Chapter 9: Religion and Race

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Research indicates that religious groups in the United States are, for the most part, ______.

A. less segregated by race and ethnicity than the larger society

B. more segregated by race and ethnicity than the larger society

C. no different in segregation than most social institutions

D. segregated in leadership but not in attenders

2. How do sociologists define race?

A. biological differences in phenotype and appearance

B. arbitrary categories with little significance in society

C. the way we divide people based on supposed biological differences

D. Social categories supported by biological differences

3. Early research on religion and race identified the “grand paradox” of religion, which refers to which of the following?

A. Religion teaches tolerance, yet religious people were highly prejudiced.

B. Religion teaches particularism, yet religious people were highly inclusive.

C. Religion encourages diversity, yet most congregations are segregated.

D. Religion promotes conformity, yet most followers are deviant.

4. Early studies of religion and prejudice concluded that which group was least prejudiced?

A. infrequent worship attenders

B. frequent worship attenders

C. People who never attend worship but who identify as religious.

D. People who are agnostic.

5. Which of the following is a significant predictor of racial animosity?

A. frequency of prayer

B. being an atheist

C. religious particularism

D. attending a racially homogenous church

6. When Hitler and Nazi Germany maintained that Jews were a distinct and inferior race, they were engaging in which practice?

A. homophily

B. religious discrimination

C. religious particularism

D. racialization

7. Which of the following is the strongest predictor of holding anti-Islamic attitudes?

A. praying frequently

B. attending a conservative Protestant church

C. attending worship services occasionally

D. attending a Catholic parish

7. How does the heterogeneity index measure racial segregation?

A. by comparing the race of the leaders to the race of the members

B. by assessing what percentage of the congregation belongs to each racial group

C. by calculating the probability that two randomly selected members are of different racial groups

D. by creating a social network diagram of an entire congregation

8. What does the theory of homophily argue?

A. Structural barriers lead to racial segregation.

B. Theological differences result in racially homogenous groups.

C. People tend to believe only their religion is true.

D. People choose to gather with others who are like them.

9. Why did white masters in North America initially refuse to allow missionaries to preach to their slaves?

A. They wanted to encourage slaves to maintain their own traditions.

B. Black converts would be more likely to revolt.

C. They did not want blacks in their churches.

D. Black converts would have to be freed in accordance with Christian principles.

10. According to data from the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, a majority (58%) of Latinos in the United States identify as ______.

A. evangelical Protestants

B. mainline Protestants

C. Catholics

D. unaffiliated

11. Which of the following racial groups are overrepresented among atheists in the United States?

A. Whites and Latinos

B. Latinos and Blacks

C. Whites and Asians

D. Blacks and Asians

12. What contributed to the early development of black churches and denominations?

A. theological differences

B. segregation in predominantly White churches

C. emergence of Black Christian leaders

D. collaboration with predominantly White churches

13. According to the binary measure of segregation, a church is segregated when ______ of the members are in the same racial group.

A. 60%

B. 70%

C. 80%

D. 90%

14. According to the text, about what percentage of congregations are multiracial?

A. less than 10%

B. 15–20%

C. 25–30%

D. 40%

15. According to the text, how do multiracial churches tend to form?

A. Two racially segregated churches merge and form an equal partnership.

B. Minority groups assimilated into a majority white church culture.

C. White groups assimilated into racially diverse congregations.

D. Musicians begin incorporating more diverse music.

16. When a White church sings a hymn usually sung in predominantly black congregations, they may be

engaging in ______.

A. homophily

B. religious particularism

C. relationship building

D. tokenism

17. According to the authors, which of the following contributes to variation in black religiosity?

A. theological differences

B. religious particularism

C. socioeconomic standing

D. immigrant status

18. As a concept, ethnicity captures which aspects of human life?

A. biological differences

B. cultural differences

C. location of birth

D. religion at birth

19. Which religious group has recently been racialized in the United States?

A. Muslims

B. Jews

C. conservative Christians

D. Hindus

20. In the United States and in Europe, anti-Jewish sentiments often also predict ______ sentiments.

A. pro-segregation

B. pro-homophily

C. anti-Muslim

D. anti-Black

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. Sociologist Michael Emerson says of the connection between religion and race: “Forget the color line. When it comes to religion in the United States, we have a color wall.” Support or refute his statement using the sociological data we have examined in this class.

2. How do sociologists define race? How is race different from ethnicity?

3. Analyze the relationship between Christianity and racism by showing how a religion can contribute to both to tolerance/understanding and to racism at the same time.

4. What is racialization, and how have some religious groups been racialized historically and in contemporary society?

5. Explain major patterns of religiosity in the African American community. Then, evaluate the two theories used to explain these patterns.

6. Compare and contrast the two measures of racial segregation discussed in the text. Which do you think is most helpful, and why?

7. Explain homophily in your own words, and use this theory to explain racial segregation in churches. What social factors does homophily overlook?

8. How can racial segregation in religion be addressed? Drawing on the text and your own observations, explain how multiracial congregations can successfully form.