Free Culture and Society MCQs with Answers

• A. refers to hostile behaviors exhibited by someone who has been offended by a member of a group
• B. is an attitude of aversion and hostility toward the members of a group simply because they belong it
• C. cannot not exist in someone who does not discriminate
• D. is a feeling a minority individual has toward his or her own minority?

Explanation: Prejudice is a negative attitude or feeling directed at people simply because they belong to a particular group. It is distinct from discrimination, which is the action that may or may not follow from that attitude.

• A. racial or cultural self-consciousness
• B. hereditary membership
• C. a high degree of marriage outside of the group (exogamy)
• D. oppression at the hands of a dominant group

Explanation: Minority groups commonly show group consciousness, inherited membership and subordination by a dominant group. They generally favour endogamy, or marriage within the group, rather than a high degree of exogamy.

• A. begins with the assumption that race is based on easily classified differences
• B. considers race a social construct not an absolute
• C. neither nor b
• D. both a and b

Explanation: Sociologists treat race as a social construction whose meanings and boundaries vary across societies and historical periods, not as an absolute biological classification. Therefore, option b captures the sociological perspective.

• A. is prevalent in industrial societies
• B. entails the notion of mana
• C. is centered upon the belief in powerful gods interested in human affairs
• D. is illustrated by Buddhism

Explanation: Simple supernaturalism involves belief in impersonal supernatural power, commonly illustrated by mana. Belief in powerful gods concerned with human affairs describes a more developed form of supernaturalism, not simple supernaturalism.

• A. religious economy
• B. religious culture
• C. religious ritual
• D. religious polityGet Study Guides

Explanation: The religious-economy approach treats religions as organizations competing in a market for followers, much like firms compete for customers. Religious culture and ritual refer to beliefs and practices, not competition among organizations.

• A. Finland
• B. Greece
• C. Ireland
• D. Spain

Explanation: Greece is predominantly Eastern Orthodox, reflecting the historical influence of the Greek Orthodox Church. Finland is mainly Lutheran, while Ireland and Spain have historically been Roman Catholic.

• A. church
• B. denomination
• C. sect
• D. cult

Explanation: A cult is typically a small, loosely organized and often temporary religious group centred on distinctive beliefs or a leader. Churches and denominations are more formally organized, while sects usually have stronger membership boundaries and commitment.

• A. the profound
• B. the profuse
• C. the profitable
• D. the profaneDiscover Faith Communities

Explanation: Durkheim distinguished the sacred, set apart and treated with reverence, from the profane, meaning ordinary everyday life. The other options are not terms in his religious classification.

• A. religious pluralism with many gods
• B. believing without belonging
• C. secularization against religion
• D. belonging without believing

Explanation: Grace Davie described Western Europeans as often believing in religious ideas while having little regular involvement with churches, summarized as “believing without belonging.” “Belonging without believing” reverses the pattern she identified.

• A. manifest
• B. latent
• C. positive
• D. negative

Explanation: Defining the spiritual world and explaining the divine are intended, openly recognised functions of religion, so they are manifest functions. Latent functions are unintended consequences, such as social networking or informal social control.