Question 1

The nonrational experience is described in the text as:

Accepted Answer

Nonrational experiences are characterized by being outside the usual categories of logical, systematic reasoning, meaning they are neither strictly logical nor illogical. This encompasses experiences that don't fit into the conventional frameworks of understanding but are not necessarily illogical.

Question 2

When individuals feel intense loyalty to a symbol that is shared among a group of people, they have ____________ the symbol.

Accepted Answer

Internalizing a symbol means that individuals have deeply incorporated the symbol into their own identity and values, often leading to a strong sense of loyalty and belonging within a group that shares this symbol.

Question 3

.The process by which a symbol comes to have an existence of its own, independent of the creator of the symbol, is referred to by Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann as

Accepted Answer

Objectivation refers to the process by which products of human activity (such as symbols, language, norms, and values) attain a reality that confronts individuals as external and objective. According to Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann, this process allows symbols to exist independently of their creators.

Question 4

Sociological critics of Rudolph Otto's emphasis on the mysterium tremendum complain that

Accepted Answer

Otto's critics argue that he prescriptively places the mysterium tremendum at the core of religious life, going beyond mere description to suggest how religious experience should be universally understood, which is a point of contention.

Question 5

According to the authors of your textbook, Protestant Worship is designed to move worshippers through a sequence of moods or phases.This is a ritual procedure which follows a progression in order to reinforce

Accepted Answer

Protestant Worship often follows a sequence that reinforces the covenantal myth, which emphasizes the relationship and agreement between God and His people, central to Protestant theology.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT true of a social scientist's view of myths?

Accepted Answer

Social scientists generally do not view myths as ignorant or pre-scientific beliefs. Instead, they see myths as important cultural narratives that serve various functions such as reinforcing social norms, providing worldviews, explaining events, and offering insights that go beyond the scientific understanding of the time.

Question 7

According to Edmund Leach, religious symbols are like computer chips in that they

Accepted Answer

Leach argued that religious symbols function to store and convey complex ideas and information, similar to how computer chips store and process data. This analogy highlights the capacity of religious symbols to encapsulate and communicate rich, multifaceted concepts within a society.

Question 8

When experimental psychologists administered psychedelic drugs to people surrounded by religious symbols and stimuli, they were very likely to define the experience as a religious one, bringing them closer to God, a Higher Power, or Ultimate Reality.This influence of surrounding stimuli on perception and on the definition of the meaning of an experience would support which theoretical perspective discussed in the book so far?

Accepted Answer

The influence of surrounding stimuli on perception and the definition of the meaning of an experience aligns with the Social Constructionist theory. This theory emphasizes how our perceptions, beliefs, and knowledge of the world are constructed through social interactions and contexts, suggesting that reality is not inherent but rather constructed through social processes.

Question 9

What is NOT one of the five qualities of mysterium tremendum?

Accepted Answer

The concept of mysterium tremendum, as described by Rudolf Otto in his analysis of the experience of the holy, includes feelings of awe, overpoweringness, energy, and fascination, but it does not inherently include a sense of relief that the holy exists. This concept is meant to describe the complex, often contradictory emotions that the encounter with the sacred can evoke, focusing more on awe, fear, and the overwhelming nature of the experience rather than relief.

Question 10

The rush of feelings that a Navajo may experience when she smells juniper smoke and hears the chanting of a medicine man is an example of a religious

Accepted Answer

The rush of feelings described is an example of a religious ethos, which refers to the characteristic spirit, moral values, and emotional tone of a culture or community, often expressed through rituals and traditions.

Question 11

The part of religion that involves an intellectual ordering of experience and making meaning out of life is called an

Accepted Answer

A worldview encompasses the intellectual and philosophical aspects of religion, including the ways in which individuals make sense of their experiences and the world around them. It involves the overarching set of beliefs and attitudes through which people interpret and understand life's events, which is why it is the correct answer.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a conclusion that Roberts and Yamane (your textbook authors) think that we can make regarding nonrational religious experiences?

Accepted Answer

Roberts and Yamane suggest that nonrational religious experiences continue to hold significance in both modern and pre-industrial societies, challenging the notion that their importance diminishes in the modern world.

Question 13

Which of the following is an affirmation of a social constructionist perspective on religion?

Accepted Answer

The social constructionist perspective emphasizes how meanings and realities are constructed by social processes. Choice C reflects this by stating that individual meanings are influenced by societal norms and culture, aligning with the social constructionist view that social contexts shape our understanding and practices, including those related to religion.

Question 14

The interdependent systems of myths, symbols, ethos, ritual, and worldview is called the

Accepted Answer

The interdependent systems of myths, symbols, ethos, ritual, and worldview collectively form what is known as the meaning system. This encompasses the cultural and symbolic frameworks through which societies interpret their existence and experiences.

Question 15

A member of which of the following religious groups would most likely have a religious experience involving a vision (rather than hearing a voice)?

Accepted Answer

Roman Catholicism has a rich tradition of mystical and visionary experiences, where saints and mystics have reported visions as part of their spiritual experiences. This contrasts with the other denominations listed, which typically emphasize scripture and sermon.

Question 16

According to Berger and Luckmann, the process of creation and establishment of an important symbol in a culture goes through a series of three stages.This sequential process is

Accepted Answer

Berger and Luckmann describe the process of the creation and establishment of significant symbols in a culture as occurring through three stages: externalization, where individuals project their own meanings into the world; objectivation, where these projections are solidified into a social reality; and internalization, where this constructed reality is internalized by members of the society.

Question 17

Emile Durkheim believed that nonrational religious experiences

Accepted Answer

Durkheim believed that nonrational religious experiences have a dual nature, attracting and repelling individuals, and filling them with both joy and fear, reflecting the complex emotional response to the sacred.

Question 18

Contrary to Roman Catholic belief, most Protestant churches have traditionally assumed that the worship service should NOT be conducted if no one is present but the minister.This Protestant approach is part of

Accepted Answer

The Protestant approach to worship emphasizes a subjective experience, meaning it is focused on the personal and communal engagement of the congregation. Without a congregation present, the essential element of communal worship and personal engagement is missing, hence the belief that services should not be conducted if no one but the minister is present.

Question 19

The powerful moods and motivations associated with religion are called the

Accepted Answer

The term "ethos" refers to the characteristic spirit, moral values, and customs of a community, which includes the powerful moods and motivations associated with religion. It encompasses the guiding beliefs and ideals that characterize a community or ideology, making it the correct choice for this question.

Question 20

Sociologists define myths as

Accepted Answer

Sociologists view myths as stories and beliefs that help individuals and societies define their meaning, purpose, and values in life, rather than merely false beliefs or folk stories.

Quiz 4: The Cultural Construction of Religion: Experience, Myth, Ritual, Symbols, and Worldview