.

A)Jewish
B)Hindu
C)Buddhist
D)Muslim

Question 60

The ultimate goal of Hindu existence is entering the state of______________-becoming liberated from the world by uniting the individual soul with the universal soul (Brahma).

A)karma
B)nirvana
C)samsara
D)moksha

Question 61

______________ Buddhism,which focuses on the life of the Buddha and seeks to follow his teachings,gained its strongest toehold in Southeast Asia.

A)Theravadin
B)Mahayana
C)Vajrayana
D)Nirvana

Question 62

The third branch of Buddhism,______________,incorporates the first two branches along with some aspects of Hinduism;it emerged in Tibet in the seventh century.

A)Theravadin
B)Vajrayana
C)Nirvana
D)Mahayana

Question 63

The Hebrews established a covenant with God.Known as the Ten Commandments,the covenant between God and human beings was given to______________on top of Mount Sinai.

A)Confucius
B)Mohandas Gandhi
C)Moses
D)Siddhartha Gautama

Question 64

Confucius established the foundation for______________and potential conflict when he set forth his Five Constant Relationships.

A)social hierarchy
B)division of labor
C)means of production
D)symbolic interactionism

Question 65

According to______________,those who inhabit Heaven are ruled over by a supreme ancestor and are the ancestors of those persons who are on Earth.These forefathers are eventually joined by those who are currently on Earth;therefore,death is nothing more than the promotion to a more honorable estate.

A)Islam
B)Confucianism
C)Judaism
D)Hinduism

Question 66

______________ Judaism follows the traditional practices and teachings,including eating only kosher foods prepared in a designated way,observing the traditional Sabbath,segregating women and men in religious services,and wearing traditional clothing.

A)Reform
B)Conservative
C)Orthodox
D)Conventional

Question 67

Anti-Semitism has been a continuing problem in the United States since the late 19^th century.Like other forms of prejudice and discrimination,it has exacted a heavy toll on multiple generations of:

A)Native Americans
B)Jewish Americans
C)Americans who practice Islam
D)Japanese Americans

Question 68

______________ is based on the belief that Heaven and Earth are not separated places but rather a continuum in which both realms are constantly in touch with each other.

A)Hinduism
B)Judaism
C)Confucianism
D)Islam

Question 69

Confucius set forth his Five Constant Relationships including the______________relationship.

A)husband-wife
B)mother-daughter
C)employer-employee
D)god-believer

Question 70

______________ Buddhism is centered in Japan,China,and Korea and primarily focuses on meditation and the Four Noble Truths.

A)Nirvana
B)Theravadin
C)Mahayana
D)Vajrayana

Question 71

Overcoming desire can be accomplished through the Eightfold Path to Nirvana.This path is a way of living that avoids extremes of indulgence and suggests that a person can live in the world but not be worldly.This principle is part of the Four Noble Truths practiced in______________Buddhism.

A)Theravadin
B)Vajrayana
C)Tibetan
D)Mahayana

Question 72

A central teaching of______________was that humans are by nature good and that they learn best by having an example or model person from which to learn.

A)Mohandas Ghandi
B)Siddhartha Gautama
C)Confucius
D)the Dalai Lama

Question 73

Confucius,whose sayings are collected in the______________,taught that people must learn the importance of order in human relationships and must follow a strict code of moral conduct,including respect for others,benevolence,and reciprocity.

A)Torah
B)Qur'an
C)Old Testament
D)Analects

Question 74

The Ten Commandments and discussions of moral,ceremonial,and cultural laws are contained in four books of the______________(the sacred book of contemporary Judaism): Exodus,Leviticus,Numbers,and Deuteronomy.

A)Qur'an
B)Old Testament
C)New Testament
D)Torah

Question 75

The best estimates place the number of followers of Confucianism at about______________million worldwide.

A)2
B)4
C)6
D)8

Question 76

Although God guides human destiny,people are responsible for making their own ethical choices in keeping with His law;when they fail to act accordingly to the law,they have committed a sin.Also,fundamental to______________is the belief that one day the Messiah will come to Earth,ushering in an age of peace and justice for all.

A)Hinduism
B)Buddhism
C)Judaism
D)Taoism

Question 77

The teachings of______________Buddhism and specifically those of the Dalai Lama,emphasize the doctrine of ahimsa,or nonharmfulness,and discourages violence and warfare.

A)Mahayana
B)Theravadin
C)Vajrayana
D)Nirvana

Question 78

Although Judaism has fewer adherents worldwide than some other major religions,its influence is deeply felt in Western culture.Today,there are an estimated______________million Jews worldwide;however,the majority reside in the United States,Israel,France,and Russia.

A)12
B)14
C)24
D)30

Question 79

______________ Judaism is based on the belief that the Torah is binding only in its moral teachings and that adherents should no longer be required to follow all of the Talmud,the compilation of Jewish law setting forth the strict rabbinic teachings on practices such as food preparation,rituals,and dress.

A)Orthodox
B)Reform
C)Conventional
D)Conservative

Question 80

______________ was the official religion of China until the Communist takeover and the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

A)Confucianism
B)Hinduism
C)Islam
D)Shintoism