Question 1

The Christian ritual of communion not only commemorates a historical event but also allows followers to participate in the unity of themselves with other believers.From a functionalist perspective,this ritual serves the function of:

Accepted Answer

The Christian ritual of communion serves the function of promoting social cohesion and a sense of belonging among believers. By participating in the same ritual, believers feel connected to each other and to the larger Christian community, which strengthens social bonds and promotes a sense of unity.

Question 2

The Islamic notion of jihad,meaning "struggle," is a core belief.The __________ is the external struggle that takes place in the world,including violence and war.

Accepted Answer

The Islamic notion of jihad includes both an internal spiritual struggle (Greater Jihad) and an external struggle out in the world (Lesser Jihad). The Lesser Jihad includes armed resistance in self-defense or in defense of the Muslim community.

Question 3

According to sociologist Emile Durkheim,all religions share three elements.Which of the following is NOT one of these elements?

Accepted Answer

Durkheim's three elements of religion are beliefs, practices/rituals, and a moral community based on shared beliefs and practices pertaining to the sacred. Rigidity of membership criteria is not a necessary element for a religion according to Durkheim.

Question 4

According to the text's discussion of civil religion,__________.

Accepted Answer

The text explicitly states that the United States flag is the primary sacred object of the nation's civil religion, making option C the best choice. Option A is incorrect, as civil religion is not necessarily tied to the most popular religious group in a society. Option B is also incorrect, as civil ceremonies in the United States still often contain some religious elements. Option D is not supported by the text, as there has been debate and controversy over the role of civil religion in public life.

Question 5

From a functionalist perspective,all of the following are functions of religion EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Functionalist perspective views religion as providing meaning, promoting social cohesion, and supporting social control, but it does not specifically focus on preventing anarchy.

Question 6

__________ was one of the first sociologists to emphasize that religion is essential to the maintenance of society.He suggested that religion is a cultural universal found in all societies because it meets basic human needs and serves important societal functions.

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim was known for his theory that religion played a crucial role in the maintenance of social order and solidarity. He argued that religion provided a shared set of beliefs and practices that united individuals and reinforced social norms and values. Additionally, he believed that religion served important functions, such as promoting social cohesion, regulating behavior, and providing individuals with a sense of purpose and meaning.

Question 7

Some critics have attempted to eliminate all vestiges of civil religion from public life.However,sociologist Robert Bellah,who has studied civil religion extensively,argues that:

Accepted Answer

Robert Bellah argues that civil religion is limited to affirmations of loyalty and patriotism that members of any religion can accept. He distinguishes it from pure religion and acknowledges that those who do not believe in the existence of God can still believe in civil religion. He does not equate civil religion with Christianity and does not argue that pure religion is trivialized by civil religion.

Question 8

The doctrine of __________ is the belief that,even before they are born,all people are divided into two groups,the saved and the damned,and only God knows who will go to heaven (the elect) and who will go to hell.

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of predestination is based on the belief that God has already chosen some individuals to be saved (the elect) and others to be damned (the reprobate) even before they are born. This means that their ultimate fate is determined by God's will, and not by their own actions or choices. This concept is often associated with the teachings of John Calvin and has been a controversial topic in Christian theology.

Question 9

Today,approximately _________ people refer to themselves as Christians.The majority of Christians live in North or South America or in Europe.

Accepted Answer

According to recent surveys, approximately two billion people worldwide self-identify as Christians. The majority of these Christians live in North or South America, or in Europe.

Question 10

For Karl Marx,__________ are systematic views of the way the world ought to be and they are embodied in religious doctrines and political values.They serve to justify the status quo and retard social change.

Accepted Answer

Marx believed that ideologies were systematic views of the way the world ought to be and that they served to maintain the status quo and prevent social change. He saw religion and political values as embodying such ideologies that justified the existing social and economic structures.

Question 11

__________ has universalistic criteria for membership,meaning that it does not have ethnic or tribal qualifications based on an acceptance of a set of beliefs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ has universalistic criteria for membership,meaning that...

