SOC 337 final qu

Which of the following contributes to higher national rates of religious conversion? A. higher average educational attainment B. lower average educational attainment C. religious restrictions D. decreasing levels of religious pluralism

A. higher average educational attainment

The sociological approach to beliefs stresses the question of ______. A. how beliefs influence behavior B. whether a person's beliefs are logically consistent C. which beliefs are eternally true D. whether religious beliefs lead to ethical actions

A. how beliefs influence behavior

Charismatic authority usually lies in the ______. A. individual B. group C. denomination D. divine

A. individual

Which of the following concepts refers to the process by which people develop their own meaning systems by drawing on diverse sources? A. individualization of religion B. sacralization of everyday life C. spiritual but not religious D. private symbolism

A. individualization of religion

A secondary matter may take on primary importance for some members of a religious group, thus subverting the original sense of mission. O'Dea refers to this as the dilemma of ______. A. mixed motivation B. administrative order C. delimitation D. power

A. mixed motivation

According to Lofland, ______ is an example of a turning point in life. A. moving to a new area B. divorce C. severe illness D. making new friends

A. moving to a new area

What is a major strength of historical-comparative methods? A. the ability to connect events in the past to the present situation B. the ability to isolate single causal events C. the reliance on multiple methods to reach conclusions D. The use of interviews to gain multiple perspectives

A. the ability to connect events in the past to the present situation

Lived religion argues for a blurring of ______ and ______. A. the sacred; the profane B. religion; nonreligion C. spirituality; religiosity D. science; religion

A. the sacred; the profane

Which of the following is a significant limitation of participant observation? A. Researchers may not be able to study people's actual behaviors. B. Researchers can usually study only one case, which limits generalizability. C. Researchers gain so much data they cannot investigate in depth. D. Researchers often need a research assistant, which costs money.

B. Researchers can usually study only one case, which limits generalizability.

What do researchers conclude about most recruits to new religious movements? A. They are passively converted by leaders of the movements. B. They are actively involved in the conversion process. C. They do not understand what is happening to them. D. They tend to immediately regret their decision.

B. They are actively involved in the conversion process.

A significant trend in religious belonging in the United States is ______. A. an increase in Christian affiliation B. a decline in Christian affiliation C. a decline in religious nones D. a decline in religious diversity

B. a decline in Christian affiliation

What concept was developed to explain the unclear and delayed passage to mature adulthood experienced by American youth today? A. adolescence B. emerging adulthood C. delayed adulthood D. young adulthood

B. emerging adulthood

Faced with a wide range of choices for religious identity, many Americans choose ______. A. spirituality B. established denominational identities C. no label D. their local church

B. established denominational identities

One reason that little experimental research is conducted in sociology of religion is that ______. A. religious groups generally prevent researchers from experimenting on them B. ethical issues limit researchers' ability to design an effective experiment C. the cost of running an experiment is prohibitive D. researchers struggle to find willing participants

B. ethical issues limit researchers' ability to design an effective experiment

Emerging adulthood is characterized by religious ______. A. stability B. instability C. change D. disaffiliation

B. instability

Much of the switching between denominations in the United States and Canada is due to ______. A. fear of apostasy B. intermarriage C. downward social mobility D. conversion experiences

B. intermarriage

According to a rational choice theorist, what leads to higher levels of religious participation? A. religious monopoly B. religious pluralism C. state-sponsored religion D. strong, charismatic leaders

B. religious pluralism

The third phase of the "disestablishment of religion" in America is ______. A. separation of church and state B. separation of religious identity from denominations C. the challenge to Protestantism's monopoly D. the rise of the religious nones

B. separation of religious identity from denominations

Why Buddhism often excluded from substantive definitions of religion? A. Buddhism is perceived as more spiritual than religious. B. Most Buddhists practice lived religion. C. Most Buddhists do not believe in divine beings. D. Buddhism is grounded in sacred rituals.

C. Most Buddhists do not believe in divine beings.

Predominantly ______ countries have the lowest rates of atheism. A. Jewish B. Buddhist C. Muslim D. Christian

C. Muslim

. Which of the following is an example of an empirical question that sociologists might analyze? A. Do miracles really happen? B. Why do bad things happen to good people? C. What percentage of people in the United States attend religious services? D. What is the best religion for developing a moral compass?

