Nature & Function of Religion

Question 1

Can religion be defined/Dresser (1929)?

Answer 1

religion, like poetry… cannot be defined. But some ‘characteristic marks’ can be

Question 2

What are the distinctions between “spiritual” and “religious”

Answer 2

 Spirituality is more personal and psychological
 Religion is more institutional and sociological
 Spirituality involves a person’s beliefs, values, and behavior
 Religiousness indicates the person’s involvement with a religious tradition and institution

Question 3

What is spirituality is associated with?

Answer 3

openness to change

Question 4

What is religiousness is associated with?

Answer 4

conservatism

Question 5

Which is favored: spirituality or religion?

Answer 5

spirituality

Question 6

Explain spirituality

Answer 6

 Is personal and subjective
 Does not require an institutional framework
 A spiritual person
 Is deeply concerned about his/her values
 But may or may not worship a deity
 May be expressed through religiousness, but it does not have to be

Question 7

Religion is often operationally defined by

Answer 7

	Attendance at religious services
	Reading the Bible or sacred writings
	Contributing money to religious causes
	Praying
	Fasting

Question 8

Explain what some people call “cheap grace” or “easy religion?”

Answer 8

Wanting only what is good from spirituality, without the institutional constraints of religion

Question 9

Who identified 4 reasons why religion is uniquely capable of providing meaning?

Answer 9

Hood (2005)

Question 10

What are the 4 reasons why religion is uniquely capable of providing meaning?

Answer 10

 Comprehensiveness
 Accessibility
 Transcendence
 Direct claims

Question 11

Explain comprehensiveness in terms of religion

Answer 11

 Religion addresses a large range of issues that by themselves provide meaning:
 Beliefs about human nature, society, the afterlife
 Life Expectations (the rewards for righteousness, punishment for evil)
 Life Goals (benevolence, justice)
 Actions (charitable actions, violent actions)
 Emotions (love, joy, peace, anger, despair)

Question 12

Explain accessibility in terms of religion

Answer 12

 Religion is so easily accessible!
 Accessibility is promoted through:
 Doctrinal teachings and creeds
 Religious education

Question 13

Explain transcendence in terms of religion

Answer 13

 Religion invokes a sense of transcendence
 Transcendent: extraordinary
 A belief in a transcendent & authoritative being provides the most fulfilling sense of meaning for many
 Especially when that Being is considered to be sovereign (the supreme ruler)

Question 14

Explain direct claims in terms of religion

Answer 14

 Religion boldly states its ability to provide meaning and human purpose
 No other system of meaning does this

Question 15

Why do we search for meaning?

Answer 15

 We strive for control
 Even the illusion of control suffices
 When threatened with harm or pain, we seek to control the outcome

Question 16

Why is meaning-making so important?

Answer 16

 Helps fulfill an even greater need for control

 Adler said control is “an intrinsic necessity of life”

Question 17

Religion’s ability to offer meaning in so many life situations provides what?

Answer 17

A measure of control

Question 18

Self control is considered the?

Answer 18

Master virtue

Question 19

Which attribute can be considered the absence of the 7 deadly sins?

Answer 19

Self-control

Question 20

Define self control

Answer 20

 The active inhibition of actions that might interfere with desired goals
 Internal restraining system
 A core psychological function underlying many religious virtues: e.g. love, humility, patience, justice etc.

Question 21

A life of virtue requires

Answer 21

Putting the interests of others’ above one’s own