Final - Soc

What percentage of Americans claim a religious affiliation?

77%

Which of the following is an example of mass collective action?

A boycott of a clothing manufacturer that has factories overseas where child labor is used.

Residents of a small city learn that a big-box retailer is considering opening a new store in their community. Advocates on each side of the issue mobilize to hang banners & signs around town, write letters to local officials, speak at community meetings, & research how such stores have impacted similar communities. All this is an example of which type of social movement organization?

A grassroots organization

Which of the following is an example of a reformative social movement?

A movement that promotes a switch from standard incandescent light bulbs to energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs in all American households.

Which of the following defines a church?

A religious body that coexists with its surroundings w/ little tension.

Which of the following reflects the growing trend of "buy & return" activity, or "religious shopping," in reference to faith?

A tendency among teens to participate in multiple congregations in order to explore the market.

What does a mass protest organization do?

Advocates for social change thru protest

In response to rising crime perpetrated by teenagers, local residents band together to create more opportunities for recreational activities, jobs, & leadership training for young people. This is an example of what type of social movement?

Alternative social movement

Which of the following is an example of static identity?

Being of Italian descent

Which of the following contains evidence to support the conflict perspective of religion?

Christianity in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries was used as a justification for imperialist expansion into non-Christian counties.

The argument that religion is used to perpetuate inequalities has its roots in which theoretical approach to studying religion?

Conflict theory

Roberto has read Richard Dawkins's books for many years & decides to devote his life to advancing Dawkins's vision of humanism. Which of the following is Roberto likely to do?

Criticize religion in general rather than investing more time in trying to understand it sociologically.

Which of the following is an example of secularization?

Crosses are used for decoration & worn as fashion accessories.

Which sociologist suggested that modernity was a time when each person was a unique combo of overlapping group affiliations?

Georg Simmel

Which question is a sociologist of religion most likely to ask?

How are religious beliefs patterned by social forces?

Max Weber likened the history of society to a train & ideas to the switchmen of the tracks. What does this mean?

Ideas can be powerful forces to create change & alter the course of history when enough people believe them at the right time.

Which of the following is one of the ways that sociologists study religion?

Identifying the purposes religion serves for individuals & societies.

Why might the Occupy Wall Street movement be considered a revolutionary social movement?

It advocated the radical reorganization of American society to better benefit "the 99%"

Which of the following is a criticism of contagion theory?

It downplays individual agency.

Why is NARAL Pro-Choice America representative of a social movement organization?

It has a full-time leadership staff & a large membership base.

How does the application of microsociology help us understand why people are religious?

It illuminates the details of individual experience & meaning.

Which of the following is a reason why some social movements fade away during the coalescence stage?

Lack of funds & time commitment

Which of the following is an example of how social solidarity & collective conscience function?

Max attends a church youth group regularly. Bc he's active in group-sponsored activities & has been socialized to the norms of this group, he's less likely to spend time w/ peers who may engage in deviant activities.

Why do megachurches use sales techniques such as formatting the Bible like a magazine, w/ photographs of attractive teens & advice about fashion & friendship?

Megachurches use sales & marketing techniques that are effective in the broader culture.

Which is one of the major breaks between the postmodern period & the modern period?

New ideas about multiculturalism & the blending of different narratives

Everyone in attendance at a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was dressed in skimpy, revealing clothing, while a sign in the theater lobby mandated a dress code of "appropriate, everyday attire." Could this be seen as an example of collective action?

No, bc social norms at the screening didn't diverge among those who were present.

The faith of Americans tends to be more broad than deep. This is evidenced by which of the following results from research?

Of those Americans who agree that the Bible is the inspired word of God, only half can name the first book of the Bible.

Which of the following is a central belief of evangelical Protestants?

Others must be converted to the faith.

How might the rise of online associations be affecting the tradition of volunteerism in the U.S.?

People may be joining more organizations, but their participation may be more passive, involving less hands-on work & face-to-face interactions.

__________ is the presence & engaged coexistence of numerous distinct religious groups in one society.

Pluralism

Which of the following features was part of the social context of early-19th-century America, a time when religious faiths were becoming networks for social change?