C. What percentage of people in the United States attend religious services?

According to Emile Durkheim, what is essential to religion? A. belief in a super human being B. the presence of religious symbols C. a division of the sacred from the profane D. an emphasis on answering questions of meaning.

C. a division of the sacred from the profane

Which of the following is an example of a more formalized approach to religious socialization? A. reading a religious text at home B. having peers who are mostly religious C. attending Sunday morning classes at a congregation D. praying together as a family

C. attending Sunday morning classes at a congregation

According to the text, characterizing religion as primarily about ______ is a Western bias. A. spirituality B. sacredness C. beliefs D. rituals

C. beliefs

According to Troeltsch and Niebuhr, universal or inclusive acceptance of people in the larger society into the religious organization is a characteristic of a ______. A. new religious movement B. sect C. church D. denomination

C. church

The two most consistent predictors of religious switching are intermarriage and ______. A. moving B. losing friends C. education D. having children

C. education

Which of the following factors consistently predicts declining attendance at religious services? A. going to college B. getting married C. leaving one's childhood home D. having children

C. leaving one's childhood home

Which of the following is a primary focus of sociologists investigating religion? A. defining moral responsibility B. the relationship between the divine and humanity C. organizational patterns of religious groups D. mental and emotional aspects of individuals' religious experiences

C. organizational patterns of religious groups

Lofland's three predisposing conditions to conversion are tension, religious problem-solving perspective, and ______. A. desiring new friends B. intensive interaction C. religious seekership

C. religious seekership

If a new religious group is to survive the death of its founding leader, it must reorganize and institutionalize, a process known as ______. A. revitalization B. trans-denominationalism C. routinization of charisma D. transformation to traditional authority

C. routinization of charisma

Emphasizing sacred times and places as intrinsic to all religions is based on which approach to defining religion? A. functional B. invisible C. substantive D. symbolic

C. substantive

The question, "do people believe in Gods?" reflects which definition of religion? A. symbolic B. cultural C. substantive D. functional

C. substantive

What does Geertz take as the starting point for his definition of religion? A. divine beings B. practices C. symbols D. spirituality

C. symbols

What is the most likely consequence of the increasing rate of religious intermarriage on attendance of religious services? A. It will not have an effect. B. Children will stay home while parents go to separate services. C. Children will attend services with one parent. D. Both children and parents will be less likely to attend services.

D. Both children and parents will be less likely to attend services.

How did religious socialization change when the nuclear family became the dominant form of family? A. It became more informal. B. It became more formal. C. It became more personal. D. It became more impersonal.

D. It became more formal.

Which of the following is an advantage of participant observation? A. Researchers usually have a personal connection to the group they study. B. Research usually go unnoticed. C. Researchers can readily steady multiple sites for comparison. D. Researches can directly analyze behaviors.

D. Researches can directly analyze behaviors.

According to Yinger, what is the problem with using substantive definitions of religion? A. They emphasize belief rather than action. B. They inadequately define the sacred. C. They may result in a definition that is too broad. D. They may lead to the misidentification of religion in changing societies.

D. They may lead to the misidentification of religion in changing societies.

The church ______ the social order, and the sect ______ it. A. rejects; also rejects B. accepts; also accepts C. rejects; accepts D. accepts; rejects

D. accepts; rejects

. A research method that can be used to analyze existing material to understand changing cultural or religious meanings is ______. A. surveying B. participant observation C. experimentation D. content analysis

D. content analysis

. A major advantage of survey research is that it ______. A. accurately determines causal relationships B. allows for a nuanced analysis of meaning C. has no room for interpretation D. effectively establishes a correlation between variables

D. effectively establishes a correlation between variables

The sociological perspective is characterized by two fundamental principles: ______ and ______. A. objectivity; argumentation B. argumentation; interpretation C. interpretation; empiricism D. empiricism; objectivity

D. empiricism; objectivity

In supply-side rational choice thinking, a local congregation is a(n) ______. A. entrepreneur B. produce C. firm D. franchise

