Sociology, Book 2, 2018, Topic Beliefs in Society

Question 1

Practice Questions

Topic 1

1. Outline and explain two ways in which religious interpretations of world might differ from scientific ones. (10 marks)

Question 2

Practice Questions

Topic 1

2. Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A - Both religion and ideology are belief systems that provide a means for understanding interpreting and explaining the world. Religion and ideology often differ, as religion usually involves faith in spiritual and supernatural forces of some kind of explain the world, while ideologies are more generally concerned with explanations that protect and promote the interests of social groups. Religion, though, can sometimes also act as an ideology. - Applying material from A, analyse two differences between religion and ideology as belief systems. (10 marks)

Question 3

Practice Questions

Topic 1

3. Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B - The greatest challenge to religious beliefs has come from scientific discoveries. The use of the scientific method and empirical evidence - observable evidence collected in the physical world - to establish the causes and effects of natural phenomena has shown many religious beliefs and explanations to be false, such as the origins and evolution of the world. Religious explanations and superstitions are therefore increasingly being displaced by scientific explanations. - Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that science has replaced religion as the main influence on people’s knowledge and knowledge and beliefs in society today. (20 marks)

Question 4

Practice Questions

Topic 2

1. Outline and explain two ways in which religion may act as an agency of social control. (10 marks)

Question 5

Practice Questions

Topic 2

2. Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A - Religious once provided what Breger calls a ‘ universe of meaning’ and religion act as a ‘sacred canopy stretching over society’ stretching over society. These helped people to interpret and make sense of the world and their position in it. Religion gave some focus, order and meaning to their lives, and protected them from the uncertainties of life. However, in many contemporary societies, religion is losing this role for a lot of people. Applying material from Item A, analyse two reasons why for many people religion may no longer be acting as a universe of meaning and as a ‘sacred canopy’ today. ( 10 marks)

Question 6

Practice Questions

Topic 2

3. Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B - Some sociologists argue that religion acts as conservative force that prevents social change. Through its teaching, religion reinforces dominant norms and values, and justifies existing inequalities in social and power structures. Religious organisations like the Church of England and Roman Catholic Church are extremely wealthy and powerful, and have close links with state, elite groups and the key power holders in society. - Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that religious beliefs and organisations act as conservative forces in society. (20 marks).

Question 7

Practice Questions

Topic 3

1. Outline and explain two ways in which the growth of new religious movement and New Age spirituality may be a response to conditions of rapid social change. (10 marks)

Question 8

Practice Questions

Topic 3

2. Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A - Contemporary Western societies involve a wide diversity of religious, spiritual and other beliefs. Postmodernist see the beliefs that people hold as purely a personal matter. They can go spiritual and religious shopping, and pick and mix religious beliefs to suit their own lifestyles without long-term commitment to any religious organization. This means that many religious cults and sects are short-lived, as consumer tastes and fashion change. - Applying material from Item AA, analyse two influences on whether a religious sect or cult in short-lived org long-lived. (10 marks)

Question 9

Practice Questions

Topic 3

3. Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B - Scientific and rational thinking has led to what Weber called growing ‘disenchantment with the world’ - a decline in the spiritual or religious aspects of people’s lives. Postmodernist point to a loss of faith in metanarratives, such as the universes of meaning once provided by traditional religions. Some suggest that individuals turn to new religious movements and New New Age ideas to fill the vacuum of meaning left by the decline of traditional religions. - Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations for the development of new religious movements and New Age spirituality. (20 marks)

Question 10

Practice Questions

Topic 4

1. Outline and explain two reasons why people from some ethnic minority groups seem to participate more in religious activity than other social groups. (10 marks)

Question 11

Practice Questions

Topic 4

2. Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A - Compared to older people, young people are generally less religious activities, although this is not true among young Muslims, who show greater religious participation and commitment. Young people people seem more attracted to New Age spirality and new religious movements, but the vast majority do not participate in either. Applying material from Item A, analyse two differences between the religious belief and participation of young people compared with those of older people.

Question 12

Practice Questions

Topic 4

3. Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B - Feminist see many religions as patriarchal. For example, women are relegated to the margins or lower levels of many religious organisations, and given minor or subordinate positions in many religious beliefs and texts. Religious teachings often seek to control women’s sexuality, and emphasise their roles as partners of men, mothers and carers in the family. Despite this, women are more likely than men to hold religious beliefs and to practise their religion. - Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological contributions to the understanding of the relationship between gender and religious behaviour and beliefs. (20 marks)

Question 13

Practice Questions

Topic 5

1. Outline and explain two ways in which a decline in participation in religious institutions may not mean that society is becoming more secular. (10 marks)

Question 14

Practice Questions

Topic 5

2. Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A - Sociologists disagree about the extent of secularization in the modern wold. For example, some suggest that the development of science and technology has displaced religious faith as a means of interpreting the world. Postmodernist point to the decline of metanarratives, which mean people are abandoning once taken-for-granted belief systems, like religion. Other sociologists suggest religion is not declining but simply changing and appearing in new forms. Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which religion, rather than declining, is changing and appearing on new forms.

Question 15

Practice Questions

Topic 5

3. Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B - Globalisation has meant that many of the world’s religions are now transnational, and no longer tied to particular geographical locations, countries or cultures. A wide range of different religions has spread across the globe, creating more religious diversity. Despite suggestions that participation in traditional religions has declined in most European countries, there continues to be great deal of religious activity in the world today. - Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that globalisation has led to major changes in religious and practices in the world today.

Question 16

Practice Questions

Topic B1

1. Outline and explain two ways in which the emergence of religious fundamentalism may be consequence of globalisation. (10 marks)

Question 17

Practice Questions

Topic B1

2. Read Item A below and answer the question that follows. Item A - Churches and denominations are generally seen as fairly respectable and mainstream organisations, whereas sects and cults tend to be seen as more deviant. Media treatment of sects and cults has meant they are associated in the popular imagination (often quite unfairly) with groups seen as evil, consoling, extremist and manipulative, as brainwashing their members, and as harmful to both their own members and the wider society. Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which churches and denominations may differ from sects and cults. (10 marks)

Question 18

Practice Questions

Topic B1

3. Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B - Metanarratives are general theories or belief systems that claim to provide comprehensive explanations and knowledge of the world. Postmodernist see secularisation arising in part from the general collapse of metanarratives. Secularisation has relegated traditional religious beliefs and organisations to the margins of contemporary society. Personalised beliefs have replaced the meta narrative of religion, and people pick ’n’ mix whatever beliefs they choose from a global spiritual supermarket. - Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that religion is of declining significance in people’s lives in the world today.