Deck 11: Religion and Society

Question 1

Along with sociology,which other discipline understands religion as a form of culture?

A)anthropology
B)psychology
C)education
D)economics

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT an example of a totem?

A)animal figures carved into a temple
B)the wafer and wine used in a Catholic Mass
C)objects regarded as ordinary parts of routine,everyday life
D)the sacred status of bison in some Native American religions

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A belief in one or more supernatural deities is known as ______.

A)polytheism
B)theism
C)monotheism
D)theology

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following did Émile Durkheim and Karl Marx agree on regarding religion?

A)Secularization was inevitable.
B)Religion prevents the masses from recognizing the ways in which the ruling class exploits them.
C)Sacred rituals serve an important social function by bring communities together.
D)Disenchantment would lead modern society to become an "iron cage," imprisoning people in lives that lacked spirituality and creativity.

Question 5

According to anthropologists,which of the following is linked to the early organized religion found at Göbekli Tepe?

A)democracy
B)economic activity
C)multiculturalism
D)agriculture

Question 6

Which of the following would NOT be considered an example of a religious group's effort to gain more followers?

A)an individual inviting a fellow Christian to attend mass at her or his church
B)door-to-door outreach and distributing flyers
C)free tours of the Scientology headquarters in Washington,DC
D)the broadcasting of evangelical Christian church services

Question 7

Which of the following allows for more religious choice?

A)a "prevailing" religion
B)denomination
C)ecclesia
D)church

Question 8

Which of the following is considered the most mainstream religious organization?

A)sect
B)cult
C)new religious movement
D)church

Question 9

Which of the following would be considered a modern-day example of a sect?

A)Roman Catholicism
B)Lutheranism
C)Sunni Islam
D)evangelicalism

Question 10

Which of the following receives special rights and privileges from the state?

A)sect
B)denomination
C)ecclesia
D)church

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of early Protestantism in the United States,as described by Max Weber?

A)a commitment to finding and fulfilling one's calling
B)the belief that consumption-centered lifestyles are sinful
C)a hard work ethic would lead to salvation
D)wealth is an indicator of sin

Question 12

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature,the sentiment of a heartless world,and the soul of soulless conditions.It is the opium of the people." Which of the following theoretical perspectives best fits with this statement?

A)functionalism
B)conflict theory
C)symbolic interactionism
D)anthropology

Question 13

Max Weber's concept of the routinization of charisma can be described as

A)the institutionalization of a charismatic leader's beliefs into an organized religious structure
B)the loss of the charismatic figure from whose life a religion was born
C)the use of prescribed,tried-and-true techniques by a charismatic leader to achieve a mass following
D)the use of modern technology,such as radio,Internet,and television,to evangelize

Question 14

A religious organization that has splintered off from an established church in an effort to restore perceived "true" beliefs and practices is referred to as a(n)______.

A)denomination
B)cult
C)ecclesia
D)sect

Question 15

Which of the following is characteristic of the religious economy approach?

A)Individuals cannot choose to change their religious affiliations.
B)Religion weakens when challenged by competing religious or secular viewpoints.
C)Religions do not need to make efforts to attract followers.
D)There is likely to be a religious option for just about everyone.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of the way sociologists study religion?

A)ask questions about its role and function in society
B)look at the ways religions create and reinforce social cohesion
C)study whether religious beliefs are true or false
D)study what forces affect people's commitment to religion

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of religion?

A)includes the ritualization and routinization of beliefs
B)is a form of culture
C)can only occur in formal organizations
D)provides answers to questions about life,death,and fate

Question 18

Which of the following would NOT be considered an example of an ecclesia?

A)Confucianism in China
B)Anglican Church of England
C)Greek Orthodox Church in Greece
D)Christianity in the United States

Question 19

A system of common beliefs and rituals centered on "sacred things" that unites believers and provides a sense of meaning and purpose is referred to as ______.

A)culture
B)society
C)education
D)religion

Question 20

Sociologist Herbert Blumer suggested that the meaning of a thing for a person grows out of the ways in which others respond to the object and the person's actions toward it.Which of the following is NOT an example of this?