D. franchise

According to Geertz, ______ refers to depth of feeling, while ______ offer a direction for our behavior. A. mood; symbols B. motivation; symbols C. motivation; mood D. mood; motivation

D. mood; motivation

Extensive research by sociologists shows that brainwashing is the primary recruitment technique of ______. A. new religious movements B. Catholic convents C. mainline Protestant denominations D. no religious group

D. no religious group

According to social learning theory, which agent of socialization has the biggest impact on children? A. media B. peers C. religious leaders D. parents

D. parents

Understanding the subjective religious meanings of individuals can be best accomplished through which of the following research strategies? A. historical-comparative analysis B. survey C. content analysis D. participant observation

D. participant observation

Which theory of religious conversion posits a more active model of human behavior? A. conversion motifs B. brainwashing C. process model D. rational choice theory

D. rational choice theory

Members being born into a group rather than becoming members through conversion or spiritual experience contributes to which of the following dilemmas of institutionalization? A. Conversion versus coercion B. concrete definition versus substitution of the letter for the spirit C. elaboration of policy versus flexibility D. factionalized structure versus communalism

A. Conversion versus coercion

What happens to religious participation during adolescence? A. It tends to decline. B. It tends to increase. C. Formal participation increases and informal participation decreases. D. Informal participation increases and formal participation decreases.

A. It tends to decline.

Which of the following is a weakness of functional definitions of religion? A. The range of behaviors and ideas that might be considered "religious" may be too broad. B. Functional definitions tend to focus almost entirely on traditional expressions of religion. C. Functional definitions often miss new forms or types of religiosity in a society. D. The emphasis on belief in supernatural privileges Western understandings of religion.

A. The range of behaviors and ideas that might be considered "religious" may be too broad.

Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between religious and general socialization over time? A. These processes have become more distinct. B. These processes have become more similar. C. Religious socialization has become more salient than general socialization. D. General socialization has become more salient than religious socialization.

A. These processes have become more distinct.

13. What does Luckmann mean by "invisible religion"? A. Ways of being religious that are more private and individualized B. meaning systems often not considered religious, such as science C. the impact of media on traditional religious practices D. Everyday practices that blur the sacred and the profane

A. Ways of being religious that are more private and individualized

People who go from having a religion to having no religion are described as ______. A. apostates B. switchers C. converts D. de-converts

A. apostates

The earliest explanation for why people convert to new religious movement was ______. A. brainwashing B. process model C. conversion motifs D. rational choice theory

A. brainwashing

What does empiricism entail? A. collecting and analyzing data observable via our five sense B. using only objective research methods to collect data C. applying scientific methods to studying supernatural phenomena D. using data to assess which societies are superior

A. collecting and analyzing data observable via our five sense

What is the key challenge of a group's institutionalization process? A. determining leadership succession B. writing a new religious text C. keeping members happy D. assimilating to society

A. determining leadership succession

Which religious behavior is most commonly discussed by sociologists of religion? A. frequency religious service attendance B. belief in God C. frequency of prayer D. affiliation

A. frequency religious service attendance

Phenomena such as communism, nationalism, and perhaps even sports could fit the criteria for religion according to which perspective? A. functional B. substantive C. symbolic D. individualized

A. functional

What two factors predict high rates of religious "switching" in the United States? A. high levels of education and religious intermarriage B. lower social class and being male C. low levels of education and being female D. high levels of education and high social class

A. high levels of education and religious intermarriage

One important limitation of survey research is that ______. A. people may not accurately report their behaviors B. the data can rarely be generalized C. people rarely want to participate D. open-ended questions make the surveys take a long time

A. people may not accurately report their behaviors

Which of the following is an example of transformative apostasy? A. A person who attended worship services monthly slowly stops attending. B. A very religious person who attended church for 20 years renounces their faith. C. A very religious person in one tradition becomes less involved in a different tradition. D. Someone who has been in one religious group their whole life switches late in life.

