Deck 13: Religion

Question 1

A religious group found two items in a basement. One was a book of "rules to live by," which they put in their prayer room and read from at meetings. The other item was a picture of a past member, which they threw out. According to the text, how did they categorize the picture?

A) antiquated
B) profane
C) sacred
D) outdated

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In the Indian state of Orissa live the Dongria tribe, who believe that the Dongria Mountain they live on is their god. Which of the following sociological categories does their mountain divinity fit into?

A) supernatural
B) sacred
C) profane
D) religious

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Keith was required to write an analysis of religion utilizing the perspective of Émile Durkheim. Which of the following statements would Keith include in his paper?

A) Everything in creation is sacred.
B) Religion is the opiate of the people.
C) Religion is grounded in the ideology of capitalism.
D) The texts of various religions have holy status since they have been designated as sacred.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following would describe Weber's concept of religious routinization?

A) the growing boredom with, and perceived irrelevance of, religion
B) how a personal following is transformed into a permanent congregation
C) the social and political acceptance of a particular type of religion
D) the cyclical routine of right practices and observances every year

Question 5

How would Émile Durkheim describe the way the faithful experience religion and the supernatural?

A) a real experience of social origin and socially created gods
B) an experience constructed out of mythology
C) something made up of an assemblage of historical facts
D) a self-delusional experience created out of people's beliefs

Question 6

What did Marx mean when he referred to religion as the "opiate of the people"?

A) Religion soothes the disadvantaged like a narcotic, blinding them to social inequalities.
B) Once committed to religion, one cannot escape its soothing clutches.
C) The satisfaction derived from religion is very intense, something like a narcotic.
D) The effect of religion is due to the religious feeling itself, not the church or organization.

Question 7

Damian loved going to church because it made him feel part of something larger than himself. Which theorist's approach to religion explains why Damian felt this way?

A) Durkheim
B) Weber
C) Marx
D) Taylor

Question 8

Shannon was excitedly telling her friends about attending a church service where she felt the presence of God. Mark dismissed her accounting by asserting that what she felt wasn't God, but rather the collective conscience of the people in attendance. Whose perspective of religion had Mark adopted?

A) Karl Marx
B) Émile Durkheim
C) Max Weber
D) Sigmund Freud

Question 9

John digs ditches for a living. On the weekends he is very active in his prayer group, organizing home visits to the elderly and infirm. Which of the following situations is helping John be content with his life?

A) The elderly and infirm appreciate his prayer group.
B) Religious status is more important than social status.
C) Digging ditches enables John to do prayer work.
D) John's paid work does not detract from his social work.

Question 10

Mindy works in a factory to support herself, her three children and her sometimes violent husband, who is unemployed due to his abuse of alcohol. To cope with the stress and conflict of her life, Mindy spends her little spare time memorizing Bible verses that promise rewards in the afterlife. Which theorist would argue that Mindy's belief is preventing her from breaking out of this situation?

A) Taylor
B) Weber
C) Durkheim
D) Marx

Question 11

According to the text, what trend is evident among U.S. mega-churches?

A) They have not been able to compete with TV evangelists.
B) They have been closing and their properties are being sold.
C) They can no longer make ends meet because of poor attendance.
D) They make it more difficult for smaller congregations to attract members.

Question 12

According to the text, which of the following formed part of Marx's thinking about religion?

A) Religion deprives the masses of equal participation in capitalism.
B) Religion is a necessary opiate for the poor and disadvantaged.
C) Capitalism does not need religion; religion needs capitalism.
D) Religion should be an integral component of a socialist society.

Question 13

A novice born-again Christian attends a charismatic prayer group. The small group stands to pray, then someone starts to speak in tongues, and the whole group starts singing in unison. The novice feels a transcendent presence. Which of the following terms applies to this social phenomenon?

A) collective sacredness
B) collective projection
C) collective consciousness
D) collective delusion

Question 14

When researchers study the "success" of religion in Canada, which of the following is their usual focus, according to the text?

