Religion Outside The (God) Box Chapter 14 6e Exam Questions

Chapter 14

Religion Outside the (God) Box

Essay Questions

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. Trace the impact of at least three forms of media technology that have had a significant impact on religion in the modern world and explain why each was so important.
2. Why might television and the worldwide web might have an impact on contemporary religion and faith communities? Be sure to discuss several types of impacts.
3. How does the televangelism shape the message (the theology) that is preached?
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. Support or refute the following statement, providing evidence in support of your position and anticipating opposing views: Invisible religions" are probably the greatest threat to traditional religion in contemporary industrial societies.
6. Do you think religion is becoming privatized? If it is happening, is this a destructive trend for religion and for society? Give your rationale for your answer.

7. What are client cults (or quasi-religious movements)? Provide examples of these movements and explain the consequences of these movements for religion in America.

8. Some scholars think privatized religions are more vulnerable and fragile because they lack a communal "plausibility structure." Others believe that when individuals make their own rational choice of religion, commitment is stronger. Which position do you support? Why?

9. Distinguish between “religion on-line,” “on-line religion.” Using the sociological perspective on religion advanced in your textbook, argue whether or not a religion could exist exclusively on-line in the future.

Multiple Choice Test Questions

1. Your textbook argues that, religiously speaking, probably the most important technological innovation of the second millennium—an invention by Johannes Gutenberg--was

a. radio broadcasting.

b. the automobile.

c. movable type that allowed for the printing press.

d. the airplane.

e. the computer

2. The printing press had several impacts on Christianity in Europe. Which of these was NOT among those discussed by your textbook authors?

a. It accelerated secularization by spreading scientific literacy.

b. It contributed to the spread literacy.

c. It allowed for alternative interpretations of the Bible and reduced the authority of priests.

d. It enhanced the spread of Protestantism as Luther and Calvin could spread their thinking to others.

e. It helped to establish scripture as the final authority in many religious and moral issues rather than the church hierarchy.

3. Radio broadcasting benefitted several different types of religious groups, but one type of faith community had trouble getting access to radio and (in the early years) to television broadcast time. This group was

a. Jews.

b. Mainline Protestants.

c. Roman Catholics.

d. Evangelical Protestants.

4. Which of the following is NOT a conclusion of critics regarding the way marketing of religion affects the message itself?

a. Marketing itself is a neutral medium that allows preachers to expand their audiences but has no effect on the message.

b. The message of in some huge religious corporations is driven by the financial demands of the organization, so preachers must preach that which "sells" well if they are to gain contributions and keep the organization viable.

c. Modern society seems to require a simple, fast-paced, and entertaining message, so the preacher who wishes to market Christianity must avoid complex issues.

d. Most televangelists learn that the message of "looking out for oneself is all right" is one that sells well—bringing in substantial financial contributions.

e. Institutions, once created, take on a life of their own—with goals, motivations, and measures of success that may be very different from those originally conceived by the founders. Marketing then can come to focus on institutional growth rather than the original message.

5. According to the authors of your textbook, the study of televangelism makes it clear that

a. liberal Christians are the only ones who adapt their religion to the culture.

b. televangelists have been known to accommodate their religion to aspects of the culture in order to “sell” or “market” their version of the Christian faith in order to bring in money.

c. all true religion is incompatible with modern mass media.

d. sociologists find it impossible to study the social implications of religious services that are broadcast and viewed in the privacy of people's homes.

6. Which televangelist showman first introduced a variety of entertainment formats and discovered that a key to televangelistic fundraising is to build buildings and establish spin-off institutions (universities, hospitals, etc.)?

a. Billy Sunday

b. Oral Roberts

c. Dwight Moody

d. Rex Humbard

e. Billy Graham

7. Which of the following is NOT a finding of scholars investigating televangelism?

a. Televangelists tend to exaggerate the size of their audience while their detractors tend to underestimate.

b. In sharp contrast to the U.S., very few people in Canada watch religious television.

c. Research evidence confirms that those who watch religious television attend local church services less.

d. Viewership of televangelist programming is quite homogeneous, with most viewers being evangelical protestant Christians.

