Religion, Renewal and Choice

Question 1

GLOBALISATION, THE MEDIA AND RELIGION

Complete the following sentence:

A central role played in ____________ is that of the __________. The media and information technology saturate us with _____________ and messages from around the world, ______________ time and ______ to give us _______ access to the ideas and beliefs of previously remote religions. Religious ideas have become ‘disembedded’ – the media lift them out of physical churches and move them to a ___________ place and time.

Answer 1

• Postmodernism
• Media
• Images
• Compressing
• Space
• Instantaneous
• Different

Question 2

Complete the following sentence:

The ___________ creates a range of ________ for religious ________ and individuals to exploit.

Answer 2

• Internet
• Opportunities
• Organisations

Question 3

What does postmodern society involve?

Answer 3

• The growth of consumerism, and especially the idea that we now construct our identities through what we choose to consume.

Question 4

What idea does New Age spirituality reject?

Answer 4

• The idea of obligation and obedience to external authority found in traditional religions.

Question 5

What idea does New Age spirituality emphasise?

Answer 5

• The idea of life as a journey of discovery, personal development, autonomy and connecting with ones ‘inner-self’.

Question 6

Complete the following sentences:

Some sociologists argue that a spiritual _________ is happening, in which ______ Christianity is giving way to ‘holistic spirituality’, or New Age spiritual beliefs and practices that emphasise ________ development and subjective _______. Increased interest in ______ can be seen in the _____ of a ‘spiritual market’, with an increase in the number of books about self-help and spirituality.

Answer 6

• Revolution
• Traditional
• Personal
• Experience
• Spirituality
• Growth

Question 7

Complete the following sentence:

In the spiritual ______, the winners are those who appeal to personal ________ as the only genuine source of _________ and fulfilment, rather than the received teachings and commandments of _______ religion.

Answer 7

• Marketplace
• Experience
• Meaning
• Traditional

Question 8

What are evangelical megachurches able to do and why?

Answer 8

• Offer a vast range of activities to meet the diverse needs of their members because the large congregations (200 people or more) mean they have the resources needed to do so.