A) attendance, membership, and finances
B) religiosity and spirituality of members
C) media penetration and coverage of religious services
D) personal testimonials of church members

Question 15

Fernanda's religion encouraged her to lead a life of "peace and harmony," but what she needed to do was to fight for more rights at work, where they were taking advantage of her kind nature. Which of the following theorists would argue that religion blinded Fernanda to other possibilities for change that could bring her happiness?

A) Durkheim
B) Weber
C) Marx
D) Taylor

Question 16

In the Indian state of Orissa live the Dongria, who believe the mountain they live on is their god. The Dongria see the bauxite under their mountain, although threatening to their deity, as only a practical interest of the aluminum company that wants to mine the bauxite. What sociological term best depicts the Dongria view of bauxite?

A) practical
B) sacred
C) mundane
D) profane

Question 17

In a sociology class, Janette was asked to offer Marx's perspective of religion in one sentence. Which of the following would she assert?

A) Religion makes man; man does not make religion.
B) God makes religion; religion does not make God.
C) There is no God, only the spiritual and supernatural.
D) Man makes religion; religion does not make man.

Question 18

Who advocated the view that religious ideas are important, regardless of their verifiability?

A) Émile Durkheim
B) Max Weber
C) Auguste Comte
D) Karl Marx

Question 19

According to Weber, what influence can the moral tone that infused the rise of capitalism in Europe be traced back to?

A) the edicts of the Roman Catholic Church
B) ungodly, atheist, and material aspirations
C) the ideas of the Protestant Reformation
D) the religious persecution of the Jews

Question 20

Joseph was asked to adopt a Marxist perspective of religion and apply it to answering the question "When will societal suffering end?" Which of the following would be Joseph's answer?

A) when fewer citizens are interested in and involved with religious organizations
B) when citizens in the society stopped using religion as a crutch for their lives
C) when more citizens become church goers and live their beliefs in the community
D) when political leaders make policies based on religious beliefs

Question 21

Jan stopped attending the church in which she was raised, claiming that the church members were too old fashioned and dull. Her friend, Judson, convinced her to attend a religious meeting with him. Jan soon became a member of this faith community, quickly becoming involved in devotional group sessions prior to service and the twice weekly scripture studies. When asked why she devotes so much time to this group, she replies that the love and support given by the other members keeps her coming back. What aspects of this new faith drew Janice to her conversion?

A) collective spirituality
B) collective religiosity
C) religious solidarity
D) religious integration

Question 22

Justin believes that his god has helped him through many of life's trials. He attends religious services every week, prays numerous times a day, discusses his knowledge of scripture readings with his friends and family, and shares with them the glories of the afterlife. According to Stark and Glock, which of the following is NOT a dimension of Justin's religiosity?

A) his belief in a loving and caring god helping him in times of need
B) his integration of prayer times throughout the day
C) his religious knowledge and belief in an afterlife
D) his dedication to attending religious services

Question 23

Susan went to church with her family every week when she lived at home. After moving out to attend university, Susan rarely went to church and began to question some of the principles of her religion. According to the text, what could be a primary factor leading to her new attitude toward her religion?

A) her increased education
B) the collective nature of religion
C) her increased distance from family
D) the disjuncture between education and religion

Question 24

Sally is happiest when she is working in her home, making sure it is neat and clean, preparing meals for her family, and ensuring that her children are content. Weber would argue that this approach to hard work is part of Sally's religious upbringing. What label would he apply to it?

A) Catholic dedication
B) being Christian
C) the sacred approach
D) the Protestant ethic

Question 25

Given a market model understanding of religion, what would the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches represent?

A) organizations interested in making money
B) organizations looking to merge their bottom line
C) competitive multinational corporations
D) companies that are losing money

Question 26

Which sociologist wrote The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism?

A) Karl Marx
B) Max Weber
C) Talcott Parsons
D) Émile Durkheim

Question 27

Which of the following would be classified as ranking high in religiosity by early researchers in the sociology of religion?