B. A very religious person who attended church for 20 years renounces their faith.

. Which of the following would be evidence of individualization of religion? A. A Christian church incorporates a Buddhist meditation. B. A woman describes her religion as "part Christian, part Hindu, part love your neighbor." C. A man goes to a mosque one week and a church the next. D. A person says they are spiritual but not religious.

B. A woman describes her religion as "part Christian, part Hindu, part love your neighbor."

Which of the following is an assumption that functional definitions of religion make? A. Most people rely on religion to answer questions about existence. B. All people are, to some extent, religious. C. At the core of religion is belief in a supernatural power.

B. All people are, to some extent, religious.

Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between charismatic leadership and the existing social order? A. Charismatic authority is used to uphold the existing order. B. Charismatic authority is usually antithetical to the established order. C. Charismatic authority, together with existing norms, motivate people to act. D. Charismatic leaders, together with elected leaders, profoundly shape the social order.

B. Charismatic authority is usually antithetical to the established order.

Which of the following questions could best be answered using content analysis? A. Why are some denominations more accepting of gay and lesbian members than others? B. How do statements from religious leaders discuss homosexuality? C. How do pastors perform same-sex marriages? D. Do religious people in the United States think homosexuality is a sin?

B. How do statements from religious leaders discuss homosexuality?

According to Weber, which of the following is a key characteristic of a sect? A. One is born into membership. B. Membership is voluntary. C. People make a minimal commitment. D. All are encouraged to join.

B. Membership is voluntary.

Which of the following is true of charismatic authority? A. It is intrinsically stable. B. People believe it reflects supernatural qualities. C. It usually reflects the status quo. D. People believe charismatic authority is evil.

B. People believe it reflects supernatural qualities.

Which of the following is a major critique of rational choice theory? A. Actors in rational choice theory are passive. B. Rational choice theory neglects cultural contexts and meaning. C. Actors are assumed to be white and middle class. D. Rational choice theory cannot explain high rates of intermarriage.

B. Rational choice theory neglects cultural contexts and meaning.

According to Geertz, how do symbols impact individuals? A. They teach people important religious rituals. B. They shape people's moods and motivations. C. They must be used to capture the idea of god. D. They delineate the sacred from the profane.

B. They shape people's moods and motivations.

When a researcher uses an interview schedule with a series of prompts without pre-established answers, the researcher is conducting ______. A. a quasi experiment B. a semi-structured interview C. a closed ended survey D. preliminary content analysis

B. a semi-structured interview

Which of the following is an example of a trans denominational movement? A. the Unification Church B. evangelicalism C. the Church of the Latter Day Saints D. Catholicism

B. evangelicalism

According to scholars of lived religion, where will we find religion in the contemporary world? A. religious institutions B. everyday life C. talk shows D. spiritual leaders

B. everyday life

Which of the following life events signifies mature adulthood? A. leaving home and getting married B. getting married and having children C. having children and getting a job D. getting a job and getting divorced

B. getting married and having children

Objectivity in sociology means that sociologists should ______. A. study only topics they are not directly affected by B. identify and analyze any biases they may hold C. reject any commitment to any religious group D. work to discover the underlying unbiased truth

B. identify and analyze any biases they may hold

Over time, religious intermarriage has ______. A. decreased B. increased C. stayed the same D. fluctuated

B. increased

A major critique of the church/sect typology is that ______. A. the premise was developed over 100 years ago and is outdated B. it applies primarily to Western Christianity C. this model does not account for changes D. this model is an ideal type and does not accurately reflect reality

B. it applies primarily to Western Christianity

Compared to the rest of the world, the United States is ______. A. less religious overall B. more Christian C. more religiously diverse D. focused more on orthopraxy

B. more Christian

The authors of your textbook argue that religious identity in the United States has been changing in recent decades by becoming ______. A. more ascribed B. more achieved C. more denominational D. more spiritual

B. more achieved

The rational choice model of conversion suggests that ______. A. recruits resist the new group but eventually realize the benefits outweigh the costs B. people join new religious movements because it will meet their religious needs C. outside pressures compel people to join a new religious group D. people will convert when there are no other options available to them

