What did Émile Durkheim focus on in his study of religion?

the part religion

played in social life and the impact of social change on religion

the potential for religion to cause conflict between different social groups

the constructed meaning of different religious rituals and symbols

the fundamental truth or falsehood of different religious doctrines or beliefs

Why is Hinduism called an ethical religion?

Its followers behave more ethically than members of other religions do.

It includes only rules for behavior, and not any kinds of deities or rituals.

It has no historical ties to a founding individual, and no belief in one omnipotent deity.

It maintains a strict moral code, which members believe is enforced by a single god.

Which theoretical perspective sees religion as an agent of harmful social control?

the functionalist perspective

the conflict theory perspective

the symbolic interactionist perspective

the sociological perspective

Which of the following is an example of an ecclesia?

the Church of England

the Southern Baptist Convention

the Mennonite Church

Reform Judaism

What did Eileen Barker’s research on the Unification Church find about the mental health of people who had joined the movement?

Compared with the greater population, a higher proportion of members showed signs of mental illness.

Over half of the members of the Unification Church showed clear signs of brainwashing.

Considerably lower levels of mental illness were found among members than among the greater population.

The members displayed no more signs of mental illness than the greater population, and showed no signs of brainwashing.

How does religious affiliation and practice in the United States compare with that of other nations?

People in the United States tend to be more religious than people in nondemocratic, nonindustrialized nations.

People in the United States tend to report low levels of religious affiliation and religious practice.

People in the United States tend to be more religious than people in other democratic, industrialized nations.

People in the United States report higher levels of religious affiliation and practice than people in any other nation.

Which of the following is suggested by the data on religious preference and religious practice in the United States?

People go to church frequently even if they don’t consider themselves affiliated with the denomination.

The majority of Americans attend religious services weekly and identify strongly with a religious denomination.

A high percentage of Americans identify with a religious denomination, but a much lower percentage regularly attends services.

Although Americans change religious affiliation rarely, a majority “shop around” for religious services that best fit their opinions and tastes.