A)Burning the American flag is considered a serious taboo because it is viewed as unpatriotic.
B)Many Catholics consider it offensive to wear the rosary as an everyday necklace.
C)A chronically ill man is cured following a week of prayer.
D)Some Muslim women choose to wear hijab as a statement of their religious faith.

Question 21

Which of the following is characteristic of religiosity in the United States?

A)The United States is one of the least religiously diverse countries in the world.
B)The number of conservative Protestants has seen a steady decrease.
C)More men than women claim religious affiliation.
D)Compared with similar modern,economically developed nations,religiosity in the United States is relatively high.

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of cults?

A)often led by charismatic figures
B)originate outside the religious mainstream
C)develop unique beliefs and practices
D)are all eventually accepted into mainstream society

Question 23

Which of the following is the world's largest religion?

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

Question 24

Mary Baker Eddy,a strong feminist and activist in the early women's movement,founded ______.

A)the first Shaker settlement in the U.S.
B)the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
C)Christian Science and the Christian Science Monitor
D)the Goddess Church

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT true of Zionism?

A)It is embraced by all Jews.
B)It identifies Jerusalem as the center of the Jewish homeland.
C)It arose partially in reaction to a long global history of anti-Semitism.
D)Zionists established settlements in Palestine early in the 20th century.

Question 26

Which of the following is characteristic of conservative Protestantism?

A)lack of political participation
B)secular humanism
C)flexible interpretation of the Bible
D)belief in spiritual rebirth

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Buddhism?

A)worship of its founder,Siddhartha Gautama
B)belief in divine spiritual forces rather than a god or gods
C)followers seek enlightenment through ethical behavior,living a simple lifestyle,renouncing material pleasures,and practicing meditation
D)many people who practice Buddhism might not call themselves Buddhists

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT true of new religious movements?

A)They tend to be enduring institutions.
B)Their name came about as a more neutral way to refer to cults.
C)Most exist outside their countries' religious mainstreams.
D)They are often based on the charisma of a single leader.

Question 29

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Christianity?

A)belief that Jesus Christ is the messiah
B)emerged in Palestine about 2,000 years ago
C)did not become an ecclesia until well after the 19th century
D)based in Judaism

Question 30

Which of the following is true of evangelical Protestant groups?

A)have seen their numbers shrink considerably
B)would be characterized as cults in the United States
C)tend to agree with conservative Republicans on most social issues
D)do not have a duty to convert others to their faith

Question 31

Which of the following is most likely to feature a charismatic leader?

A)sect
B)denomination
C)cult
D)church

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Islam?

A)Its followers are referred to as Muslims.
B)About 20% of all Muslims live in the Middle East and North Africa.
C)Followers worship the Prophet Muhammad as the messiah.
D)Followers believe in positive devotion to one god,Allah.

Question 33

Which of the following is a characteristic of Hinduism?

A)one of the newest major religions,emerging in third-century India
B)based on the teachings of a single individual
C)belief in reincarnation and karma
D)monotheistic

Question 34

Which of the following religions prescribes a path for overcoming the endless suffering of everyday life?

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

Question 35

Among U.S.adults who change their religious affiliation over the course of their life,which is the most common shift?

A)from the nonaffiliated group to a Christian group
B)from the nonaffiliated group to any religious group
C)from a religious group to the nonaffiliated group
D)from a non-Christian group to a Christian group

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT a monotheistic religion?

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

Question 37

Which of the following is true of religious affiliation in the United States?

A)People are less likely to identify as unaffiliated.
B)It is the most diverse in the world.
C)Older people are more likely to identify as unaffiliated.
D)About 60% self-identify as Christian.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Judaism?

A)one of the first religions to teach monotheism
B)teaching of the Torah,which is codified in the Mishnah and the Talmud
C)the smallest of the world's major religions
D)its followers distributed roughly evenly throughout Europe,Israel,and the United States

Question 39

Which of the following is a polytheistic religion?

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

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Confucianism?

A)about 6 million practitioners worldwide
B)emphasizes respect for authority and hierarchy
C)associated with the principles of yin and yang
D)the official state religion of China

Question 41

The establishment clause of the First Amendment of the U.S.Constitution is commonly understood as that which gives us separation of church and state.

Question 42

Explain what is meant by the term religious economy,and identify two ways that competition leads to increased engagement in religious organizations.

