Exam 15: Religion

Anthropologists are primarily interested in:

Anthropological research illustrates that people make a religious tradition come alive in their own context through local expressions and which of the following?

Which of the following theories contends that religious practices have likely developed in response to very practical problems as people sought to adapt to the natural environment?

Which of the following embody the beliefs, passions, and sense of solidarity of a group of people?

Anthropologist E. E. Evans-Pritchard worked with the Azande peoples and studied which of the following topics in relation to religion?

Which of the following is an individual considered exceptionally close to God, who is then exalted after death?

Which of the following religious practitioners obtain their powers through special training or experience, passing through a journey or test of spirit such as illness, isolation, physical pain, or an emotional ordeal?

French sociologist ________ viewed religion as ultimately something practiced with others and thus a social practice rather than a private or individual one.

In his research in Niger, West Africa, anthropologist Paul Stoller apprenticed with a local sorcerer as a means of exploring the role of religion in community life there. During his apprenticeship, Stoller's work came to an abrupt end and he fled back home to the United States. What occurred that caused Stoller to abruptly leave his field site? What did his research and experience demonstrate regarding the power of religion in people's everyday lives? What risks do anthropologists take by immersing themselves in others' religious belief systems and practices? Do you think it is possible to comprehend another group of people's religious beliefs and practices without accepting that they are real for believers? Why or why not? What does it mean for a religious belief or practice to be considered real and who should determine whether or not it is real?

The role of the shaman is generally associated with which type of the following societies?

Which of the following is among the nineteenth- and twentieth-century philosophers who deeply influenced anthropological theories of religion?

The forces of globalization are affecting religion generally and religious practices specifically. Provide three examples that illustrate how globalization is affecting religion and religious practices, and explain how. Conversely, how are the religions and practices in your three examples affecting globalization? How do your three examples also reveal the relationship between religion and other social systems of power? How will future forces likely affect the religion and practices of your three examples? How will future forces likely affect the general status of world religions and practices? Do you think religion will be less or more prominent in people's daily lives in the future? Why do you think this will be the case?

Which of the following is a unique form of religious ritual in which adherents travel to sacred places as a sign of devotion and in search of transformation and enlightenment?

Swaziland provides an illustration of the relationship between religion and its potential to effectively help local congregations promote health and fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. What is the current HIV/AIDS situation in Swaziland? What are health assets? What is the general relationship between religion and health assets in Swaziland? How might religious beliefs affect community members' desires to access local health assets? In what ways can local churches help address community and individual health concerns? How does this particular example illustrate the connection between religion and other social systems of power?

According to anthropologist Victor Turner, the second state of rites of passage that involves a period of outsiderhood during which the individual is set apart from normal society and exists on the margins of everyday life is termed:

Anthropologist George Gmelch examined the rituals, taboos, and sacred objects of magic that are in almost constant use in which of the following sports?

Which of the following anthropologists argued that the use of magic among Azande peoples was not an irrational expression but rather a component of a highly organized, rational, and logical system of thought?

Which of the following rites enacts a change of status from one life state to another, either for an individual or for a group?

What did German political philosopher Karl Marx mean when he called religion "the opiate of the masses"? According to Marx, what purpose or purposes does religion serve in society? How is religion related to the economic reality and class struggle found within a society? Do you agree with Marx's arguments and ideas regarding the purpose of religion in society? Why or why not?

World religions are often quite flexible and innovative at the ________level.