Deck 17: Religion

Question 1

Anthropologists have concluded that all known groups over the past hundred thousand years have had some form of religion.All of the following are categories of religion EXCEPT:

A) simple supernaturalism
B) transubstantiation
C) theism
D) animism

Answer 1

B

Question 2

__________ 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

Answer 2

D

Question 3

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

Answer 3

D

Question 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

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 11

__________ 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 12

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 13

All of the following religions are monotheistic EXCEPT:

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

Question 14

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 15

__________ refers to a belief in more than one god.

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

Question 16

__________ 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 17

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 18

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 19

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 20

__________ 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 21

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 22

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 23

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 24

__________ 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 25

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 26

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 27

__________ 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 28

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 29

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 30

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) moksha

Question 31

__________ 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 32

__________ 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 33

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 34

__________ 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 35

__________ 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 36

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 37

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 38

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 39

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 40

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 41

__________ Judaism,which became a middle ground between the other two branches,teaches that the Torah and Talmud must be followed and that Zionism-the movement to establish and maintain a Jewish homeland in Israel is crucial to the future of Judaism.

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

Question 42

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 43

The Islamic faith is based on the __________-the holy book of the Muslims,as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel at the command of God.It reveals that it is up to God,not humans,to determine which individuals are deserving of punishment and what kinds of violence are justified under various conditions.

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

Question 44

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 45

__________ 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

Question 46

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 47

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 48

The Islamic notion of jihad,meaning "struggle," is a core belief.The __________ is believed to be the internal struggle against sin within a person's heart.

A) Greater Jihad
B) Primary Jihad
C) Lesser Jihad
D) Tertiary Jihad

Question 49

Anti-Semitism has been a continuing problem in the United States since the late 19ᵗʰ 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 50

__________,whose followers are known as Muslims,is based on the teachings of its founder,Muhammad,who was born in Mecca.

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

Question 51

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 52

__________ 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 53

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) 15
C) 24
D) 30

Question 54

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 55

Confucius set forth his Five Constant Relationships.Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) husband-wife
B) mother-daughter
C) elder brother-younger brother
D) father-son

Question 56

According to Muhammad,followers must adhere to the five Pillars of Islam.Which of the following is NOT one of these?

A) believing that there is no god but Allah
B) participating in five periods of prayer each day
C) fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan
D) understanding that the Greater Jihad is the internal struggle against sin

Question 57

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 58

__________ 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 59

__________ 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 60

Research has found that __________ have the largest families.

A) Catholics
B) Methodists
C) Baptists
D) Muslims and Mormons

Question 61

The Christian ritual of communion not only commemorates a historical event but also allows followers to participate in the unity of themselves with other believers.From a functionalist perspective,this ritual serves the function of:

A) preventing anarchy
B) providing meaning and purpose to life
C) promoting social cohesion and a sense of belonging
D) providing social control and support for the government

Question 62

The Islamic notion of jihad,meaning "struggle," is a core belief.The __________ is the external struggle that takes place in the world,including violence and war.

A) Tertiary Jihad
B) Greater Jihad
C) Lesser Jihad
D) Latent Jihad

Question 63

According to sociologist Emile Durkheim,all religions share three elements.Which of the following is NOT one of these elements?

A) beliefs held by adherents
B) practices (rituals) engaged in collectively by believers
C) a moral community based on the group's shared beliefs and practices pertaining to the sacred
D) rigid criteria for membership

Question 64

According to the text's discussion of civil religion,__________.

A) civil religion is tied to the most popular religious group in a society
B) because of secularization, all civil ceremonies in the United States lack any religious quality
C) the United States flag is the primary sacred object of the nation's civil religion
D) few attempts have been made to eliminate civil religion from public life because of widespread consensus on this issue

Question 65

From a functionalist perspective,all of the following are functions of religion EXCEPT:

A) providing meaning and purpose to life
B) promoting social cohesion and a sense of belonging
C) providing social control and support for the government
D) preventing anarchy

Question 66

__________ was one of the first sociologists to emphasize that religion is essential to the maintenance of society.He suggested that religion is a cultural universal found in all societies because it meets basic human needs and serves important societal functions.

A) Emile Durkheim
B) Max Weber
C) Talcott Parsons
D) Robert Merton

Question 67

Some critics have attempted to eliminate all vestiges of civil religion from public life.However,sociologist Robert Bellah,who has studied civil religion extensively,argues that:

A) civil religion is the same thing as Christianity
B) civil religion is limited to affirmations of loyalty and patriotism that members of any religion can accept
C) pure religion is trivialized by civil religion
D) those who do not believe in the existence of God can still believe in civil religion

Question 68

The doctrine of __________ is the belief that,even before they are born,all people are divided into two groups,the saved and the damned,and only God knows who will go to heaven (the elect) and who will go to hell.

A) eternal salvation
B) constant grace
C) predestination
D) divine intervention

Question 69

Today,approximately _________ people refer to themselves as Christians.The majority of Christians live in North or South America or in Europe.

A) one million
B) one billion
C) two million
D) two billion

Question 70

For Karl Marx,__________ are systematic views of the way the world ought to be and they are embodied in religious doctrines and political values.They serve to justify the status quo and retard social change.

A) philosophies
B) principles
C) strategies
D) ideologies

Question 71

__________ has universalistic criteria for membership,meaning that it does not have ethnic or tribal qualifications based on an acceptance of a set of beliefs.

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

Question 72

According to Karl Marx,the capitalist class uses religious ideology as a tool of domination to mislead the workers about their true interests.In this regard,Marx referred to religion as the "__________ of the masses."

A) opiate
B) puzzle
C) falsehood
D) conviction

Question 73

__________ is the set of beliefs,rituals,and symbols that make sacred the values of the society and place the nation in the context of the ultimate system of meaning.

A) Civil religion
B) Affirmative principles
C) Spiritualization
D) National spirit

Question 74

Functionalists argue that religion serves the function of social control and support for the government.Religion helps maintain social control by conferring __________ on the norms and laws of a society.

A) rational legal authority
B) civil attention
C) authority
D) supernatural legitimacy

Question 75

__________ theorists assert that in attempting to provide meaning and purpose in life while at the same time promoting the status quo,religion is used by the dominant classes to impose their own control over society and its resources.

A) Symbolic interactionist
B) Functionalist
C) Conflict
D) Postmodernist

Question 76

The central themes in the teachings of Jesus are the kingdom of God and standards of personal conduct for adherents of __________.Jesus emphasized the importance of righteousness before God and of praying to the Supreme Being for guidance in the daily affairs of life.

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

Question 77

Sociologist Max Weber asserted that __________ was/were directly related to the rise of capitalism.

A) the fall of communism
B) the economic philosophy of Karl Marx
C) the doctrine of conspicuous consumption
D) the religious teachings of John Calvin

Question 78

According to sociologist Karl Marx,religion unites the masses under a "__________" so that they share common interests with members of the dominant class.

A) comforting umbrella
B) false consciousness
C) silver lining
D) fool's gold ring

Question 79

Political leaders often use religion to justify their decisions,stating that they have prayed for guidance in deciding what to do.This informal relationship between religion and the state has been referred to as:

A) the spiritualization of politics
B) civil religion
C) political religion
D) affirmative politics

Question 80

Religious beliefs and rituals are __________ representations,which are group-held meanings that express something important about the group itself.

A) core
B) universal
C) collective
D) standard