Global Culture/Religion Quiz

Culture

Everything that makes up a particular people's way of life

Ethnocentrism

Judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture

Religion (type of culture)

Foundation of culture
System of attitudes, beliefs, and practices relating to spiritual things
Monotheism vs Polytheism

Government (type of culture)

Process for making decisions

Monarchy (type of government)

King/Queen make decisions based on wants/needs of people

Democracy (type of government)

People elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf

Autocracy (type of government)

Leader makes decisions with no consideration for wants or needs of people

Economy (type of culture)

Method of allocating resources
ex: capitalism, communism, socialism, etc.

Social Structure (type of culture)

Main purpose is to organize society
How families are organized
How we interact with different groups of people based on what society tells us
2 main kinds of organization: nuclear (immediate family) and extended (extended family)

Expression (type of culture)

The way cultures demonstrate communication and individuality
ex: language, food, music, dance, etc.

Discovery (how culture changes)

Addition of totally new info into a new culture (very rare)

Invention (how culture changes)

Recombination of existing elements within a culture (common)

Diffusion (how culture changes)

Minor change within a culture (extremely common)

Extinction (how culture changes)

When traits leave a culture (fairly common)

Subculture

Cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests different with those of the larger culture

Counterculture

Way of life and set of attitudes opposed to the prevailing social norm

Indegenous

Original inhabitants of a particular place

Religion

Unified system (general foundation) of spiritual beliefs and practices related to sacred (spiritual) things

Components of Religion

Beliefs that some kind of supernatural or spiritual power exists
Specific beliefs about these powers
Rituals

Intellectual (function of religion)

Explains the world around us
Satisfies human curiosity
Goes further than science can

Psychological (function of religion)

Helps people cope with time of stress/trouble
Explains why bad things happen
Gives confidence in a more ultimate meaning to life

Social (function of religion)

Gives morals, values, and rules
Gives common identity as part of same group
Solidarity (brings people together)

Elements Religions Have in Common

Founder
Deity (god) or deities
Symbols
Sacred Texts
Rules
Rituals
Holidays
Belief about life after death
Belief about how to reach salvation

Sacred

Worthy of religious respect
ex: holy books, religious figures, religious sites, etc.

Secular

Non-religious in nature
ex: American public school system

Theocracy

Government ruled by a god or religious leader
ex: Iran, Vatican City

Fundalmentalism

Strict literal interpretation and complete following of holy book/beliefs of a religion
ex: taliban forcing all of society to follow their interpretation of Islam

Blashpemy

The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for god
ex: images of Prophet Muhammad are blasphemous in Islam