B. people join new religious movements because it will meet their religious needs

Research show that over time, there has been the largest increase in people identifying as which of the following? A. religious and spiritual B. spiritual but not religious C. neither religious nor spiritual D. religious but not spiritual

B. spiritual but not religious

Which of the following has been the dominant mode of research in sociology? A. participant observation B. statistical analysis of survey data C. interviews D. experiments

B. statistical analysis of survey data

What prompted the increase in sociological research on conversion? A. the increase of Catholic converts B. the rise of new religious movements C. the spread of apostasy D. the rapid increase of religious switching

B. the rise of new religious movements

A functional definition of religion focuses on ______. A. what people believe B. what religion does in society and in people's lives C. a concept of supernatural power or supernatural being(s) D. the distinction between the sacred and profane realms

B. what religion does in society and in people's lives

Which of the following questions could best be answered using participant observation? A. How do religious websites talk about recruiting new members? B. Why is church shopping common in the United States but not in Europe? C. How do religious groups welcome newcomers? D. How many people visit a new religious group each year?

C. How do religious groups welcome newcomers?

According to rational choice theorists, what should a couple with different religious identities do to maximize their religious capital? A. One partner should become an apostate to minimize conflict. B. They should both stop attending services. C. One partner should convert to the other's religion. D. They should attend worship services separately.

C. One partner should convert to the other's religion.

What does a "supply-side" theory of religious commitment argue? A. Individual preferences for religious goods are highly variable over time. B. What matters is individual preferences rather than religious groups' resources. C. Religious communities must produce a product that people want. D. People will choose the religious group with the most benefits.

C. Religious communities must produce a product that people want.

When Max Weber referred to "ideal types," he meant ______. A. the best form of social organization, as identified by sociologists B. the most frequently observed types in a given society C. a classification found in the realm of ideas D. a classification found and reflected in reality

C. a classification found in the realm of ideas

Sociologists suggest that most people continue in the religious traditions of their parents because they have ______. A. little ability to choose B. little desire to rebel C. been socialized into these beliefs D. been brainwashed

C. been socialized into these beliefs

Some religious groups become so caught up in rules and regulations that they lose sight of the ideals and values on which their religion was originally founded. This describes the dilemma of ______. A. expansion B. mixed motivation C. delimitation D. administrative order

C. delimitation

Most splits in American denominations have been due to ______. A. the problem of leadership succession B. changing government regulations C. disagreement over social issues D. theological differences

C. disagreement over social issues

According to Luckman, over time, traditional religions ______. A. have been replaced spirituality B. have become less focused on the divine C. influence smaller range of human behaviors D. influence a growing range of human behaviors

C. influence smaller range of human behaviors

Most scholars agree that which step of Lofland's process model is central to conversion? A. experiencing a turning point B. holding a religious problem-solving perspective C. intensive interaction D. weakening of outside ties

C. intensive interaction

Triangulation refers to the process of ______. A. using three theories to analyze data B. reaching multiple conclusions using the same data C. using multiple methods to see whether they reach similar conclusions D. analyzing themes across different forms of media

C. using multiple methods to see whether they reach similar conclusions

A distinguishing feature of religion is its ability to provide a(n) ______, which helps make sense of injustice, death, and suffering. A. ethos B. ritual C. worldview D. symbol

C. worldview

According to Ammerman, who should you talk to after observing a worship service? A. only the leader(s) of the congregation B. no one—you should immediately leave to type up notes. C. other visitors to the congregation D. anyone who will talk to you

D. anyone who will talk to you

Individuals who trust that science will one day solve all human problem would be considered religious according to which definition of religion? A. symbolic B. ritualistic C. substantive D. functional

D. functional

. Someone how goes from being an evangelical Protestant to being a mainline Protestant can best be characterized as ______. A. becoming more religious B. becoming apostate C. converting D. switching

D. switching

Which dilemma of institutionalization encompasses the development of an efficient and rational organizational structure? A. the dilemma of delimitation B. the dilemma of mixed motivation C. the symbolic dilemma D. the dilemma of administrative order

D. the dilemma of administrative order

Today, many Americans find religious authority in ______. A. God B. the Bible C. the pastor D. the individual

D. the individual