Question 12

According to Karl Marx,the capitalist class uses religious ideology as a tool of domination to mislead the workers about their true interests.In this regard,Marx referred to religion as the "__________ of the masses."

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx referred to religion as the "opiate of the masses," meaning that it acts as a drug to numb people's pain and suppress their consciousness of oppression. He believed that religion is used by the capitalist class to distract the workers from their exploitation and to prevent them from realizing their true potential for revolutionary action.

Question 13

__________ is the set of beliefs,rituals,and symbols that make sacred the values of the society and place the nation in the context of the ultimate system of meaning.

Accepted Answer

Civil religion is the set of beliefs, rituals, and symbols that make sacred the values of the society and place the nation in the context of the ultimate system of meaning. It is a form of public religion that provides a shared identity and sense of purpose for a nation or society. Examples of civil religious symbols include national flags, national anthems, and patriotic holidays.

Question 14

Functionalists argue that religion serves the function of social control and support for the government.Religion helps maintain social control by conferring __________ on the norms and laws of a society.

Accepted Answer

Functionalists believe that religion provides supernatural legitimacy to a society's norms and laws, making them seem unquestionable and sacred. This helps to maintain social control by encouraging individuals to obey these norms and laws as they are seen as coming from a higher power. This also supports the government as the authority that enforces these norms and laws.

Question 15

__________ theorists assert that in attempting to provide meaning and purpose in life while at the same time promoting the status quo,religion is used by the dominant classes to impose their own control over society and its resources.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that religion is used as a tool by the dominant classes to maintain their power and control over society and resources. They believe that religious institutions often promote the status quo and discourage social change, which benefits those in power. This perspective emphasizes the struggle for power and resources between different groups in society.

Question 16

The central themes in the teachings of Jesus are the kingdom of God and standards of personal conduct for adherents of __________.Jesus emphasized the importance of righteousness before God and of praying to the Supreme Being for guidance in the daily affairs of life.

Accepted Answer

The teachings of Jesus form the basis of Christianity, and his central themes were the kingdom of God and personal conduct for his followers. While he was originally Jewish, his teachings went beyond the boundaries of Judaism and led to the creation of a new religious movement. Hinduism and Buddhism are both Eastern religions and do not recognize Jesus as a central figure.

Question 17

Sociologist Max Weber asserted that __________ was/were directly related to the rise of capitalism.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber's theory of the "Protestant Ethic" argues that the rise of capitalism in Europe was directly related to the religious teachings of John Calvin, which emphasized the importance of hard work, self-discipline, and frugality. Calvinists believed that material success was a sign of God's favor, and therefore they worked diligently to accumulate wealth. This ethic, according to Weber, laid the foundation for the modern capitalist system.

Question 18

According to sociologist Karl Marx,religion unites the masses under a "__________" so that they share common interests with members of the dominant class.

Accepted Answer

According to Karl Marx, religion is a tool used by the ruling class to maintain social order and control over the working-class. Marx argued that religion creates a false consciousness among the working class, which prevents them from realizing their true class interests, and instead causes them to prioritize the interests of the ruling class. Therefore, the best choice is B, "false consciousness."

Question 19

Political leaders often use religion to justify their decisions,stating that they have prayed for guidance in deciding what to do.This informal relationship between religion and the state has been referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Civil religion refers to the informal relationship between religion and the state, where political leaders use religious rhetoric and symbols to appeal to their constituents, but without the formation of a formal state religion. It is a way of incorporating spiritual or religious beliefs into the political realm without violating the separation of church and state. The spiritualization of politics, political religion, and affirmative politics all refer to different approaches to the relationship between religion and the state that involve a more direct or formal incorporation of religious beliefs into political decision-making.

Question 20

Religious beliefs and rituals are __________ representations,which are group-held meanings that express something important about the group itself.

Accepted Answer

Religious beliefs and rituals are collective representations because they express something important about the group as a whole, rather than just individuals within the group.

Quiz 17: Religion