Question 43

Discuss the four primary ways sociologists approach the study of religion in society.

Question 44

An example of a religious totem would be the wafer and wine used in Catholic Mass.

Question 45

Provide definitions and explain the relationships between a church,a denomination,and an ecclesia,and provide an example of each.

Question 46

About ______% of U.S.adults indicate they are not affiliated with a religious group.

Question 47

About ______% of U.S.adults change their religious affiliation over the course of their lives.

Question 48

______ is the world's largest religion while Islam is the world's fastest growing.

Question 49

Provide definitions and explain the differences between cults,sects,and churches,and provide an example of each.

Question 50

Buddhism is an example of a ______ religion,in that it believes in the existence of divine spiritual forces rather than a god or gods.

Question 51

The terms Muslim and Islam can be used interchangeably.

Question 52

According to Émile Durkheim,Australian Aborigines divided their world into the ______,or the sphere of routine,everyday life,and the sacred,or the sphere endowed with spiritual meaning.

Question 53

Extreme patriotism in the United States could be characterized as ______.

A)internationalism
B)cult-like behavior
C)a civil religion
D)an ecclesia

Question 54

As scientists,sociologists' main research objective is to disprove or provide empirical evidence for certain religious beliefs.

Question 55

A negative effect of ______ on religion has been the creation of conflict and tension as religious groups come into greater contact.

Question 56

______ is the linkage of religious convictions with beliefs about a nation or ethnic group's social and political destiny.

A)Civil religion
B)Religious nationalism
C)Disestablishmentarianism
D)Civil liberty

Question 57

Religion can have both a stabilizing and a destabilizing effect in any given society.

Question 58

The separation of church and state is an example of ______.

A)disestablishment
B)evangelicalism
C)religious nationalism
D)civil religion

Question 59

According to Max Weber,capitalism developed in the United States and Europe first because they did not have religious values.

Question 60

According to Émile Durkheim,sacred rituals strengthen solidarity and social bonds as people lose their sense of individuality and merge with the larger group.

Question 61

Émile Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life set forth one of the most influential and enduring theories in the sociology of religion.Provide an explanation of Durkheim's theory,as well as a critique of its strengths and weaknesses.

Question 62

Propose a research study that examines the relationship between religion and the political landscape.Identify the research topic,include discussion of how you would frame your research question and what theory or theories you would use,select an appropriate research methodology,weigh any ethical implications,and discuss any challenges or threats to data collection,reliability,or validity that may arise.

Question 63

Conventional wisdom tells us that in the United States,there is a "separation of church and state." Critically examine the truth of this statement.Provide support for whether you agree or disagree.

Question 64

Explain the process of the routinization of charisma in religion.

Question 65

Explain the term new religious movement and why usage of this term is growing in popularity.

Question 66

Introduce and discuss three major trends in religious affiliation and religiosity in the United States.Theorize and provide sociological explanations for these trends.

Question 67

Discuss the historical and contemporary relationships between class,capitalism,and religion.

Question 68

Define the term civil religion,and provide three examples of civil religion in the United States.

Question 69

Compare and contrast the major tenets,roots,and presence of Buddhism,Confucianism,and Hinduism.

Question 70

Discuss the relationships between globalization,war and conflict,and religious nationalism.

Question 71

Explain how globalization and technology have had an effect on the growth and spread of religion.

Question 72

Religion is considered one of the major agents of socialization.Discuss a few of the ways religion socializes people into roles and behaviors.

Question 73

Discuss the relationship between religion and caste in Hindu culture.

Question 74

Discuss the relationship between the dominance of Christianity and the family structure in the United States.How have Christian values shaped family structure?

Question 75

Identify the major tenets,provide a brief historical background,and discuss the global presence of Judaism,Islam,and Christianity.

Question 76

Discuss the role of women in religion.Apply a feminist/conflict-oriented perspective to explain what women's roles have been.

Question 77

Discuss the rise of evangelicalism in the United States and its relationship to the family,politics,and the media.

Question 78

Describe the main tenets and roots of Zionism,and discuss its relationship to Judaism.

Question 79

Explain the major differences between theism,polytheism,monotheism,and animism.

Question 80

Compare and contrast the theories of Max Weber and Karl Marx when it comes to the analysis of religion.