Sociology of religion
  • 1. The sociology of religion is a subfield of sociology that examines the role of religion in society, how it impacts individuals and communities, and how religious beliefs and practices shape social behaviors and institutions. Sociologists of religion study topics such as religious beliefs, rituals, organizations, and their influence on social issues like values, morality, politics, and social cohesion. They investigate how religion intersects with various aspects of life, including education, family, gender, race, and class, and analyze how religious institutions and dynamics impact social structures and change over time. By exploring the complex relationships between religion and society, sociologists contribute valuable insights into the diversity of religious expressions, the dynamics of religious communities, and the role of religion in shaping culture and social norms.

    What is the definition of secularization?
A) The process of converting non-believers into believers
B) The decline in religious influence and practice in a society
C) The strict adherence to traditional religious practices
D) The increase in religious diversity within a society
  • 2. Which sociologist proposed the concept of the 'Protestant Ethic'?
A) Auguste Comte
B) Max Weber
C) Emile Durkheim
D) Karl Marx
  • 3. In which country did the Church of Scientology originate?
A) France
B) Germany
C) United Kingdom
D) United States
  • 4. Which of the following is an example of a symbol in religion?
A) Government
B) Education
C) Cross
D) Economics
  • 5. What is the term for the belief in multiple deities?
A) Agnosticism
B) Atheism
C) Polytheism
D) Monotheism
  • 6. Which religious group emphasizes the teachings of Buddha?
A) Judaism
B) Buddhism
C) Islam
D) Christianity
  • 7. Who proposed the concept of 'civil religion' as a unifying force in society?
A) Michel Foucault
B) Robert Bellah
C) John Dewey
D) Pierre Bourdieu
  • 8. What is the symbolic object that represents the Sikh religion?
A) Crescent Moon
B) Khanda
C) Star of David
D) Cross
  • 9. Which sociologist argued that religion is the 'opium of the people'?
A) Karl Marx
B) Emile Durkheim
C) Max Weber
D) Herbert Spencer
  • 10. In which Asian country is Shintoism primarily practiced?
A) Japan
B) China
C) India
D) South Korea
  • 11. Who founded the Church of Scientology?
A) L. Ron Hubbard
B) Martin Luther
C) Joseph Smith
D) John Wesley
  • 12. In which monotheistic religion is the Torah considered a sacred text?
A) Christianity
B) Baha'i Faith
C) Islam
D) Judaism
  • 13. Which of the following is an example of a religious ritual?
A) Sporting event
B) Baptism
C) Political rally
D) Graduation ceremony
  • 14. Who proposed the 'rational choice theory' of religion?
A) Rodney Stark
B) Talcott Parsons
C) Erving Goffman
D) C. Wright Mills
  • 15. What is the term for the belief in one supreme deity?
A) Agnosticism
B) Monotheism
C) Polytheism
D) Atheism
  • 16. Which religious group believes in the Five Pillars of Islam?
A) Christians
B) Muslims
C) Buddhists
D) Hindus
  • 17. What is the term for the process by which religion loses its influence in society?
A) Evangelization
B) Revitalization
C) Fundamentalism
D) Secularization
  • 18. Which theory emphasizes the ways in which people give meaning to their world, including religious beliefs?
A) Symbolic Interactionism
B) Positivism
C) Functionalism
D) Conflict Theory
  • 19. What is the term for the process of leaving one's religion?
A) Heresy
B) Apostasy
C) Sacrilege
D) Blasphemy
  • 20. Which religious group emphasizes nonviolence, compassion, and karma?
A) Zoroastrianism
B) Sikhism
C) Shinto
D) Jainism
  • 21. What is the term for a religious organization that is largely outside of mainstream society and often rejects its values?
A) Sect
B) Denomination
C) Cult
D) Church
  • 22. The concept of 'spiritual but not religious' is associated with which trend in modern society?
A) Rationalization
B) Individualization
C) Secularization
D) Scientism
  • 23. What is the term for the concept of assigning spiritual or religious significance to ordinary objects or events?
A) Secularization
B) Modernization
C) Marginalization
D) Sacralization
  • 24. Which term refers to the belief that God created the universe but does not intervene in its affairs?
A) Deism
B) Pantheism
C) Polytheism
D) Monotheism
  • 25. Who is the founder of Sikhism?
A) Joseph Smith
B) Baha'u'llah
C) Guru Nanak
D) Brigham Young
  • 26. What term refers to the process by which individuals acquire the norms and values of a society through religious teachings?
A) Integration
B) Socialization
C) Globalization
D) Secularization
  • 27. Who is the founder of Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)?
A) Ellen G. White
B) Martin Luther
C) Joseph Smith
D) John Wesley
  • 28. Who is the central figure in Christianity believed to be the Son of God?
A) Moses
B) Muhammad
C) Jesus Christ
D) Buddha
  • 29. Which of the following is an example of a secular belief system?
A) Islam
B) Christianity
C) Humanism
D) Buddhism
  • 30. Which religion is based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad?
A) Islam
B) Hinduism
C) Christianity
D) Buddhism
  • 31. Who is considered the founder of Buddhism?
A) Muhammad
B) Confucius
C) Siddhartha Gautama
D) Laozi
  • 32. Which religion has the concept of 'karma' and 'dharma'?
A) Islam
B) Judaism
C) Christianity
D) Hinduism
  • 33. What is the term for the religious concepts or practices that transcend national boundaries?
A) Nationalism
B) Transnational religion
C) Cultural relativism
D) Ethnocentrism
  • 34. On which continent did the religion of Islam originate?
A) North America
B) Africa
C) Europe
D) Asia
  • 35. What is the ancient religion of Persia that influenced Judaism and Christianity?
A) Shinto
B) Zoroastrianism
C) Taoism
D) Sikhism
  • 36. What is the term for the practice of interpreting scripture in a literal, fundamentalist manner?
A) Literalism
B) Allegory
C) Hermeneutics
D) Exegesis
  • 37. What term describes the integration of different religious traditions or practices into a new synthesis?
A) Moralism
B) Pacifism
C) Nihilism
D) Syncretism
  • 38. What is the term for the separation of religion and government?
A) Fundamentalism
B) Secularism
C) Pluralism
D) Theocracy
  • 39. What is the sacred text of Hinduism?
A) Vedas
B) Torah
C) Bhagavad Gita
D) Tripitaka
  • 40. What is the largest religion in the world by number of followers?
A) Islam
B) Christianity
C) Buddhism
D) Hinduism
  • 41. Which theoretical perspective emphasizes the integrative and stabilizing functions of religion in society?
A) Functionalism
B) Postmodernism
C) Symbolic Interactionism
D) Conflict Theory
  • 42. Which concept refers to the practice of presenting one's own cultural values as the best and judging other cultures based on those values?
A) Multiculturalism
B) Xenophobia
C) Cultural relativism
D) Ethnocentrism
  • 43. Which sociologist is known for his work on the 'sacred' and 'profane' in religious beliefs?
A) Karl Marx
B) Georg Simmel
C) Emile Durkheim
D) Max Weber
  • 44. Which religious celebration marks the end of Ramadan in Islam?
A) Eid al-Fitr
B) Hajj
C) Ashura
D) Eid al-Adha
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