Deck 1: An Introduction to Religion and the Study of Religion

Question 1

__________ is the belief in an impersonal ultimacy characterized by absolute unity.

A) Henotheism
B) Monism
C) Monotheism
D) Pantheism
E) Polytheism

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The key elements of the author's working definition of religion are __________.

A) belief, human, transformation
B) belief, community, ethics
C) community, ethics, human
D) ethics, human, ultimacy
E) human, transformation, ultimacy

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The author asserts that we can see the influence of religion in many aspects of the contemporary world, including the __________ arenas.

A) artistic, economic, and political
B) artistic, political, and social
C) economic, political, and scientific
D) economic, individual, and social
E) political, economic, and military

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The phenomenological approach to the study of religion requires the student to __________.

A) accept as factual everything they are told by the representatives of the religion under investigation
B) evaluate a religion from the perspective of the outside observer
C) judge the validity of a religious tradition based on the student's presuppositions
D) understand a religion from the perspective of persons within that particular religious tradition

Question 5

Which of the following terms is a synonym for "ultimacy" in this study?

A) god
B) life
C) nothingness
D) sacred
E) symbol

Question 6

Science and religion can be viewed as relating to each other in one of three different ways: __________.

A) complementary, enemies, or non-competing
B) confused, enemies, or friends
C) confused, friends, or functionally equivalent
D) enemies, friends, or functionally equivalent

Question 7

To study religions from the perspective of one's own perception of ultimacy is known as the __________ method.

A) functional
B) historical
C) phenomenological
D) philosophical
E) religious

Question 8

Religious "myth" refers to __________.

A) false stories that bolster people's unscientific views of the universe
B) fictional stories that teach pseudo-science
C) foundational stories that reveal how life is to be understood
D) stories from primitive (and now dead) religions

Question 9

The term "indigenous religions" refers to __________.

A) extinct religions
B) the earliest and most basic form of religion
C) religions of Southeast Asia
D) religions of the Middle East
E) new religions

Question 10

One significant development of the modern world is the rise of non-spiritual perceived ultimacies or "secular religions," among which the author includes __________.

A) communism, consumerism, and Catholicism
B) communism, consumerism, and the "new atheism"
C) consumerism, Marxism, and the "new atheism"
D) Marxism, conformism, and the "new atheism"
E) Marxism, the "new atheism," and Scientology

Question 11

The general term for belief in one or more personal gods is __________.

A) agnosticism
B) atheism
C) monotheism
D) polytheism
E) theism

Question 12

The author of this text defines the term "religion" as ????__________.

A) belief in a transcendent, personal deity
B) emotional escape from the troubles of daily life
C) faith in Jesus Christ
D) human transformation in response to perceived ultimacy
E) something one believes in or follows devotedly

Question 13

The author argues for a "moral imperative" to study religion because __________.

A) it helps us understand a culture's economic and political commitments so we can work around them for our own benefit
B) it helps us figure out how to get them to accept our own religious views and commitments so we can work better together
C) peaceful cooperation requires understanding other people, and appreciating their religious commitments is key to that understanding
D) social justice has to be based on a community's religious commitments

Question 14

The central distinguishing characteristic of a religious symbol is that it __________.

A) is described in a sacred writing
B) enables people to participate in perceived ultimacy
C) has to do with a god or gods
D) may be used only by holy persons such as priests
E) represents something other than itself

Question 15

Symbolic actions that create sacred space and time are called __________.

A) eschatological myths
B) magic
C) origins myths
D) religious images
E) religious rituals

Question 16

This text employs the __________ methods for the study of religion.

A) comparative, functional, and religious
B) comparative, historical, and phenomenological
C) comparative, historical, and philosophical
D) functional, historical, and philosophical
E) functional, phenomenological, and religious

Question 17

With respect to religious systems, "transformation" includes the characteristics of a(n) __________ from which transformation occurs, a(n) __________ toward which transformation is directed, and a(n) __________ by which transformation occurs.

A) beginning, middle, end
B) predicament, ideal state, means
C) predicament, goal, strategy
D) problem, goal, myth
E) problem, solution, ritual

Question 18

While not reducible simply to its various functions, religion fills basic human drives, including __________ needs.

A) economic, social, and political
B) individual, psychological, and social
C) individual, psychological, and ultimacy
D) personal, social, and psychological
E) psychological, social, and ultimacy

Question 19

When speaking of spiritual ultimacy, Western religious traditions (e.g., Judaism, Christianity, Islam) tend to use __________ terms, whereas Eastern traditions (like Buddhism and Daoism) tend toward __________ language.

A) impersonal (monistic), personal (theistic)
B) impersonal (theistic), personal (monistic)
C) personal (monistic), impersonal (theistic)
D) personal (theistic), impersonal (monistic)

Question 20

This text takes as its fundamental focus for study of religions the __________ of a given religious tradition.

A) creed or other statements of beliefs
B) ethical teachings
C) perception of ultimacy
D) system of rituals
E) worldview rooted in distinctive perceptions of ultimacy

Question 21

What is the specialized meaning of "myth" in the study of religion? Name and describe at least two the types of myths. What role does myth play in a religious system? Choose at least one example to illustrate how this works.

Question 22

Think of the last time you were at a Super Bowl party, a professional baseball game, or some other major sporting event. What features of ritual did you observe at this event? How do they compare with your experience of a religious ritual?

Question 23

What are three possible ways that one may view the relationship between science and religion? Explain each position, comparing it with the other two. Which do you think is the best understanding? Why so?

Question 24

Compare and contrast the key features of a descriptive approach to study of religion versus an evaluative approach. In what contexts or for what purposes would each of these two approaches be most suitable?

Question 25

What is one contemporary example of what this text calls the "moral imperative" for the study of religion? Why do you think this example fits the category?

Question 26

Evaluate the pros and cons of stipulating a working definition of "religion" when beginning the academic study of religion.

Question 27

Define the term "ritual" and describe the key features of religious ritual. What role does ritual play in a religious system? Choose at least one example to illustrate how this works.

Question 28

Describing how a religion has come into existence and developed through time

Question 29

What are the basic characteristics of a phenomenological approach to the study of religion? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method versus the other approaches mentioned in this text (religious, philosophical, functional, historical, and comparative)?

Question 30

Examining the role(s) religion plays in particular human contexts

Question 31

Define the term "ultimacy" as used in this book. How does it compare with your understanding of the term "god"? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each term when talking about the focus of religion?

Question 32

Attempting to understand the religion from the perspective of people within the religion

Question 33

On the basis of the four criteria of clarity, inclusivity, specificity, and utility, evaluate the adequacy of each of the following definitions of religion for an academic study of the subject.
a. Religion is something one believes in or follows devotedly.
b. Religion is faith in Jesus Christ.
c. Religion is human transformation in response to perceived ultimacy.