A) Susan, who identifies herself as a Christian, and attended church every Sunday as a child, but stopped going once she got married
B) Jack, who every week attends a different religious service in order to learn more about world religions
C) John, a member of a Protestant church, who does not attend regularly since the service time conflicts with his volunteering at the local food bank
D) Pauline, who never attended a religious service as a child, but has since become a member of her husband's church and goes with him almost every Sunday even though she considers it to be a waste of time

Question 28

Ibrahim was a religious man, but not a rich man. He would sometimes give money to people in the street, and then have no money left to buy food for his dinner. According to Weber, in order to understand why Ibrahim gave away his money, what approach would a researcher have to take?

A) interview those Ibrahim saw as less fortunate
B) learn all about Ibrahim's religion
C) put themselves in Ibrahim's shoes
D) understand the power of religion

Question 29

Starting with Émile Durkheim, which of the following statements would most social scientists include in a description of personal religiosity?

A) Personal religiosity is moderately dependent on collective religiosity.
B) Personal religiosity is weakly connected to collective religiosity.
C) Personal religiosity is highly dependent on collective religiosity.
D) Personal religiosity is unrelated to collective religiosity.

Question 30

Atheist author, lecturer, scientific naturalist, and evolutionary apologist Richard Dawkins gives a lecture in which he espouses the view that humanity was not created by a supernatural being, but that humans can still be moral and have purpose and meaning in their lives. What label best fits Dawkins's views?

A) naturalism
B) animism
C) egocentrism
D) humanism

Question 31

A television interviewer has a mullah of the Muslim faith debating with a priest of the Catholic faith. The two disagree on the basic concept of God. The mullah claims that the Catholic church worships many gods, as embodied in the Holy Trinity, whereas Muslims have only one God. What religious concept is at the heart of this debate?

A) sectarianism
B) monotheism
C) pantheism
D) universalism

Question 32

Which of the following was used as a measure of religiosity in much of the early work in the sociology of religion?

A) baptisms
B) martyrdoms
C) attendance numbers
D) miracles

Question 33

A person wants to convert to a new religion, and is told by a catechist (a teacher of the faith) that a convert must demonstrate an active baptism, hold dear the tenets of the faith, attend church regularly, and believe in the soul's eternal nature. Which of the following terms most aptly describes the catechist's teaching?

A) dimensions of conversion
B) dimensions of religiosity
C) tenets of religiosity
D) tenets of the faith

Question 34

Wendy had watched a documentary that discussed the religious traditions of, and the many gods worshiped by, the citizens of the Aztec cities of Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco. She asserted to a friend "No wonder their civilization failed; everyone knows there's only one true god." How would Wendy's religious belief be classified?

A) ethnocentric
B) monotheist
C) supernaturalist
D) polytheist

Question 35

Which perspective assumes that life has "no ultimate meaning" without human participation?

A) humanist
B) communist
C) animist
D) polytheist

Question 36

According to Stark and Glock, which of the following is NOT a dimension of religiosity?

A) belief
B) experience
C) knowledge
D) tradition

Question 37

What would distinguish a sect at an early stage of development from a church?

A) A sect remains innovative and resists routinization.
B) A sect is always a part of an established church.
C) A sect evolves into further schisms and sects.
D) A sect is characterized by enthusiasm and spontaneity.

Question 38

What kind of model sees religious groups competing for parishioners as similar to companies?

A) a secular model
B) a capitalist model
C) a market model
D) an industrial model

Question 39

A friend tells you about his religious behaviours, which he describes as, "I was baptized a Catholic, but I think of myself as an agnostic, and I attend church on special occasions." According to sociologists, what term identifies your friend's description?

A) personal spirituality
B) personal religiosity
C) person-specific supernaturalism
D) buffet-style religiosity

Question 40

However personal our religious beliefs may be, what can we conclude about personal religiosity?

A) It represents another form of spirituality.
B) It is something that arises later in adult life.
C) It is highly dependent on collective religiosity.
D) It depends upon supernatural experience.

Question 41

The poor people living in the slums of Brazil flock to a variety of religious groups. Some people attend multiple groups regularly (e.g., Catholic services and Umbanda [Afro-Christian] ceremonies). What might explain this high participation in religious groups?

