Question 1

The major difference between animism and animatism has to do with whether the supernatural force which occupies an entity is _______________.

Accepted Answer

Animism involves the belief that entities, including humans, animals, and inanimate objects, possess a personal spirit or soul. Animatism, on the other hand, involves the belief in impersonal, supernatural forces that exist in the world and can influence events, without being associated with specific entities. Therefore, the major difference between animism and animatism is whether the supernatural force occupying an entity is personal or impersonal.

Question 2

The initiation rites for male Australian aborigines include a stage when they are isolated from the rest of society and undergo a cram course in tribal lore;the trauma associated with their ordeal is part of a teaching method that ensures that they will remember what they are taught.This particular stage in the puberty ceremony would be referred to as the stage of _______________ by Arnold Van Gennep.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

The belief that nature is animated with spirits is called _______________.

Accepted Answer

Animism is the belief that nature is animated with spirits. The other choices are not related to this concept.

Question 4

Three sacred mountains are shared by three religious traditions.The mountains are Mount Ararat,Mount Horeb,and Mount Moriah.The three religious traditions are _____________________________________________.

Accepted Answer

Mount Ararat is sacred to Christians, as it is believed to be the resting place of Noah's ark. Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai) is sacred to Jews, as it is where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Mount Moriah is sacred to Muslims, as it is the site of the Dome of the Rock, which is believed to be the spot where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. Therefore, the three religious traditions associated with these mountains are Christian, Jewish, and Muslim.

Question 5

A people's collection of gods and goddesses is called a _______________.

Accepted Answer

A pantheon is a collection of gods and goddesses worshipped by a particular people or culture. Mana refers to a spiritual power or energy, shaman is a spiritual practitioner, priest is a religious leader, and fetish is an object imbued with spiritual power or significance.

Question 6

Which of the following is least likely to be extensively involved in formal religious beliefs and activities?

Accepted Answer

Wealthy members of urban-industrial societies with advanced scientific knowledge are less likely to be extensively involved in formal religious beliefs and activities due to their access to education, information, and other diverse avenues of fulfillment.

Question 7

In acting as a healer,the shaman _______________.

Accepted Answer

Shamans may use traditional methods such as elaborate rituals or trickery to provide reassurance to the community, but they may also use modern medical techniques if necessary. However, their primary role is to improve the patient's state of mind, which can aid in recovery. It is possible that a shaman may also be dealing with their own problems but this is not a defining characteristic of the role. Therefore, choice E is the best answer.

Question 8

One of the functions of religion is control of those aspects of the universe which otherwise lie beyond the believer's control.A corollary of this statement is: the less control you have over your universe,the greater the role religion will play in your life.If we accept this assumption,we would expect to find more religious activity among which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Based on the assumption that the less control individuals have over their universe, the greater the role religion will play in their lives, we would expect to find more religious activity among those who live below the poverty level and females in a patriarchal society. Both groups typically have less control over their environments, thus potentially relying more on religion.

Question 9

Ceremonies such as bar mitzvahs,elaborate wedding ceremonies,baby showers,and graduation parties that help individuals make major changes in their lives are referred to as rites of _______________.

Accepted Answer

These ceremonies are referred to as rites of passage, which mark the transition of an individual from one stage of life to another.

Question 10

Belief in _______________ is found in societies in which women make a major contribution to the economy and are relatively equal to men in power and authority.

Accepted Answer

Belief in goddesses is often found in societies where women hold significant roles in the economy and have relatively equal power and authority to men. This can be seen in many pre-colonial societies in Africa and Asia, where powerful goddesses were revered and worshipped alongside male gods. Goddesses were often associated with fertility, agriculture, and other activities that were central to the community's livelihood. In contrast, in societies where women had little power or were considered inferior to men, male gods tended to dominate religious beliefs.

Question 11

The Inuit still preform rituals when killing animals for food to ________________________.

Accepted Answer

The Inuit perform rituals to avoid offending the animal's spirit. This is because they believe that if the animal's spirit is not respected, it may not return in the future, which could lead to a loss of food sources. The ritual is also believed to ensure the safe and healthy consumption of the meat.

Question 12

Belief in a supreme being who controls the universe is usually associated with _______________.

Accepted Answer

Belief in a supreme being who controls the universe is usually associated with states, as they are the largest and most complex form of political organization with developed systems of religion and belief in a centralized power controlling their society. Meanwhile, bands, tribes, and chiefdoms generally have decentralized forms of religion and belief. Multinational corporations are not associated with religious belief.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of animism?

Accepted Answer

Animism is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. The example of a malevolent spirit inside a baseball represents this belief, as it attributes a spirit to an inanimate object.

Question 14

A rabbit's foot in Western culture;a warrior's strength in Melanesia,or Luke Skywalker telling Han Solo,"May the Force be with you"-all of these may be used as examples of _______________.

Accepted Answer

Animatism refers to a belief in a generalized, impersonal power over which people have some measure of control. This concept is illustrated in the examples given, where an impersonal force or power is believed to influence outcomes or provide strength.

Question 15

_______________ may be defined as the beliefs and patterns of behavior by which people try to control those aspects of the universe that are otherwise beyond their control.

Accepted Answer

The definition given is a characteristic of religion, which seeks to provide explanations and remedies for aspects of the universe that are beyond human control, through shared beliefs and practices. Political organization, government, kinship, and common-interest associations may involve attempts at control, but not necessarily focused on the aspects of the universe beyond human control, nor necessarily involving shared beliefs and patterns of behavior.

Question 16

If religious belief reflects the structure of society,in which types of society would you expect to find widespread belief in ancestral spirits?

Accepted Answer

Ancestral spirits are often a part of the belief system in societies that have a strong emphasis on descent groups and ancestor worship. These societies often have a strong sense of kinship and lineage, and believe that their ancestors continue to play a role in their lives even after they have died. Therefore, societies in which descent groups play a major role in social organization are most likely to have widespread belief in ancestral spirits.

Question 17

_______________ is viewed most simply as organized belief in the supernatural,and all fulfill numerous social and psychological needs.

Accepted Answer

While each of the options presented involve elements of supernatural belief and can fulfill social and psychological needs, religion is the most comprehensive and widely accepted of the options given. It is characterized by belief in one or more deities or a higher power and includes specific beliefs, practices, and rituals shared by a community of believers.

Question 18

Which choice below best fills in the following blank? A good example of animism exists among Inuit of Artic Canada.They believe that nature is animated by supernatural beings separable from the ________________________ they inhabit.

Accepted Answer

The sentence suggests that the Inuit believe that supernatural beings animate nature, but that these beings are separate from the physical bodies or material substances of the natural world. Therefore, the best choice to fill in the blank is "physical body or material substance" (option D). Other choices, such as glacier (option A), animal used for food (option B), human being (option C), or priest (option E) do not fit the context of the sentence as well.

Question 19

The anthropologist Arnold Van Gennep analyzed ceremonies that help individuals through crucial stages of their life cycles.He said that each ceremony may be analytically divided into three stages,_______________,transition,and incorporation.

Accepted Answer

Van Gennep identified the three stages of rites of passage as separation, transition (or liminality), and incorporation. In the separation phase, individuals are detached from their previous status or identity.

Question 20

A rite of _______________ serves to help groups get through crises such as drought or some other external threat to the survival of the group.

Accepted Answer

A rite of intensification is a ritual that occurs during a crisis in a community, such as a drought or other threat, and serves to unite and strengthen the group to overcome the crisis.

Quiz 13: Spirituality, religion, and the Supernatural