Chapter 12: Religion Outside the (God) Box

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The most important technological innovation of the second millennium was ______.

A. the Internet

B. the television

C. the printing press

D. the radio

2. How did the printing press impact Christianity in Europe?

A. It helped Martin Luther spread the ideas that became the Protestant Reformation.

B. It accelerated secularization by spreading scientific ideas.

C. It reinforced priestly authority.

D. It allowed new religious movements to challenge the church.

3. Which group was excluded from early access to radio broadcasting?

A. Jews

B. Mainline Protestants

C. Roman Catholics

D. evangelical Protestants

4. Which of the following is the bestselling religious book or type of book today?

A. postapocalyptic fiction

B. the Bible

C. self-help books

D. the Quran

5. When broadcasting began in the 1920s, why did many religious groups receive airtime?

A. Secular programming was banned on Sundays.

B. Most early broadcasters were religious.

C. Religious programming was categorized as a public good.

D. They were relatively wealthy and could buy time.

6. What contributed to the downfall of televangelism?

A. Several leading televangelists became embroiled in scandals.

B. Religious programming was no longer classified as a public good.

C. Airtime became too expensive.

D. Most televangelists switched over to Internet platforms.

7. The “Hour of Power” that aired from the Crystal Cathedral was meant to do which of the following?

A. supplement church attendance

B. replace church attendance

C. convince people to attend a local church

D. convert people to scientology

8. Which form of media remains popular in the Global South?

A. radio

B. television

C. printed media

D. Internet

9. Individuals who were born into and have come of age in a social environment in which “new media” are prevalent are called ______.

A. Internet gurus

B. millennials

C. the Internet generation

D. digital natives

10. What is meant by new media?

A. Online media that spread information in a one-to-many format.

B. Constantly changing media that is interactive and requires participation.

C. Media or programs that also exist as an app.

D. Media that exists on multiple platforms.

11. Religion online refers to ______, while online religion refers to ______.

A. the use of websites and e-mail; the use of new media like Facebook

B. the use of new media like Facebok; the use of websites and email

C. online information about religious groups; practicing religious faith online

D. practicing religious faith online; online information about religious groups

12. What type of new media are churches most likely to use?

A. Facebook

B. podcasting

C. Instagram

D. YouTube

13. When people complete an online search about religion, what are they most likely seeking?

A. a supplement to their in-person worship experience

B. an entirely new religious movement to join

C. opportunities to practice their faith solely online

D. information about an established religious tradition

14. What is the most common form of online religion?

A. following a celebrity pastor’s social media

B. listening to a pastor’ podcast

C. submitting prayer requests online

D. visiting a church’s website

15. Which of the following refers to the blending together of religion online and online religion?

A. religious innovation

B. God and the technology box

C. digital divide

D. digital religion

16. Which of the following refers to a commitment to heath and manliness grounded in faith?

A. bodybuilding for Christ

B. muscular Christianity

C. evangelical masculinity

D. YMCA pledge

17. Which of the following is an example of how sports have been slowly secularizing?

A. Many sporting events are now played on Sundays.

B. Few athletes talk about their faith.

C. Athletes wear crosses or other religious symbols only for show.

D. Athletes are generally less religious than nonathletes

18. Which religious group has been most successful at using sports to advance their religion?

A. Jews

B. Buddhists

C. evangelical Protestants

D. Muslims

19. When the YMCA came to the United States, it became more ______.

A. ecumenical

B. secular

C. religious

D. gender-neutral

20. Scientology as a religion emerged through which media?

A. print media

B. radio

C. the Internet

D. television

21. A faith community that uses the Internet to send weekly updates to members is participating in ______.

A. digital religion

B. a digital divide

C. online religion

D. religion online

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. How did print publishing impact religion when it was invented, and how does publishing shape religion today?

2. How did radio shape religious messaging when first introduced? What is the relationship between radio and religion today?

3. Why might the World Wide Web have an impact on contemporary religion and faith communities? Be sure to discuss several types of impacts.

4. Explain to a person who has not read the chapter (or been a part of the course) how the relationship between religion and sport have shifted since the time the YMCA was founded.

5. Briefly define “new media,” and then explain how religious groups use it.

6. Compare and contrast religion online and online religion.

7. What is muscular Christianity? How did evangelical Protestants use multiple organizations to reinforce this idea?

8. What does it mean to investigate religion outside the “God box”? Be sure to provide concrete examples to support your points.