religious views

Question 1

define religion

Answer 1

a set of beliefs and practices, usually acknowledgement of a higher being or power by which people order the conduct of their lives both practically and spiritually

Question 2

who was richard dawkins

Answer 2

noted atheist and evolutionist, states that religious faith is essentially childish

Question 3

RD: what is religious faith as immature as

Answer 3

believing in santa and the tooth fairy

Question 4

RD: what does richard dawkins believe

Answer 4

religion is irrational, involves blind trust in the absence of evidence
doesn’t believe in a soul
we are purely a product of our genes, no different to any other plant or animal

Question 5

RD: what does good science say

Answer 5

we should adopt the explanation that sufficiently explains the info in its simplest form

Question 6

who created Marxism

Answer 6

Karl Marx

Question 7

what does Marxism believe

Answer 7

proposes that religion reflects society, and to criticise religion is to criticise society

Question 8

what is religion in Karl Marx’s opinion

Answer 8

the product of men, those in power

sign of the oppressed creature

Question 9

M: what’s religion good for

Answer 9

diverting peoples attention away from their miseries

Question 10

M: what does he recognise religion for

Answer 10

promoting stability, within society but perpetuating inequality

Question 11

M: what does religion do to reality

Answer 11

distorts it, encourages belief that supernatural beings control events and theres nothing humans can do about it

Question 12

M: how can true happiness be achieved

Answer 12

exploited shaking off their oppression and practicing their freedom

Question 13

what does functionalism focus on

Answer 13

how religion contributes to the cohesion of society

Question 14

F: the 3 b’s

Answer 14

belonging, beliefs, behaviour

Question 15

F: why is religiosity hard to measure

Answer 15

problems with way data is collected
stats lack validity
many people belong without believing and vice versa
extent to which people show religious behaviour doesn’t show how religious they are

Question 16

F: what does it define religion by

Answer 16

what it offers its followers, the functions it fulfills e.g. belonging to a community, beliefs about life and informs about behaviour

Question 17

F: who founded functionalism

Answer 17

Durkheim

Question 18

F: what does religion have the power to do

Answer 18

shape collective beliefs

Question 19

F: functions of religion

Answer 19

emotional support
provides security
brings people together
provides guidelines for how we acts
creates social harmony
relieves tension, recreates stability
provides meaning and purpose to life
promotes social cohesion and sense of belonging
provides social control and support for government

Question 20

societal factors

Answer 20

materialism
consumerism
secularism
family dynamics
immigration
wealth
media

Question 21

materialism

Answer 21

tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values
excessive desire to acquire and consume material goods

Question 22

personality traits of materialsm

Answer 22

envy
non-generosity
possessiveness

Question 23

consumerism

Answer 23

a social and economic order and ideology encouraging the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts as a mean of creating meaning and purpose

Question 24

what do opponents of consumerism argue

Answer 24

that many luxuries and unnecessary consumer products act as a social mechanism to judge socioeconomic status

Question 25

why is consumerism a danger for catholic spirituality

Answer 25

can transform catholicism into a mere thing to be consumed

Question 26

secularism

Answer 26

separation of religion from state, leaving religious people to freely practice their religion provided they don’t infringe on the freedom of others

Question 27

secularism: equality before the law

Answer 27

no privileges or penalties for faith
no belief specifically protected
religious inequality not binding on wider society
blasphemy and apostasy non-punishable

Question 28

secularism: religious identity doesn’t justify

Answer 28

special tax exemption
preaching religion in state schools
inserting religious values into common law
unelected religious leaders as legislators
denying jobs on religiousgrounds

Question 29

family dynamics

Answer 29

religion a childs raised with they generally inherit
parents feel morally obligated to educate about religion
if child disagrees with familys religion causes conflict
family a special religious vocation

Question 30

immigration

Answer 30

colonisation of australia brought protestant faith
white australia policy (1901) increased number of catholics, anglicans and protestants
post WWII baby boom increase in displaced europeans more catholics also more churches
since 1971 number of Australians associated with other religions risen from 0.1 million to 1.5 million

Question 31

wealth

Answer 31

generally wealthier people lose faith, more materialistic
as australia gains wealth, more people lost religion
1966 16.6% of people no religion, 2011 22.3%
congo 1% non religious

Question 32

media

Answer 32

brings attention to religious events
issues raised in media can challenge religious teachings
can distract people from relationship with God
can mock religion