Exam 17: Religion

__________ has been used to explain mystifying events of nature,such as sunrises and thunderstorms,and the ways in which some objects may bring a person good or bad luck.

From a functionalist perspective,all of the following are functions of religion EXCEPT:

According to Emile Durkheim,all religions share three elements: (1) membership that includes radical elements, (2) a disbelief in the legitimacy of other competing religions,and (3) religious leaders who attempt to dupe the congregation.

__________ Judaism,which became a middle ground between the other two branches,teaches that the Torah and Talmud must be followed and that Zionism-the movement to establish and maintain a Jewish homeland in Israel is crucial to the future of Judaism.

According to sociologist Emile Durkheim,all religions share three elements.Which of the following is NOT one of these elements?

Discuss the symbolic interactionist perspectives on religion.

__________ is believed to be one of the world's oldest current religions,having originated along the banks of the Indus River in __________ between 3,500 and 4,500 years ago.

According to ____________ theory,religion is essentially a rational response to human needs.

People often act out their religious beliefs in the form of __________,which are regularly repeated and carefully prescribed forms of behaviors that symbolize a cherished value or belief.

According to the symbolic interactionist approach,members of a religious group expect each member to perform certain normative religious beliefs.A ___________ is expected of members of a religious group,and this contributes to religion becoming a master status for some people.

According to Karl Marx,the capitalist class uses religious ideology as a tool of domination to mislead the workers about their true interests.In this regard,Marx referred to religion as the "__________ of the masses."

Describe the basic beliefs of Judaism.

From a functionalist perspective,religion has three important functions in any society: providing meaning and purpose to life,promoting social cohesion and a sense of belonging,and providing social control and support for the government.

Central to Hindu teachings is the belief that individual souls,referred to as __________,enter the world and roam the universe.

Religious beliefs and rituals are __________ representations,which are group-held meanings that express something important about the group itself.

Some sociologists believe that a more accurate metaphor for religion In the global village is that of the __________,in which religious Institutions and traditions compete for adherents,and worshippers shop For a religion in much the same way that consumers decide what goods And services they will purchase.

The teachings of __________ Buddhism and specifically those of the Dalai Lama,emphasize the doctrine of ahimsa,or nonharmfulness,and discourages violence and warfare.

The doctrine of __________ is the belief that,even before they are born,all people are divided into two groups,the saved and the damned,and only God knows who will go to heaven (the elect) and who will go to hell.

Religion in the United States is very diverse.Pluralism and religious freedom are among the cultural values most widely espoused,and no state church or single denomination predominates.Protestants constitute the largest religious body in the United States,followed by Roman Catholics.

Distinguish between the different types of religious organizations.