Rapid population growth

Jeremy used to be religious, but after he spent a summer doing antipoverty advocacy work in New Orleans, he became an atheist. He says, "I agree w/ Karl Marx! Religion really is the opium of the masses." Which of the following statements reflects Jeremy's agreement w/ Marx?

Religion pacifies people w/ promises of rewards in the afterlife; therefore, they don't challenge the subjugating, exploitative, & alienating social conditions in this life.

How can religious leaders promote the idea of a "traditional" family?

Religious tenets from the Bible selectively reinforce specific family structure.

Which social movement model suggests that discontent & the availability of resources are the key factors that determine if a social movement will coalesce?

Resource mobilization

________ social movements advocate the radical reorganization of society.

Revolutionary

The megachurch is a relatively new phenomenon. What is one major characteristic of this type of church?

Rock bands

Which of the following statements reflects Durkheim's thoughts about religion?

Sacred objects have power & meaning because individuals collectively invest the power & meaning in the symbols.

The increasing activity of groups like ISIS in the Middle East is part of the far right Islamic factions' efforts to reject what aspect of Western life?

Secularism

__________ is a general movement away from religiosity & spiritual belief & toward a rational, scientific orientation.

Secularism

To what does the so-called drive-through church refer?

Short, frank church services that last 50 minutes or less.

As is the case within Christianity, denominational divisions exist within Islam. The main division is between which 2 groups?

Sunnis & Shiites

What was one of the largest American social movements that effected major social change?

The Civil Rights movement

What is the primary difference between a participatory movement organization & a professional movement organization?

The level of involvement of rank-&-file members.

What major factor in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa & the civil rights movement in the U.S. runs counter to the idea in resource mobilization theory that the elite are the most likely to initiate a social movement?

The people w/ the most at stake are most likely to create success.

Why have social movements, such as the temperance movement of the 19th century & the civil rights movement of the 20th century, been closely linked w/ religious institutions?

The power of public confession & the idea of national sin.

How does a dialectic work?

The process of conflict & resolution leads to social change.

In her interview w/ Dalton Conley, Susan Crawford shared findings of her research w/ lower-class religious women. She was surprised to hear that while the women said religion was very important, they rarely attended services at churches, mosques, or temples. Why was this the case?

The stigma of being poor, especially at moments like the collection of offerings.

In a battle between church & state, what did the French government ban in 2004?

The wearing of religious garb or conspicuous symbols in public schools.

In what way are the conclusions of Max Weber & Karl Marx similar?

To Weber, people in the modern world are trapped in the iron cage; to Marx, people in the modern world are alienated.

According to Max Weber, in order to understand what drives social action, we must try to understand what meanings social realities have for others. This is called

Verstehen.

What is ironic about how we define ourselves as individuals?

We generally define our individuality in terms of our association w/ various groups.

What are 2 factors that are used to distinguish between different types of social movements?

Whose behavior they seek to change; whether the change sought is limited or radical.

With regard to gender & religion, which of the following statements is supported by research?

Women tend to be more religious than men.

The ________ is a group of present-day activists who attempt to create social movements thru satire.

Yes Men

The annual World Naked Bike Ride protests oil use & attracts millions of people. Riders gather, disrobe, & then ride thru a busy part of town, while they're watched & reacted to by nonriders. Is this consistent w/ the idea behind convergence theory?

Yes, bc all participants have the same idea.

A religious movement that makes some new claims about the supernatural & doesn't easily fit within the sect-church cycle is called

a cult.

Along w/ most ancient Greek philosophers, Ptolemy believed that the earth was at the center of the universe. Against this ancient & long-lasting tradition, Copernicus asserted the notion that the sun was at the center of the solar system. Thomas Kuhn would call this an example of

a paradigm shift, as it challenged the existing paradigm of the day.

Postmodernity is characterized by

a questioning of the notion that society is always progressing forward, building on its knowledge & inventions of the past to create a better future.

Alternative medicines are a big business these days as more people are rejecting science & looking for meaning elsewhere. While holistic medicines often are a source of solace, many people also tap into their spiritual or religious roots. This is known as reflexive spirituality, & it's often a response to how people view the idea of

absolute truths.

