Deck 11: Gender and Spirituality

Question 1

Religion is very appealing because it

A) gives meaning to human existence.
B) provides its followers with a sense of belonging.
C) lends order to social life by establishing behavioral standards.
D) all of the above

Answer 1

all of the above

Question 2

The intensity of commitment of an individual or group to a religious belief system is called

A) spirituality.
B) religiosity.
C) piety.
D) religious universality.

Answer 2

religiosity.

Question 3

________ percent of the population are members of a church or synagogue.

A) Fifty
B) Sixty
C) Seventy
D) Eighty

Answer 3

Eighty

Question 4

In ancient goddess-worshipping societies

A) motherhood was frequently devalued.
B) female gods were ascribed only feminine traits.
C) female gods were believed to be more powerful than male gods.
D) male gods did not exist.

Question 5

Patriarchal religions supplanted matriarchal ones when

A) the role of males in the reproductive process became better understood.
B) the practice of witchcraft became popular.
C) political battles were fought and matriarchal societies lost because they were pacifistic.
D) Both A and C are possible explanations.

Question 6

In its earliest days, witchcraft

A) was condemned by Christianity.
B) was participated in by both men and women.
C) was associated with devil worship.
D) peacefully coexisted with established Christianity.

Question 7

Orthodox Judaism

A) maintains that only men can acquire property.
B) maintains that divorce is unilateral.
C) promotes the participation of women in religious study.
D) maintains that men and women have the same religious obligations.

Question 8

In which of the following areas may it be argued that Orthodox Judaism does not have repressive policies towards women?

A) marriage
B) sexual fulfillment in marriage
C) divorce
D) practicing religion

Question 9

Kaufman's study of newly Orthodox Jewish women indicates that

A) these women value the family purity laws and other halakic prescriptions in part because such rituals give them control of their sexuality.
B) most of these women identify themselves as feminists.
C) the majority of these women regret their decision to convert to Orthodoxy because they find it far too repressive.
D) these women tend to feel diminished in status relative to their Orthodox husbands.

Question 10

The Reform movement of Judaism

A) eliminated many sexist prayers.
B) admitted women to the rabbinical seminary.
C) established educational organizations for women.
D) all of the above

Question 11

Which of the following congregations first voted to accept sexually active gay men and lesbians into the rabbinate?

A) Orthodox Judaism
B) Reform Judaism
C) Conservative Judaism
D) Sexually active gay men and lesbians are never allowed to be rabbis.

Question 12

Historically, Christianity has characterized women in all of the following ways EXCEPT as

A) evil temptress.
B) good mother.
C) virginal.
D) Christ-like.

Question 13

The Catholic Church is opposed to

A) the ordination of women.
B) artificial contraception.
C) homosexuality.
D) all of the above

Question 14

Research on Protestant churches indicates that

A) the number of women entering divinity schools and seminaries is increasing.
B) the number of women entering divinity schools and seminaries is decreasing.
C) sexism is not prevalent within Protestant churches.
D) female clergy members are paid the same as male clergy members.

Question 15

According to the history of Islam, the prophet Muhammad decreed that

A) men and women were created equal, and should thus be treated accordingly.
B) the care of children was exclusively the job of women.
C) men were the official "guardians" of women.
D) women should be afforded multiple husbands to increase their likelihood of having many children.

Question 16

The current teachings of Islam

A) maintain that men and women should be united in everything they do.
B) promote the equality of women.
C) continue to support the view that the woman's role is subservient.
D) promote the equality of women only in terms of religious participation.

Question 17

Liberation theology

A) is as conservative as the "New Right."
B) centers on social activism.
C) can only be found in Latin America.
D) originated in the 1980s.

Question 18

As a religious movement, feminist spirituality

A) has abandoned Judeo-Christian religions.
B) advocates a formal break with all that is male-oriented.
C) rejects the dualism of patriarchal religion.
D) disregards homosexual and minority experiences.

Question 19

Feminist "reformers" are restructuring religious rituals in all of the following ways EXCEPT:

A) using gender-neutral language.
B) forming women's services and ceremonies.
C) rediscovering Jesus' female disciples.
D) making religion only relevant for women.

Question 20

It is estimated that the "religious right" is estimated that more than _______ members.

A) 200,000
B) 3 million
C) 10 million
D) 40 million

Question 21

Fundamentalist Christian churches and other conservative Christian groups have been at the forefront of political opposition to the following:

A) "family value" platforms
B) economic transformations
C) feminist-supported policies
D) all of the above

Question 22

Research has shown no diversity among those people who identify themselves as evangelical Christians.

Question 23

Black churches have produced many prominent and influential political leaders and social activists.

Question 24

Historically and cross-culturally, God has always been portrayed as masculine.

Question 25

More women than men go to church or synagogue.

Question 26

From the 15th to 18th centuries, Catholic and Protestant authorities killed between one million and nine million people accused of practicing witchcraft.

Question 27

According to Orthodox Jewish customs, women are "legally impure"
for almost two weeks of every month.

Question 28

Conservative Judaism prohibits the ordination of lesbians and gay men as rabbis.

Question 29

There is considerable evidence that leadership of the early Christian movement was shared by women and men.

Question 30

There are no Christian churches that permit the ordination of homosexuals as clergy.

Question 31

Islamic women have been given significantly greater freedom in terms of dress and mobility in most Muslim countries during the last decade.

Question 32

Approximately half of Black churches have female pastors.

Question 33

One goal of feminist reformers is to depict God as both female and male.

Question 34

Use evidence from this chapter to refute the statement: God has been and always will be male.

Question 35

Discuss Judaism and the role of Jewish women in this religious tradition. Cite specific differences among the three major Jewish congregations.

Question 36

How does Christianity legitimize the role of women in the church as "second class citizens"? What can be done to change this?

Question 37

What is the "stained glass ceiling"? Present evidence to either support or refute its existence.

Question 38

Compare and contrast the religious traditions of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity with regard to the issues of women's role in each religion.

Question 39

The authors of your text discuss studies of women who have converted to religious orthodoxy.
Discuss the findings of this research in terms of why orthodoxy might be especially appealing to women.

Question 40

What is "feminist spirituality"
and why is it important to changing the role of women in religion? In what ways would feminist spirituality come into conflict with the "New Right"?

Question 41

Describe the experience of women in minority churches.

Question 42

Discuss the role of women in fundamentalist churches. How are such churches involved in larger social change?

Question 43

How have fundamentalist churches been involved in politics? Give two examples of political causes or social reforms they have opposed.