Religious Diversity and the Study of Religion Flashcards

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What are the three attitudes toward religious diversity in the USA?

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1) Exclusive: My belief system is the only true way. 2) Inclusive: My belief system is the only correct one for me but allows that there may be truths in other systems. 3) Pluralistic: All religious belief systems lead to the same end.

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What are the four factors influencing religious diversity in the USA?

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1) Religious freedom. 2) Immigration. 3) Denominationalism. 4) Proselytization.

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Flashcards reviewing key concepts from a lecture on religious diversity and the study of religion.

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27 Terms

1
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What are the three attitudes toward religious diversity in the USA?

1) Exclusive: My belief system is the only true way. 2) Inclusive: My belief system is the only correct one for me but allows that there may be truths in other systems. 3) Pluralistic: All religious belief systems lead to the same end.

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What are the four factors influencing religious diversity in the USA?

1) Religious freedom. 2) Immigration. 3) Denominationalism. 4) Proselytization.

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What are the eight characteristics of a religion?

1) Founder. 2) Date of founding. 3) Belief in a supreme being. 4) Sacred text. 5) Creed. 6) Doctrine. 7) Rituals. 8) Concept of an afterlife.

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What does preunderstanding mean?

The existing state of our understanding before a new experience calls for interpretation.

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What is the first question to ask to understand your own personal preunderstanding of religion?

Do I have an unprejudiced view of what religion, in general, is? Or am I biased for or against it?

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How do most people in the Western world typically define religion?

Religion is based on belief in and obedience to God.

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What is the definition of religion used by the book?

Religion is a pattern of beliefs and practices that expresses and enacts what a community regards as sacred and/or ultimate about life.

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From which Latin word is the English word 'religion' derived, and what does it mean?

To bind/tie fast.

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What is monotheism?

Belief in one God.

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What is polytheism?

Belief in many gods.

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What is private religion?

A pattern of belief held by only one person.

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Define secularism.

Life without religion.

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What is the secularization hypothesis?

The idea that science and education diminish or end religion in the modern world.

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What is to be gained by taking an academic course in world religions?

Creating a foundation for a successful and fulfilling career in many fields, in addition to growth in personal knowledge and satisfaction. It teaches you how to deal with others whose beliefs are different than your own.

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List the six different dimensions of religion.

Cognitive, Ethics, Ritual, Institutional, Aesthetic, and Emotional.

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What is a ritual? To whom are rituals directed?

A symbolic act of worship which are often performed to achieve very specific goals. They are often directed to one God, many gods, spirits, or deceased ancestors.

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In the study of religion, what does 'myth' mean?

Stories that relate basic truths of a religion.

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Religious groups that have arisen since the 19th century and generally with a charismatic leader are called what?

New religious movements (NRMs).

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What is the historical-critical method?

Study of the past using careful, scholarly analysis.

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What is feminism?

The movement for women’s equality.

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Define atheism.

The conviction that there is no God and that religion is mostly mistaken.

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What are New Atheists?

Group of current atheists who have made sharp public attacks on religion.

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Define agnostics.

Those who do not know if a God or gods exist.

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Define tolerance.

Putting up with views and actions of others that are opposed to one’s own, usually for the common good.

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What is pluralism in the context of religious study?

Recognition of religious differences and dealing with them constructively, going beyond toleration, and engaging in interfaith dialogue.

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What is a cult?

Smaller nontraditional religious groups (derogatory-beyond commonly accepted bounds of social behavior).

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What are Sects?

Recognized sections of a parent religion.