A) termination
B) reflection
C) socialization
D) deprivation

Question 42

Which theoretical approach explains why certain kinds of people become suicide bombers?

A) brainwashing theories
B) conspiracy theories
C) structural theories
D) deprivation theories

Question 43

The Unitarian Church started out as a faith based on Christian theology; over time a group was formed called Universalist Unitarians, whose faith community grew to include more members with pagan beliefs than with Christian beliefs. What term best identifies the distinction between the original group and the second group?

A) church-protest typology
B) church-sect typology
C) original-reformist typology
D) pure-heretical typology

Question 44

What did Canadian census data of 2001 reveal about faith affiliations in Canada?

A) Canada is still predominantly Catholic and Protestant.
B) Over 40 percent of Canadians believe in God but have no church affiliation.
C) Nearly 50 percent of Canadians now claim to be atheists.
D) Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and Buddhists are numerically dominant.

Question 45

Elaine, a devout Catholic, was apprehensive about letting her 18-year-old son attend university. When her colleague Jodi asked why, she exclaimed, "My friends have told me that once their children returned home with a degree, they totally renounced the teachings of the Church." How would Jodi respond if she utilized the conclusion found in the text with respect to religiosity and individuals who have acquired a university education?

A) University-educated people are more religious.
B) More university-educated people report being agnostics.
C) People with degrees are likely to be atheists.
D) University education is not related to less religiosity.

Question 46

A number of church members were growing increasingly dissatisfied with their pastor's focus on good works and deeds and numerous community efforts. Consequently, they renounced their membership and started up their own independent group focused on faith development, which attracted even more individuals to join. Adopting the perspective of Weber, what characteristics will develop over time within the smaller group?

A) theological separation
B) spontaneity and enthusiasm
C) routinization and institutionalization
D) faith-oriented work

Question 47

An ambitious Pentecostal minister starts out with a small congregation, and develops a business plan to grow his congregation. Over time, this dynamic leader builds his church into a mega-faith venture with a converted stadium that holds 16,000 faithful. While the overall rate of church attendance in his community has declined, he has greatly increased attendance. What concept best explains his church's growth?

A) charismatic ministry
B) persistence thesis
C) religious revival
D) business thesis

Question 48

In his term paper, Jacques argues that religion is and will continue to be an influential force in societies around the world. Which of the following would Jacques utilize as a framework for his writing?

A) persistence thesis
B) stability thesis
C) secularization thesis
D) spiritual influence thesis

Question 49

The congregation was facing declining membership and realized that if the trend continued, they would soon be faced with problems paying the mortgage on the building. In order to attract new members, they implemented a variety of programs such as free childcare while parents were attending services, free week-long summer camps for school-aged children of members, and a variety of youth programs throughout the year. What model did this congregation adopt to increase their membership?

A) a secular model
B) a capitalist model
C) an industrial model
D) a market model

Question 50

What appears to be a necessary factor in causing religiosity, although it is not enough to cause religiosity on its own?

A) peer pressure
B) socialization
C) daily prayer
D) church attendance

Question 51

As science has pushed back the boundaries of religious explanation, and as democracy has assumed authority in the state through the rule of law, pushing Church authority further into the background, sociologists have hypothesized a thesis for the Church's waning influence. Which of the following terms best frames this theoretical concept?

A) reformation thesis
B) atheism thesis
C) scientific thesis
D) secularization thesis

Question 52

Brian, Randy, Kathy, and Pauline were discussing their individual religious beliefs and childhood experiences of weekly service attendance. Diane joined the group and, after listening for a while asserted, "Well it's obvious that you've been socialized into religion." What did Diane mean by that?

A) Religion is genetically encoded; we are "... wired for God."
B) Religion is something that must be forced on people.
C) Religion is very much a learned phenomenon.
D) Religion is something we adapt to without much reflection.

Question 53

According to the text, what happened to some smaller independent evangelical groups with the advent of industrialization, increased prosperity, and stability?

