Deck 5: Altered States of Consciousness and Religious Specialists

Question 1

Therianthropes are:

A)images of transformed shamans
B)guardian spirits
C)diviners
D)a class of gods

Answer 1

images of transformed shamans

Question 2

Which of the following statements about religious use of pain is false:

A)Religious pain is often shared pain.
B)The pain may cause the person to enter an altered state of consciousness.
C)Pain may induce an euphoric state.
D)Religious pain often isolates the individual from the social group.

Answer 2

Religious pain often isolates the individual from the social group.

Question 3

In the Holiness Church the observed altered state of consciousness is most similar to which of the following behaviors found in tribal cultures:

A)spirit possession
B)divination
C)healing
D)shamanism

Answer 3

spirit possession

Question 4

In the Huichol ritual an altered state of consciousness is mainly brought about by:

A)eating the peyote cactus
B)meditation
C)fasting
D)drumming

Question 5

Hildegard of Bingen,who lived in the twelfth century,is known for her:

A)descriptions of her mystical experiences
B)paintings of the saints
C)medicines and medical practices
D)high political position

Question 6

Self-inflicted pain leading to a sacrifice of blood characterizes the ritual of the:

A)Huichol
B)Maya
C)Yoruba
D)Nuer

Question 7

Characteristics of an altered state of consciousness include:

A)acceleration or slowing of time
B)sudden and unexpected displays of intense emotion
C)various parts of body may appear or feel shrunken,enlarged,dis?torted,heavy,or weightless
D)all of the above

Question 8

David Lewis-Williams suggests that Upper Paleolithic cave paintings are:

A)decorations
B)a form of imitative magic designed for successful hunting
C)representations of altered states of consciousness
D)a part of coming-of-age rituals

Question 9

In the Holiness Church,an altered state of consciousness is brought about by:

A)music and dance
B)the drinking of poison
C)drumming
D)the use of peyote

Question 10

The Holiness Church is separated from most other Christian sects by:

A)the handling of poisonous snakes
B)the drinking of poisoned beverage
C)speaking in tongues
D)all of the above

Question 11

Neurologist Oliver Sachs believes that the visions described by Hildegard of Bingen are likely to be associated with:

A)fasting
B)use of hallucinogenic drugs
C)migraines
D)self-inflicted pain

Question 12

The part of the brain that enables us to distinguish our selves from the world around us is the:

A)cerebellum
B)orientation association structure
C)Broca's area
D)frontal lobe

Question 13

The feeling of being at one with the universe or supernatural beings is called a(n):

A)nirvana
B)sympathetic state
C)unitary state
D)entoptic phenomena

Question 14

Peyote is used in rituals of:

A)the Holiness Church
B)the Native American Church
C)Vodou
D)San

Question 15

An altered state of consciousness can be brought about through:

A)fasting
B)meditation
C)sleep deprivation
D)all of the above

Question 16

The Jewish Yom Kippur and the Islamic Ramadan are both characterized by:

A)fasting
B)ingestion of wine
C)spirit possession states
D)meditation

Question 17

Features that characterize an altered state of consciousness in the Holiness Church include:

A)energetic dancing for long periods of time
B)speaking in tongues
C)jerking of the body and trancelike states
D)all of the above

Question 18

The term synesthesia refers to:

A)hypersuggestibility
B)fear of losing self-control
C)one form of sensory experience is translated into another
D)distortion of time

Question 19

A drug that causes visions and hallucinations is classed as a(n):

A)euphoria
B)phantastica
C)hypnotica
D)excitania

Question 20

Characteristics of an altered state of consciousness include:

A)attachment of new meaning to experiences
B)perceptual distortions and hallucinations
C)sudden and unexpected displays of emotional extremes
D)all of the above

Question 21

Any mental state that is different from one's usual mental state,including day dreaming,is an altered state of consciousness.

Question 22

The Holiness Churches use tobacco and alcohol as a sacrament to create contact with the Holy Ghost.

Question 23

In a unitary state one feels a disequilibrium and disconnection with the world.

Question 24

Marijuana is used in the religious practices of the:

A)Holiness Church
B)Rastafarians
C)Yanomamö
D)Native American Church

Question 25

Among the Yanomamö,hallucinogenic snuff is taken by shamans in order to:

A)divine the future
B)locate the location of animals
C)entice spirits into the body
D)feed the gods

Question 26

Pain brought about by piercing the body,a practice found in many Native American groups,characterized the:

A)Yanomamö
B)Blessing Way
C)Sun Dance
D)San healing ritual

Question 27

Rastafarians smoke ganga or the "wisdom weed." This is actually:

A)tobacco
B)marijuana
C)material from a jungle vine
D)none of the above

Question 28

Problems such as drug addiction frequently accompany religious drug use.

Question 29

Both very loud rhythmic noise and the absence of sound are capable of creating an altered state of consciousness.

Question 30

Entoptic phenomena are images of anthropomorphic animals.

Question 31

In some cultures certain biologically-based experiences,such as migraines,are interpreted as visions.

Question 32

Marijuana is considered as a sacrament in the Native American Church.

Question 33

Fasting leads to an alteration of the body chemistry which,in turn,leads to an altered state of consciousness.

Question 34

The Mayan carvings from Yaxhilán show the ingestion of drugs to achieve a hallucination of a serpent.

Question 35

The goal of many religious altered states of consciousness is to achieve a unitary state.

Question 36

The handling of poisonous snakes is a practice of the Native American Church.

Question 37

Pain,caused by placing skewers through the skin,characterizes the Cheyenne Sun Dance.

Question 38

In the Holiness Church,an altered state of consciousness is interpreted as a physical manifestation of:

A)demonic possession
B)possession by the Holy Ghost
C)the need for salvation
D)being chosen for an afterlife with God

Question 39

Characteristics of altered states of consciousness include disturbances in concentration,attention,memory,and judgment.

Question 40

Dancing to heat up the energy known as n/um to enable healing characterized the:

A)Yanomamö
B)Blessing Way
C)Sun Dance
D)San healing ritual

Question 41

How do biologists and psychologists explain altered states of consciousness?

Question 42

What kinds of altered states of consciousness do you find in American religious services?

Question 43

How can we explain spirit possession in terms of an altered state of consciousness?

Question 44

Describe how David Lewis-Williams explains the paintings on the walls of Upper Paleolithic caves.

Question 45

Altered states of consciousness are experienced in the way in which the culture interprets it.For example,it might be interpreted as spirit possession.

Question 46

How can a medical symptom such as a migraine be interpreted as a religious vision?

Question 47

Many religious systems require adherents to do things,such as self mutilation,that causes pain.What is the effect of this?

Question 48

Describe what we seen in the Mayan carving from the temple at Yaxchilán.What factors bring about an altered state of consciousness?

Question 49

How are the effects of a particular drug experienced differently by people in different cultures?

Question 50

Do you think that the volume and regular rhythms of a rock band are capable of producing an altered state of conscious? Why or why not?

Question 51

Many religions require fasting as a part of ritual.What effects does fasting have upon the individual?