Question 1

The loss of shared norms and values and a lack of cohesion in society might be called:

Accepted Answer

Anomie is a concept in sociology that refers to a state or condition of society marked by a breakdown or absence of shared norms, values, and moral guidance or guidance from authority. It is characterized by a sense of aimlessness or alienation, and a lack of social cohesion and order, leading to feelings of uncertainty, confusion, and disorientation among individuals in society.

Question 2

In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, Durkheim argued that there were two categories of objects and symbols in society: the sacred and the inane.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim argued that there were two categories of objects and symbols in society: the sacred and the profane, not the inane.

Question 3

In The Protestant Work Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber traced the way one form of Christianity preceded and contributed to the development of capitalism. The problem for religion, according to Weber, was that once it had done its work, it was absorbed into the general spirit that capitalism created.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber argued that the Protestant work ethic, which emphasized hard work, frugality, and discipline, laid the foundation for capitalism to emerge. However, once capitalism was established, religion lost its significance and was absorbed into the broader ethos of capitalism.

Question 4

There is straightforward empirical evidence that supports the theory that religion is in a decline in American society.

Accepted Answer

There is evidence of both decline and persistence of religious affiliation and practice in American society, making it a complex issue rather than straightforward.

Question 5

The majority of US citizens today say that they receive no comfort or strength from religion.

Accepted Answer

Surveys and studies consistently show that a significant portion of the US population still finds comfort and strength in religion, with a majority expressing some level of religious affiliation or belief in God.

Question 6

Contrary to common sense assumptions, the ever increasing prominence of science and technology, rising levels of higher education, and greater affluence in American society appears to have made religion a more significant part of American life.

Accepted Answer

Studies and surveys, including those by Pew Research Center, have shown a decline in religious affiliation and attendance at religious services in the United States over recent years, especially among younger generations, indicating that increased education and affluence may correlate with a decrease in traditional religious adherence.

Question 7

The development of mass media has had a significant effect on religion.

Accepted Answer

The development of mass media, including television, radio, and the internet, has allowed for the widespread dissemination of religious information and beliefs, leading to changes in religious practices and beliefs. It has also allowed for the rise of new religious movements and the spread of religious fundamentalism.

Question 8

Talcott Parsons built on Durkheim's insistence on the continuity of religion and suggested that though the intellectual ambition of religious beliefs diminished in modern society, the individual still needed the moral, spiritual, and metaphysical answers provided by religion.

Accepted Answer

Talcott Parsons did build on Durkheim's ideas and believed that religion still had an important role to play in providing moral and metaphysical guidance in modern society.

Question 9

'New Age' is an umbrella term covering a mix of beliefs, practices and ways of life.

Accepted Answer

"New Age" is indeed an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of spiritual beliefs, practices, and lifestyles. It includes elements of Eastern spirituality, paganism, shamanism, astrology, alternative healing, and more.

Question 10

The secularization thesis argued that religion would decline in social significance as an inevitable consequence of postmodernity and the increase of technology.

Accepted Answer

The secularization thesis argues that religion would decline as a consequence of modernity, not postmodernity, and the increase of technology.

Question 11

Civil religion is the national religion, recognized by the state, in any given country.

Accepted Answer

Civil religion refers to the set of beliefs, symbols, and rituals that are derived from a country's history and culture, which provide a sacred dimension to the nation's identity, but it is not an officially recognized state religion.

Question 12

Religion, often in combination with ethnicity and nationalism, has had an important role to play in articulating opposition to global cosmopolitanism.

Accepted Answer

Religions and nationalist movements have often been used to oppose global cosmopolitanism and promote more localized identities and values. This has been particularly evident in recent years with the rise of populist movements in various countries that seek to defend traditional cultural and religious beliefs against perceived threats from outside forces.

Quiz 15: Religion