Deck 8: Organized Religion: Denominationalism and Congregationalism

Question 1

Which one of the following is NOT a way that new paradigm churches appeal to new members:

A)emphasizing individualism.
B)emphasizing loyalty to a denomination.
C)appealing to current cultural styles.
D)displaying an anti-establishment attitude, especially regarding religion.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A religion moves to a new country-carried by immigrants--and organizationally begins to change so that it look and acts and is structured like other religions in that social environment.This pattern is referred to by sociologists as

A)ethnocide.
B)institutional isomorphism.
C)religious fission.
D)paradenominationalism.
E)transdenominational evangelicalism.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The idea that evangelical religion in the modern pluralistic societies thrives in large part because it is embedded in ethnic and class values and loyalties is called

A)paradenominationalism.
B)transdenominalsim..
C)religious fission theory.
D)subcultural identity theory.
E)institutional isomorphism.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

If a scholar is discussing the average for congregational size in the United States and points out that only eleven percent of the religiously-affiliated people attend services in a house of worship with less than the average , you know that the scholar is

A)taking a congregational approach to averages.
B)taking an individual approach to averages
C)is "statistically challenged"
D)is using the modal size rather than the median size.
E)is using the "hypercritical statistical reduction" approach to averages.

Question 5

The median congregation in the United States has roughly how many members?

A)40
B)75
C)150
D)400
E)1,200

Question 6

At the beginning of the third millennium, the largest category or "type "of religious affiliation in the U.S.is

A)Presbyterian.
B)Baptist
C)Congregational.
D)nondenominational.
E)Methodist.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a common feature that new paradigm churches share?

A)Worship is contemporary.
B)Bible-centered preaching predominates over topical sermonizing.
C)There are few small group ministries.
D)Pastors are humble and understated.
E)Tolerance of different personal styles is valued.

Question 8

Plausibility structures

A)are only used by mainline churches.
B)sacralize the shared meanings of religious groups and make them compelling.
C)must be logical to be believed.
D)are only used by world-transforming movements and cults.

Question 9

The typical member of a congregation in the U.S.attends a church, mosque, or temple with about how many members:

A)40
B)75
C)150
D)400
E)1,200

Question 10

New paradigm churches have mainly targeted people who are:

A)Older (elderly), highly educated, and above average in income
B)White baby-boomers, college educated, and above average in income
C)Older, less well educated than the average citizen, and below average in income.
D)Young adults, less well educated than the average citizen, and below average in income.
E)Hispanic-Americans and Asian Americans.

Question 11

According to your textbook authors, the plausibility structures of a religion might include a number of features.Which of the following is NOT one of these elements of plausibility?

A)Ritual
B)Dualistic belief systems
C)Sacred music
D)Striking architecture
E)Anomie

Question 12

High levels of emotional appeal are especially likely in

A)congregations that appeal to a professional class of people.
B)congregations that appeal to lower-income people.
C)Islamic congregations.
D)Jewish congregations.
E)Buddhist congregations

Question 13

Which one of the following is NOT a core belief that many new paradigm churches hold without compromise?

A)A belief in the authority of the Bible.
B)A belief that Jesus offers the exclusive access to God.
C)A belief that human depravity is part of the human condition.
D)A belief in strict denial of consumerism.

Question 14

If a religious coalition of congregations is a denomination with a hierarchy is headed by a bishop, that TYPE of religious organizational policy is called

A)presbyterian.
B)congregational.
C)episcopal.
D)nondenominational.
E)Roman Catholic.

Question 15

The United Church of Christ and the Southern Baptists allow each congregation to have a great deal of authority, including who to hire as pastor and what credentials the person must have to be the minister.This approach to religious organizational polity is called

A)presbyterian.
B)baptist.
C)episcopal.
D)nondenominational.
E)congregational.

Question 16

When religions groups are faced with massive disconfirming evidence they may continue to survive, but only if they have

A)extraordinarily strong plausibility structures.
B)a rational-bureaucratic leader.
C)presbyterian polity.
D)extraordinarily low IQs.
E)episcopal church polity

Question 17

The double aspect of congregational life in the U.S.means that most people who belong to a congregation and attend services

A)attend one that is larger than the average-sized congregation.
B)attend one that is smaller than the average sized congregation.
C)attend one that is typical of the average-sized congregation.
D)often belong to two religious communities.
E)attend a congregation that is different from the one other family members attend-such as one's spouse.

Question 18

The primal characteristics of religion in the United States are--and long have been-

A)presbyterian and episcopal organizational polity.
B)denominationalism and congregationalism.
C)megachurches and extensive marketing.
D)new paradigm and seeker churches
E)religious homogeneity and a blurring the line between church and state.

Question 19

A religious organization dedicated to transforming the method of delivering a religious message, adopting some values and technology of the dominant society, and rejecting hierarchical organization is a:

A)New paradigm church
B)Megachurch
C)Electric church
D)Parachurch
E)Secularized church

Question 20

The most common features in worship services in the United States-across denominations and congregations-are

A)singing by the congregation and a sermon or lecture by the clergyperson.
B)speaking in tongues and faith healing.
C)reading or reciting something in unison and applause.
D)drums and people praying with their hands in the raised high to God.
E)visual projection equipment and silent prayer or meditation.

Question 21

Seeker churches aim to attract the unchurched through:

A)Rejecting modern media and embracing traditional methods of worship.
B)Intense exploration of theological issues and human existential debates.
C)Rigorous leadership by highly schooled ordained ministers.
D)Modification of the faith to meet consumer demand.
E)Strict adherence to a theology of Biblical inerrancy.

Question 22

What is the key element of new paradigm churches?

A)They are huge-with 10,000 to 15,000 members.
B)They emphasize this-worldly rewards.
C)They attract most of their members from "generation X."
D)They have a desire to be culturally relevant.
E)They are relatively conservative compared to traditional churches, since they believe in the inerrancy of the Bible.

Question 23

Market research has found specific messages that appeal to the unchurched.Given this, seeker-sensitive churches would tend to emphasize all of the following messages EXCEPT:

A)In consumerist America, the mall is a metaphor for the good life.
B)The worship service should be upbeat, expressive, and active.
C)Believers should have direct access to spirituality, not a mediated experience through ordained clergy.
D)Church members should be encouraged to make their own interpretations of the meaning of scripture in their lives.
E)A vibrant seeker church should have strong institutional ties to an established denomination.