Chapter 13: Religion, Social Stability, and Social Conflict

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. What is the main function of religion, according to the text?

A. providing meaning

B. providing a sense of belonging

C. creating a shared identity

D. challenging inequality

2. Which of the following can greatly improve the immigrant experience?

A. immigration to a religiously diverse country

B. immigration to a secular country

C. government collaboration with immigrant congregations

D. complete autonomy for immigrant congregations

3. The term civil religion was first coined by ______.

A. Emile Durkheim

B. Jean Jacque Rousseau

C. Robert Bellah

D. Karl Marx

4. In which of the following contexts is civil religion most likely to emerge?

A. When there is a government-sanctioned religion.

B. When church and state are separate and differentiated.

C. When there are two primary competing religions.

D. When the country was founded via war.

5. Which of the following is the best definition of civil religion?

A. secularized beliefs from the most popular religion

B. How political leaders influence religion.

C. Beliefs that connect a nation to ultimate reality.

D. a secular version of the national religion

6. Civil religion helps address which of the following problems?

A. relativization of culture

B. secularization

C. social inequality

D. legitimation

7. Civil religion is more necessary in a society that ______.

A. only has one religious tradition

B. does not have freedom of religion

C. experiences conflict between religious groups

D. is religiously pluralistic

8. Which of the following would be a sacred text for civil religion in the United States?

A. presidential tweets

B. presidential autobiographies

C. the Declaration of Independence

D. the Bible

9. Which of the following would be a holy day for civil religion in the United States?

A. Christmas

B. Memorial Day

C. New Year’s Day

D. Super Bowl Sunday

10. Which of the following is the most sacred object for civil religion in the United States?

A. the American flag

B. the cross

C. the White House

D. the bald eagle

11. Which of the following would be a ritual of civil religion?

A. recitation of the pledge of allegiance

B. saying a prayer before meals

C. attending worship services

D. taking an American history class

12. Which of the following could be considered a national shrine for U.S. civil religion?

A. The Pentagon

B. Yellowstone National Park

C. The Lincoln Memorial

D. Disney World

13. What is a potential negative consequence of civic religion?

A. It may lead to religious particularism.

B. It can create religious divisions.

C. It may weaken presidential authority.

D. It can encourage religious nationalism.

14. Recent research argues that which belief system is driving Trump supporters?

A. evangelicalism

B. Christian nationalism

C. global civil religion

D. faith-based mobilization

15. Which of the followed processes is central to globalization but is often rejected by religious fundamentalists?

A. democratization

B. establishment of international laws

C. relativization of cultural values

D. anti-war crimes legislation

16. If a global civic religion emerged, who would be most likely to be considered one of the saints?

A. Jesus

B. Mother Teresa

C. George Washington

D. Barack Obama

17. Historically, American-born Protestants oppressed which group?

A. Protestant immigrants

B. American-born agnostics

C. Catholic immigrants

D. American-born Jews

18. Much of the early research on faith-based mobilization focused on which group?

A. the Religious Right

B. faith-based community organizers

C. the Civil Rights Movement

D. liberal religious groups

19. According to a Marxist analysis of religion, who benefits from the current system of beliefs in the United States?

A. all Christians

B. primarily evangelical Protestant Christians

C. the lower classes

D. the upper classes

20. What is a benefit of faith-based activism?

A. Organizers can more readily tap into civic religion.

B. Participants have shared membership in a moral community.

C. It tends to promote the status quo.

D. Small groups can be very committed to the cause.

Essay

When it comes to essay questions, students sometimes write poorly because they are guessing about what the instructor wants, even if the question seems to be perfectly clear. For that reason we strongly recommend provision of an audience (so students know how much to assume in use of sociological vocabulary as well as how much must be made explicit) and criteria for evaluation (which is information that any writer needs to know.) Below are two sample statements that might be used as part of an essay question.

A. This essay calls for presentation and defense of an informed opinion. You should write for a well-educated reader, but one unfamiliar with sociological approaches to the study of religion. You will be graded on (a) provision of a clearly stated thesis, (b) the clarity and sophistication of your rationale, and (c) the ability to support your argument with strong evidence. Sophistication of rationale refers to awareness of the complexity of the issues. The side of the argument that you support is irrelevant to the grading criteria.

B. Your audience for this essay should be senior sociology majors who know sociological vocabulary but have never specifically studied the sociology of religion. The criteria for evaluation will be (1) accuracy of explanation, (2) clarity of illustrations or examples, and (3) thoroughness in exploring all dimensions of the issue.

Since some of these questions call for careful reflection, you might consider giving students a list of these and other essay questions in advance.

1. Explain civil religion in your own words. What is the primary function of civil religion in society?

2. After reading this chapter, in your opinion, is it necessary for a democratic society to have a civil religion? Provide your rationale and be sure to consider potential counterarguments in your answer.

3. Analyze civil religion in the United States. What are some of the key symbols, saints, and sites? Do you personally see yourself participating in this civil religion? Why or why not?

4. How has religion been a force for social conflict historically in the United States? Do you see similar conflicts playing out today?

5. What is Christian nationalism? How is this ideology connected to civil religion?

6. In what ways has religion been an opiate? In what ways has it motivated action?

7. What is faith-based mobilization? What are some unique strengths of this approach to activism?

8. Explain the three primary functions of religion. What are the implications for social change?