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

a. New Media generation

b. YouTubers

c. Internet generation

d. Digital natives

9. One religious denomination is claiming that the web and the internet are part of their religious heritage—since their founder was such a n innovator with technology. That group is the

a. Catholics.

b. Lutherans.

c. Episcopalians.

d. Methodists

e. Baptists.

10. When faith communities use the internet to communicate with members, mobilize prayer chains for people in accidents or with health problems, or communicate spiritual messages, this is called

a. super-web religion

b. media-manipulated faith.

c. pseudo-religion.

d. religion on-line.

e. on-line religion.

11. If Heidi goes on-line to light a virtual candle for her grandfather and then prays for him while contemplating this “burning” candle, or if Joseph visited the Kotel--Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem—to pray, he is engaged in a form of religious behavior that some scholars call

a. super-web religion

b. media-manipulated faith.

c. pseudo-religion.

d. religion on-line.

e. on-line religion.

12. Which of the following is an example of religion online?

a. Lutheran.org

b. “Light a Candle”

c. The Wallcam at the Western Wall

d. The virtual Hajj in Second Life

e. All of the above

13. “New media” like congregational websites is similar to “old media” like satellite and cable television in what way?

a. They democratize the ability to produce and consume information

b. They reinforce existing ideas about what constitutes “real” religion

c. They raise barriers to accessing the electronic marketplace for religion

d. None of the above

14. A key theme of the early YMCA was

a. “muscular Christianity.”

b. secularized sport.

c. playing basketball to reduce the sex drive.

d. feminization of Christianity.

e. the establishment of Christian fundamentalism.

15. The authors of your text conclude that in the United States

a. sport and religion have very little connection.

b. sport and religion are one and the same thing.

c. Christianity was originally used to bring people to sport, but now sport is more prominent in the culture and is used to bring people to Christianity.

d. sport was originally used to bring people to Christianity, but now Christianity is used to bring people to sports.

e. religion is becoming secularized but sport has not done so.

16. Consider the following two statements in relation to the course material: (A) Secularism is a key characteristic that distinguishes modern sport from ancient athletic events; and (B) Organizations like the YMCA show the increasing significance of religion in the world of modern sport. Which of the following is correct?

a. Only A is an accurate statement

b. Only B is an accurate statement

c. Both A and B are accurate statements

d. Neither A nor B are accurate statements

17. Which of the following statements about the connection between sport and faith have been empirically documented by sociologists?

a. College athletes are less religious than college students in general

b. College athletes are more spiritual than college students in general

c. Evangelical college athletes are no more religious than other athletes

d. All of the above

18. Each individual developing a personalized meaning system or philosophy of life is called

a. civil religion.

b. prophetic religion.

c. a quasi-religious movement.

d. privatization of religion.

e. secularism.

19. Which of the following is NOT among the criticisms leveled at privatized religion?

a. Religious leaders begin to "market religion" like any other commodity.

b. Religious conviction comes to be replaced with the more noncommittal notion of "religious preference" or individual opinion.

c. Privatized religion, because it lacks the sanction and plausibility structures of a group, is likely to be vulnerable to crisis and disconfirmation.

d. Individuals holding to an individualized faith may be less willing to make sacrifices on behalf of the larger society.

e. The meaning system will have less meaning for the individual.

20. According to your textbook, astrology, Transcendental Meditation and Scientology are examples of

a. mind control organizations.

b. invisible religions.

c. mainline religious groups.

d. quasi-religious movements.

e. cult movements.

21. An unorganized contemporary religious movement with an eclectic philosophy, a strong emphasis on supernatural spirituality, and very humanistic values, but which is very process oriented (denying that there are any absolute answers in life) is

a. the charismatic movement.

b. the New Age movement.

c. the Reformed Judaism movement.

d. the Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship.

e. the Pentecostal movement.

22. Why do some scholars think privatization of religion is unhealthy for a nation?

a. The meaning system in privatized religion often ignores the larger social structure, causing individuals to make fewer sacrifices on behalf of the larger society.

b. It takes away the common value system that organized religion provides and creates conflict instead.

c. The government will no longer know how to enforce separation of church and state because “church” would take on so many different meanings

d. References to “one nation under God” or “God bless America” will no longer have meaning.