Ethicalism is the ________; examples of it are ________.

adherence to ethical principles in order to live a moral life; Taoism & Buddhism

An example of a(n) ________ social movement might be a group of individuals trying to stop unwed mothers from having abortions.

alterative

While religious attendance in formal institutions in the U.S. is in decline, the # of Americans claiming religious beliefs or spiritual awakenings has gone up. We can understand this paradox as

an increase in the amount & depth of individual experience.

Max Weber argued that the development of __________ was closely intertwined w/ beliefs & values of __________.

capitalism; the Protestant church

New technologies like the Internet & social media are major contributors to rapid social

change.

The emergence of a social movement that's a collective response to structural strain that has a psychological effect on individuals is explained by

classical theory.

The stage of a social movement when people start organizing, donating $, & lobbying political officials is

coalescence.

You are a deacon in a Southern Baptist church. The church condemns same-sex marriage; however, you personally believe same-sex marriage should be allowed, & in your free time you protest for equal rights for gays & lesbians. This would be an example of

conflicting identities.

A ________ is a group of people who get together for worship.

congregation

A theory of collective action claiming that collective action arises bc of people's tendency to conform to the behavior of others is ________ theory.

contagion

According to __________ theory, collective action happens when people w/ similar ideas & tendencies gather in the same place.

convergence

Protestantism is split into many different ________, or groups that share the same faith & are governed by the same administration. Examples are Baptists, Lutherans, & Methodists.

denominations

Fluidity around who you are as you interact w/ different subcultures, particularly when it's facilitated by social media spaces such as fan pages & private groups, is representative of your

dynamic identity.

In his interview w/ Dalton Conley, Doug McAdam explains that the Internet makes it easy for new social movements to disseminate information broadly. However, he also notes some drawbacks, including the fact that

electronically based movements may not be able to take advantage of existing interpersonal relationships to mobilize behavioral change.

For some followers of religion, ________ such as dancing can make the religious experience feel more authentic & real.

embodied practices

An accident occurs on a busy street, & a pedestrian immediately starts pulling people from cars & instructing others on what to do. This person would be an example of which collective action theory?

emergent norm

An example of collective action would be

everyone walking out of an exam.

Jamie is using secularization theory to study changes in a European society. She first studies education & notices that the public school curriculum began referring to God less & less & stopped using theistic explanations of historical & geological processes. She then turns to economy & politics, expecting to see

evidence of secularization across all social institutions.

The sect-church cycle helps to explain the

existence of so many types of Christian churches in the U.S.

The idea that there's a high level of competition among the various religions in America seems to lead religions to work harder to attract more adherents. One of the main reasons causes for this competition is the

extensive diversity of religions found in America.

The Matthew effect is essentially like

getting promoted bc of who you are, not on the basis of merit.

The text notes that the charisma & strength of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was instrumental in ushering in the civil rights movement. One of the important advantages of his effort stemmed from

his ability to mobilize a wide range of resources & constituencies.

Which of the following is a negative social function of religion? Religion can

justify unequal & unfair differences between groups in society.

Some sociologists of religion, such as Kelly Besecke, study how people reconcile scientific knowledge w/ religious beliefs. Besecke found that American Christians practice "reflexive spirituality." This means that people

look to religion to provide meaning, wisdom, & profound thought rather than absolute truths about the way the world works.

Ten thousand people writing the governor, asking him or her not to execute an individual, is an example of

mass collective action.

In the model of premodern societies, Georg Simmel suggests that they are characterized by concentric circles of social affiliation. At the center of this circle of affiliation is

me.

One theory about the growth of conservative churches is that

members value the high demands of a stricter organization & are more willing to commit time & energy.

Examining the meaning & uses of religion in people's everyday lives is part of a __________ approach to the subject.

microsociological

Today, sociologists tend to study religion from a ________ perspective. This allows them to look at everyday human interactions, practices, & beliefs on a small scale.

microsociology

Which of the following is a paradox about religion? Religions that are

more demanding of their followers grow faster than less strict religions, but as a religion grows larger, it tends to become less strict.

Highly educated people are more likely to explore faiths that are less traditional. Given what we have studied thus far about class, inequality & education, one of the reasons this might be true is that more highly educated people are

more likely to have been exposed to alternative thinking.