A) They merged together to form larger congregations.
B) They evolved into denominations themselves.
C) They experienced further fracturing and splintering.
D) They broke away from the main church.

Question 54

Jason had very devout Catholic parents, went to catechism lessons, and received the sacraments, but when he moved out on his own he rejected his religious habits and claimed to be an atheist. What does this say about socialization and religion?

A) Internalized norms are at the heart of religious beliefs.
B) Socialization is both a necessary and a sufficient cause of religiosity.
C) There would be no religion if children weren't socialized into it.
D) Socialization is a necessary but not a sufficient cause of religiosity on its own.

Question 55

What role does socialization play as a cause of religious beliefs?

A) Socialization appears to be unimportant as a source of religious influence.
B) Socialization is the main source of religious influence.
C) Socialization is a necessary but not a sufficient cause of religiosity on its own.
D) Socialization plays a minimal role in comparison to media influences.

Question 56

When Monique moved away from home, she became friends with many practising Muslims. With their encouragement, she left her family's religion and began to follow the Muslim faith. Which factor did the influence of her new friends contribute to that could have influenced her decision to change her religious practices?

A) socialization
B) reflection
C) deprivation
D) termination

Question 57

According to the text, what is a religious sect?

A) It is a segment of an established religion consisting of very devout members.
B) It is a religious group that is more humanist than religious in its perspective.
C) It is a religious group that has broken away from an established religion.
D) It is a portion of the clergy, such as ministers, monks, deacons, or elders.

Question 58

Tania's parents died in a car crash when she was 18 years old. She often asked herself why she had to suffer when none of her friends had to go through such a terrible experience so young. What component associated with religiosity is Tania's questioning an example of?

A) socialization
B) reflection
C) deprivation
D) termination

Question 59

What religious/sociological thesis suggests that industrialization and postmodernity have contributed to the decline of religions?

A) the secularization thesis
B) the human capital thesis
C) the protestant thesis
D) the vertical mosaic thesis

Question 60

According to the text, what must religious groups do to achieve their formal goals?

A) They must establish norms and roles for their members.
B) They must compete with other religions for members.
C) They must exhibit miracles to strengthen faith.
D) They must establish how prophecies have been fulfilled.

Question 61

David works Monday to Friday as a lawyer. On weekends he attends his temple and volunteers with its youth counselling program. Which of the following effects do his weekend activities most likely have on his life?

A) a high level of happiness from participation
B) increased stress from increased time commitments
C) decreased compassion
D) no clear effect

Question 62

One person at a community meeting was heard to say, "We don't mind if they practise their religion, but we don't want their religious centre in our town." Which of the following societal consequences of religious diversity in Canada is this statement an example of?

A) oppression
B) criminality
C) growth
D) hostility

Question 63

What trend is found among Canadians claiming to have no religion?

A) Some people in this category reaffiliate following rites of passage such as marriage and childbirth.
B) Some people in this category indicate a nonreligious rise in mysticism and spirituality.
C) Some people in this category reaffiliate with a religion other than that of their parents.
D) Most people in this category are older and married.

Question 64

Which of the following is offered in the text as an example of a "civil religion"?

A) Eastern Confucianism
B) Islamic democracies
C) Marxist-Leninist philosophy
D) the American Way of Life

Question 65

A young seeker of enlightenment finds the older, established faith communities dull and unappealing, and is enticed by a recently formed organization called New Faith, an eclectic synthesis of spiritual ideals and meditative practice. What term do sociologists have for such new faith communities?

A) churches
B) faiths
C) sects
D) cults

Question 66

At the dinner table, conversation centred on a discussion of the worldwide effects of religion. When the meal was over, Mario's parting comment was, "Well that's the paradox of religious life." What did Mario mean?

A) A soul can be both redeemed and damned.
B) Belief exists without rational verification.
C) Religious life is both true and false.
D) Religious life can both enrich and destroy social life.

Question 67

Which of the following changing aspects of religion/society would Christian moral innovation be most uniformly opposed to?

