Chapter 16 - Religion

Question 1

Collective conscience

Answer 1

comprises the common sentiments and values that people share as a result of living together

Question 2

Sacred

Answer 2

refers to the religious, transcendent world

Question 3

Profane

Answer 3

refers to the secular, everyday world

Question 4

Totems

Answer 4

objects that symbolize the sacred

Question 5

Rituals

Answer 5

in Durkheim’s usage: public practices designed to connect people to the sacred

Question 6

Church

Answer 6

a bureaucratic religious organization that has accommodated itself to mainstream society and culture

Question 7

Secularization thesis

Answer 7

says that religious institutions, actions, and consciousness are on the decline worldwide and will one day disappear altogether

Question 8

Revised secularization thesis

Answer 8

holds that the importance of religion is diminishing in some parts of the world while remaining stable or declining in other parts

Question 9

Religiosity

Answer 9

refers to how important religion is to people

Question 10

Religious pluralism

Answer 10

refers to the diverse array of religions and religious beliefs in a given area

Question 11

Sects

Answer 11

usually form by breaking away from churches because of disagreement about church doctrine. sects are less integrated into society and less bureaucratized than churches are

Question 12

New Religious Movement (NRM)

Answer 12

sometimes derogatorily referred to as “cults”, are groups headed by charismatic leaders with a unique religious vision that rejects mainstream culture and society

Question 13

Denomination

Answer 13

does not seek to distance itself from the world, is bureaucratically organized, and generally maintains a tolerant relationship with other denominations

Question 14

Karl Marx

Answer 14

religion is the opiate of masses

Question 15

William James

Answer 15

religion comes from the human desire to find meaning and purpose in life