A pastor is founding a community church w/ a core belief in gender equality. Sociological research predicts that the pastor is likely to see:

more women engaged in church activities than men.

College faculty members in the ________ are much more likely to belong to churches & express religious commitment than are faculty in the ________.

natural, physical, & engineering sciences; social sciences, law, & humanities

Today, most women know that smoking during pregnancy is putting their babies in danger. The cause of this "social change" was probably mostly due to

new ideas.

The U.S. is anomalously religious among industrialized countries. The fastest growing segment of religion in America today is

no religious affiliation.

Maria & Steve are on summer vacation in Greece. They want to go into an old church to view the artwork inside, but before they're allowed to enter the church, a volunteer church worker asks them both to cover their bare legs & arms & provides them w/ coverings. This example illustrates how

places considered sacred are often protected & set apart from what's considered profane.

In the late 1960s, social scientists observed an apparent increase in secularization & thought that the future of religion was in doubt. According to Peter Berger, secularization was the result of a larger crisis in religion we understand as

pluralism.

The linking of social movements w/ religion demonstrates the

powerful capacity of religion to shape the social world.

In ________ societies, tradition was important because the customs that were passed down thru the generations helped guide everyday life.

premodern

According to sociologist Georg Simmel, __________ refers to a form of social organization characterized by concentric circles of social affiliation.

premodernity

The Newsweek report detailing the abuses at Guantanamo Bay, where prison guards flushed a copy of the Qur'an down the toilet, illustrates how symbolic violence can be more painful than physical violence. In this instance, the symbolic power resided in the object bc it was

sacred.

Modern social organization began to replace premodern social relations w/ the rise of

scientific knowledge & the concept of rationality.

The trend in industrial nations toward a separation between church & state, a belief in rationality & science, & the movement away from religiosity & spiritual belief is known as

secularism.

The difference between evangelical Protestants & fundamentalist Christians is that fundamentalists

separate themselves from the world; evangelicals try to win converts by engaging w/ the world.

When asked if they attend church services at least once a month, about 60% of Americans say they do. But when daily diaries of people's activities are examined, rates of church attendance are much lower. This problem of self-reporting of positive behaviors is known within sociology as

social desirability bias.

According to Émile Durkheim, religion is created by ________, and religious expressions represent ________.

social interaction; collective realities

Émile Durkheim spent considerable time studying animism, an early religion. One of his fundamental conclusions was that religion is

social.

Émile Durkheim felt that one of the major functions of religion was that it perpetuates

solidarity.

Sacred things can include books, buildings, days, & places. From a sociological standpoint, the sacredness comes from the

symbolic meaning created from the collective investment of community.

During the 1960s, some social scientists touted the secularization theory. This theory predicted

that the influence of religion would be diminished in the coming years.

If Peter Berger read this data about belief in God by country, he would conclude that

the Philippines has the strongest scared canopy.

Max Weber argued that the development of capitalism was closely intertwined w/ beliefs and values of Protestantism. Once the capitalist system took full root, however, he held that it was possible that

the Protestant ethic could simply fade away.

A Christian missionary goes to a tribal society & shares the Christian faith. The missionary teaches that there's one God who exists in heaven, apart from the natural world. The tribal people insist that the sacred is everywhere, an essence in trees, wind, & animals. The missionary is expressing a(n) ________ view of religion; the tribal people are expressing a(n) ________ view.

theistic; animistic

Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram give us instant access to the smallest details of others' lives. We need no personal connection to those we follow, nor knowledge of their culture or history. For the postmodernist, this embodies the idea that

we should question whether there's a history.

The difference between collective action & deviance is

whether you're acting alone or as part of a group.

Marissa is a Catholic of Mexican descent & has recently immigrated to the U.S.. She studies the civil rights movement wanting to apply her findings to her immigrant community as they seek upward mobility & inclusion in the U.S. She is most likely to

work to strengthen the organizational & symbolic resources of the community, such as building social networks & coalitions.

A mass protest organization & a grassroots organization both rely on high levels of membership, but a grassroots organization

works thru existing political structures to promote change.

Theism is the ________; examples of it include ________.

worship of a god or gods; Hinduism & Islam