A) ordination of women
B) ordination of gay ministers
C) personal morality about sexuality
D) evolving concepts of Christ

Question 68

Abimbola's father refused to attend church services with his family, since he believed that church goers were the most racist and prejudiced group of people in society. Utilizing the research of Gorsuch and Aleshire, which of the following would Abimbola assert?

A) I agree, Dad; all attendees are racially prejudiced.
B) Dad, not all are prejudiced, but most are.
C) Dad, it's only the church members who don't attend services who are racist and prejudiced.
D) Dad, the people who are marginally involved tend to be more racist and prejudiced.

Question 69

Which of the following conclusions is outlined in the text concerning religion?

A) It is not going to disappear.
B) It is the best way to expand consciousness.
C) It has always been a repressive force.
D) It has always been a progressive force.

Question 70

Samir administered a questionnaire to 100 high-school students. The first question asked if religious involvement was important to them. What number would reply yes, if the results replicated the study discussed in the text?

A) 30
B) 50
C) 70
D) 90

Question 71

What were the findings of Project Canada about the religiously committed?

A) They differ markedly from others with respect to their interpersonal relationship attitudes.
B) They do not differ significantly from others with respect to their interpersonal attitudes.
C) They are more likely to be more tolerant toward minority groups, deviants, and other religious groups.
D) They are more likely to be less tolerant of others, particularly other religious groups.

Question 72

According to recent research and analyses conducted by Bibby (2009, 2011), what is the relationship between holding a definite belief in God and affirming the interpersonal values that make for civility?

A) Both adults and teens show a consistent and positive relationship.
B) Adults show a positive relationship whereas teens demonstrate a negative relationship.
C) There is a weak relationship between belief and civility.
D) Atheists demonstrate that nonbelief relates to higher interpersonal values.

Question 73

As Canadians who say they have no religion get a bit older, marry, and have children, what do they report about their religiosity?

A) They become more zealously religious than before.
B) They continue reporting that they have no religious affiliation.
C) They tend to give up on religious backgrounds.
D) They list themselves as being a member of a religion again.

Question 74

Over time, what has religion shown that it can do locally, nationally, and globally?

A) It can cause wars and disharmony, and tear people apart, removing the potential for peaceful resolutions.
B) It can contribute to the advancement of knowledge, but at the expense of peace.
C) It can bring people together and tear them apart.
D) It offers a path to peace, always bringing people together.

Question 75

How do Canadian teenagers compare to their parents in terms of religious belief, practice, knowledge, and experience?

A) Teens are somewhat more religious.
B) Teens about equally religious.
C) Teens are somewhat less religious.
D) Teens are much less religious.

Question 76

According to the text, there are recent signs of modest religious rejuvenation in Canada. What does this reflect?

A) internal renewal of established religions
B) growth of new religious movements
C) decline of longstanding groups
D) switching from one group to another

Question 77

Since the early Protestant Reformation there have been and continue to be schisms. Most recently one Protestant faith has had a split over the ordination of gay ministers. What term do sociologists give to this unfolding process of creating new Protestant faiths?

A) sectarianism
B) faith splintering
C) denominationalism
D) church fissioning

Question 78

In comparison to Canada, the United States is seen as being ostentatiously nationalistic. Americans ritualistically perform pledges of national allegiance, troop the colours, wave the flag, sing the national anthem, and celebrate national holidays. What term best helps us distinguish their fervour and national pride from Canadian's more modest displays of national pride?

A) civil religion
B) civil pride
C) national faith
D) national spirit

Question 79

According to Frankel and Hewitt's research, what factor is related to religious involvement?

A) Religiously involved people are far happier than atheists.
B) People with religious involvement are far gloomier than atheists.
C) Religiously involved people are more industrious.
D) Religious involvement relates to good mental health.

Question 80

According to the text, who of the following would be the LEAST likely to attend religious services?

A) Martha, 66 years old, who lives on a farm in Manitoba
B) Mary, sole-support mother of two and employed full-time
C) Monica, 60 years old, raised and living on the East Coast of Canada
D) Marilyn, a stay-at-home mom with four children