Roberts Ch.13 Test Questions & Answers Secularization

Chapter 13

Secularization:

Religion in Decline or in Transformation?

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.

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. In what ways has religion adapted to the larger social context in which the group exists? Focus your discussion specifically on secularization and its impact on religion.

2. Using insights from sociologists discussed in this chapter, support or refute the following statement: "Secularization is occurring in North America."

3. Do you think there are any problems created in a society if secularization occurs at the macro level but not at the micro level? Provide your reasoning for your position.

4. Explain how the two dimensions of secularism (as identified by neo-secularization theorists) may be manifested at each level of social analysis.

5. What is the function of civil religion in society? In your opinion, is it necessary for a democratic society to have a civil religion? Provide your rationale.

6. Support or refute the following statement, providing evidence in support of your position and anticipating opposing views: The claim that societies, especially democratic societies, generate some sort of "civil religion" in order to enhance social cohesion is not credible or convincing.

7. Ben Franklin’s invention of the lightning showed that lightening was electricity and now an angry God taking vengeance on unfaithful people or structures. That invention forced faith communties had to evolve due to a scientific discovery. What other recent scientific advances have pushed religious organizations to evolve? Explain.

8. Is science generally replacing religion in modern society? Use at least 2 theorists to support your argument.

9. Explain the religious economies model as it relates to religious pluralism. Be sure to discuss how this perspective differs from the traditional secularization perspective on pluralism.

10. Discuss the ongoing debate in the sociology of religion regarding pluralism and its effects on religion.

Multiple Choice Test Questions

1. Which theorist thinks pluralism increases anxiety about the meaning of life?

a. Berger

b. Bainbridge

c. Bellah

d. Brightman

2. Berger believes that secularization leads to

a. unification of the culture and decline of anomie.

b. marketing of religion as a commodity, with subsequent modification in religion to have market appeal.

c. reduction of cultural diversity.

d. increase of influence of religion in other spheres as institutionalization and specialization occurs.

e. evolution and advancement of religion as it becomes more complex and sophisticated.

3. The characterization of religion as evolving into a system that is increasingly differentiated and complex comes from

a. Rodney Stark and William Bainbridge.

b. Peter Berger.

c. Roger Finke.

d. Herbert Otto.

e. Talcott Parsons and Robert Bellah.

4. Robert Bellah views secularization as

a. loss of sacredness and decline of social consensus.

b. the development of rationalism in religion, which entails a decline in religion.

c. religious evolution and development; essentially an improvement in religion to be more complex and sophisticated.

d. an increase in supernaturalism and otherworldliness in society.

5. What do Stark and Bainbridge mean when they say that religion is "self-limiting"?

a. They believe that science and empirical methods are waning in public trust and that science has discredited itself as a way of knowing about the world.

b. They believe that religion is adapting to science and becoming more empirical, and by adapting, religion will "join" the secular culture rather than "fight" it. Therefore religion will not be replaced by secularism, but will merge with it.

c. They believe that God will not allow secularism to obliterate religion.

d. They believe that science, technology, and empirical methods are unable to meet certain needs that individuals have, and that only religion can provide compensators in these areas.

e. All of the above.

6. According to Stark and Bainbridge, religious organizations are in the business of distributing

a. general compensators.

b. specific compensators.

c. both general and specific compensators.

d. empirically validated solutions to philosophical problems.

7. One theoretical approach in sociology suggests that "humans seek what they believe to be rewards and avoid what they believe to be costs. In the course of one's life, however, certain desired rewards are scarce or are not available through empirical means, so supernatural compensators seem an appropriate solution. Therefore religion is not likely to disappear." This perspective is known as

a. conflict theory.

b. exchange theory.

c. symbolic interaction theory.

d. rational choice theory.

8. Which of the following is NOT among the evidence that Stark and Bainbridge cite in support of their argument that secularization is self-limiting?

a. Significant rise in church attendance for mainline denominations in the last two decades of the twentieth century.

b. The revival or new expressions of religion in the form of new religious movements.

c. The fact that the people who indicate "none" on religious preference surveys often do accept astrology or some other supernatural beliefs.

d. Atheism in one generation typically followed by reaffirmation of religious conviction in the next generation.

9. Some scholars contend that secularization has merely resulted in changes in the nature of religion, not in decline. Reflecting back on the distinction between various definitions of religion, which definition would be most likely to conclude that religion will change in nature, but that this change does not mean decline?

a. Substantive definitions.

b. Functional definitions.

c. Prophetic definitions.

d. Ironic definitions.

e. Esthetic definitions.

10. Which of the following is a dimension of secularization for some neo-secularization theorists?

a. Religious leaders are the final authority on matters in a very wide range of institutions and decision-making situations.

b. Institutional differentiation and increased autonomy of various institutions from religious domination.

c. Decline of religion in the society.

d. All of the above

11. Which of the following is NOT one of the textbook’s conclusions about secularization?

a. Secularization at the macro level can be seen in all western democratic societies.

b. Secularization at the individual level is far from universal.

c. Secularization is not inevitable.

d. Secularization as a social theory is severely limited.

e. Religion is likely to disappear in the Western world because of the trend to secularization.

12. The term civil religion was first coined by

a. Jean Jacques Rousseau.

b. Emile Durkheim.

c. Thomas Luckmann.

d. Robert Bellah.

e. Rodney Stark.

13 Civil religion is especially necessary in a society that

a. only has one religious tradition.

b. is not industrialized.

c. has more men than women.

d. is religiously pluralistic.

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

a. The New Testament gospel of Matthew.

b. The astrology horoscope in a daily newspaper.

c. The Declaration of Independence.

d. The Talmud.

e. The Quran.

15. Which of the following would be holy days for civil religion in the United States?

a. Christmas and Easter.

b. Labor Day and Christmas.

c. Presidents Day and Easter.

d. Christmas and Rosh Hashanah.

e. Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

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

a. The cross.

b. A fish.

c. The star of David.

d. The American flag.

e. The Bible.

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

a. Daily recitation of the pledge to the flag by schoolchildren.

b. Saying grace before meals.

c. Attending worship services on the Sabbath.

d. Making the sign of the cross before praying.

e. A wedding service conducted by a town mayor.

18. Which of the following would be a national shrine?

a. Yellowstone National Park

b. The Sears Tower in Chicago

c. The Lincoln Memorial

d. Disney World

19. Which of the following is NOT one of the identified purposes of civil religion?

a. It defines a national purpose in transcendent terms

b. It creates national solidarity

c. It offers a nondenominational “religion” for a nation.

d. It causes secularism to expand in a society

20. Who of the following NOT would be a saint of American civil religion?

a. George Washington

b. Martin Luther King, Jr.

c. Abraham Lincoln

d. Betsy Ross

e. Mother Teresa

21. Civil religion provides important functions

a. for society but not the individual.

b. for the individual but not the society.

c. for both the individual and society.

d. for neither the individual or the society.