Mini Exam 1

Question 1

What is Religion?

Answer 1

The encounter with the ultimate order of things

Question 2

What is Society?

Answer 2

Ordering of a group of people and the distribution of power among them

Question 3

What is Culture?

Answer 3

The practices and expressions of the society’s shared self-understanding and its power.

Question 4

What is Bellah’s thesis?

Answer 4

Christianity is not our national religion. Instead, he argues that Civil Religion is our national religion.

Question 5

What is Civil Religion?

Answer 5

Culture, practices. expression and understanding of power related back to the ultimate order of all things

Question 6

How is Civil Religion expressed?

Answer 6

Through analogy and allegory The story of G.W. is told in a way with such language that it likens him to Moses

Question 7

How many times does Kennedy mention God in his inaugural speech?

Answer 7

Three- beginning, middle, and end

Question 8

How do the references to God work in Kennedy’s speech?

Answer 8

They act as a framing device and tie the information to God

Question 9

What are the references to God in Kennedy’s speech?

Answer 9

1) Swears an oath to God
2) Ties the founders to God
3) Notes- ultimate power comes from the hand of God and not the state- a nod to natural law

Question 10

Why are Kennedy’s references to God not about Christianity?

Answer 10

There is no reference to Jesus Christ

Question 11

Why is there religious rhetoric in Kennedy’s speech?

Answer 11

A way to talk about power with religious language that religious people will catch, but it is generic so as to not infringe on religious liberty. Eisenhower makes the comment that America must have religion-doesn’t matter what it is.

Question 12

How does the Power of the State work to re-enforce it in us?

Answer 12

In the youth- through public schools, hearing the virtues of our country, reciting the pledge, and learning the narrative in history classes

Through the flag, our money, our national holidays, and memorials

Question 13

Religions need….

Answer 13

rituals, special days, pilgrimages, sacred sights and practices among the youth to re-enforce it

Question 14

Name several ways rituals mediate power

Answer 14

1) The power of placing people’s bodies in spaces and having people do things with their bodies when told to
2) Singing socially is powerful because it evokes this commitment as it acts as a kind of confession or proclamation
3) Memorials- Material structures that emphasis the power of the state

Question 15

What is the purpose of ritual?

Answer 15

The practice of rituals form people to the virtuous life expected from them. These things form you and shape you

VIRTUES ARE PUT INTO PRACTICE AND THEN PRACTICE MAKES THE VIRTUES EXPRESSED IN THE PRACTICE AND AROUND IT GOES

Question 16

Name several sacred sites within American Civil Religion.

Answer 16

1) Gettysburg
2) Statue of Liberty
3) Washington Momument
4) Arlington National Ceremtery

Question 17

Name examples of “Pilgrimages” within Civil Religion

Answer 17

1) Spring Training
2) Route 66
3) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
4) Monteray Bay Aquarium- my own personal pilgrimage to my own holy land
5) National Parks

Question 18

Explain the story that goes along with these practices

Answer 18

American myth that is cast in Biblical myth and that is the way people internalize it.
-Text- Declaration and Constitution are the sacred texts like the Bible
-Washington becomes Moses who led his people out of the hands tyranny.
- The American Civil War is the second great event that adds to self expression
as it raises deepest questions of formal meaning
- Gettysburg creates marytrs who’s death make the story holy
- ToGettysburg Address- New Testament- from this great sacrafice there will be rebirth
- Now we have thanksgiving to also re-enforce this story

Question 19

What is the largest denomination in the US?

Answer 19

Christian ~ 70%

Question 20

Within the Christian Traditions, which one is the most represented in the US?

Answer 20

Evangelical Protestants ~25%

Question 21

What is the percentage of the “nones”

Answer 21

~22 percent

Question 22

What is interesting about the nones?

Answer 22

They are almost as abundant as citizens who identify as “Christian”

Question 23

In reviewing age, what stands out about the nones vs. Evangelical Protestants

Answer 23

There are more “ nones” aged 30-49 than “E.P.” aged 18,29 and 30-49, but this drops off at 50

Question 24

What is interesting about age and the Jewish population?

Answer 24

It stays fairly consistent.

Question 25

What is interesting about EV and Catholics in the age demographic?

Answer 25

They are reported as the same

Question 26

In looking at gender, how do EVs and none’s compare

Answer 26

More EVs are reported as being women, whereas, more nones are reported as male

Question 27

What is interesting about the generation demongraphics in the none’s?

Answer 27

It stays fairly consistent until the Silent Generation

Question 28

What is interesting about the generation EV demographics

Answer 28

The largest concentration is in the Boomer generation and less so in either Younger Millenials or the Silent Generation

Question 29

What is interesting about the race demographics?

Answer 29

Predominately white in most categories

Question 30

What is interesting about marital status?

Answer 30

High perfectage in all

Question 31

What is interesting about the parent’s section

Answer 31

The choice to parent is lower in all categories- implying that the traditions will not continue to be observed