Success in Sociology STPGT(SELECTION TEST FOR POST GRADUATE TEACHER)

Social Perspectives of Religion – Notes & 50 MCQs with Answers

Short Notes on Social Perspectives of Religion

• Religion: A system of beliefs, practices, and values related to the sacred, providing meaning, guidance, and social order.
• Functionalist Perspective:
  • Religion promotes social solidarity and shared values (Durkheim).
  • It provides meaning and reduces uncertainty in life.
  • Acts as a source of morality, rituals, and cohesion.
• Conflict Perspective:
  • Religion can maintain inequality and justify exploitation (Marx).
  • “Religion is the opium of the people” – used to control oppressed classes.
  • It may legitimize domination by elites while pacifying the poor.
• Weberian Perspective:
  • Religion influences economic and social change.
  • Protestant ethic encouraged capitalism by linking work ethic with salvation.
  • Religion can be both progressive and conservative.
• Symbolic Interactionist Perspective:
  • Focuses on everyday religious practices and symbols (cross, tilak, etc.).
  • Explains how rituals, beliefs, and religious identity shape interactions.
• Secularization Debate: Modernization tends to reduce religion’s influence, but religion still adapts and survives.
• Civil Religion: National symbols and rituals (flag, anthem) act like religion in unifying people.

50 MCQs on Social Perspectives of Religion

1. Religion is mainly concerned with:
   a) Sacred beliefs
   b) Science
   c) Economy
   d) Politics
   Answer: a
2. Who said “Religion is the opium of the people”?
   a) Weber
   b) Durkheim
   c) Marx
   d) Parsons
   Answer: c
3. Durkheim emphasized religion’s role in:
   a) Inequality
   b) Social cohesion
   c) Economic development
   d) Conflict
   Answer: b
4. Max Weber linked Protestant ethic with:
   a) Communism
   b) Capitalism
   c) Socialism
   d) Industrialism
   Answer: b
5. Symbolic interactionists study religion through:
   a) Rituals and symbols
   b) Economy
   c) Class struggle
   d) Law
   Answer: a
6. Religion provides:
   a) Meaning
   b) Morality
   c) Order
   d) All of these
   Answer: d
7. Which perspective sees religion as maintaining inequality?
   a) Functionalist
   b) Conflict
   c) Symbolic
   d) Liberal
   Answer: b
8. Weber stressed that religion:
   a) Is always conservative
   b) Can drive social change
   c) Has no effect
   d) Is only ritual
   Answer: b
9. Civil religion refers to:
   a) Church rituals
   b) Political symbols uniting society
   c) Religious wars
   d) Cultural festivals
   Answer: b
10. Secularization means:
    a) Decline of religious influence
    b) Rise of science
    c) Growth of secular values
    d) All of these
    Answer: d
11. Durkheim studied religion among:
    a) Hindus
    b) Australian aborigines
    c) Muslims
    d) Jews
    Answer: b
12. Religion functions to:
    a) Legitimize social order
    b) Control behavior
    c) Bind groups together
    d) All of these
    Answer: d
13. Marx saw religion as a tool of:
    a) Revolution
    b) Oppression
    c) Liberation
    d) Culture
    Answer: b
14. “The sacred and the profane” concept is from:
    a) Weber
    b) Durkheim
    c) Marx
    d) Comte
    Answer: b
15. Which religion was central to Weber’s analysis?
    a) Hinduism
    b) Protestantism
    c) Buddhism
    d) Islam
    Answer: b
16. Religion as “opium” means:
    a) It gives energy
    b) It numbs pain of exploitation
    c) It motivates action
    d) It prevents conflict
    Answer: b
17. Symbols in religion represent:
    a) Science
    b) Sacred meanings
    c) Class division
    d) Politics
    Answer: b
18. Which perspective studies micro-level religious practices?
    a) Functionalist
    b) Conflict
    c) Symbolic interactionist
    d) Structuralist
    Answer: c
19. Religion often influences:
    a) Law
    b) Education
    c) Politics
    d) All of these
    Answer: d
20. Secularization is strongest in:
    a) Traditional societies
    b) Modern societies
    c) Tribal societies
    d) Rural areas
    Answer: b
21. Durkheim saw religion as worship of:
    a) Gods
    b) Society itself
    c) Individuals
    d) Ancestors
    Answer: b
22. Religion legitimizes inequality according to:
    a) Weber
    b) Marx
    c) Durkheim
    d) Parsons
    Answer: b
23. Totemism is linked with:
    a) Durkheim
    b) Marx
    c) Weber
    d) Parsons
    Answer: a
24. Protestant ethic encouraged:
    a) Ascetic lifestyle
    b) Hard work
    c) Rational capitalism
    d) All of these
    Answer: d
25. Religion as a source of values is stressed by:
    a) Conflict theory
    b) Functionalism
    c) Marxism
    d) Symbolism
    Answer: b
26. Religion reduces:
    a) Anomie
    b) Morality
    c) Social order
    d) Laws
    Answer: a
27. Religion as ideology is emphasized by:
    a) Marx
    b) Weber
    c) Durkheim
    d) Mead
    Answer: a
28. Everyday meanings of prayer are studied by:
    a) Symbolic interactionism
    b) Functionalism
    c) Marxism
    d) Structuralism
    Answer: a
29. Religion creates collective conscience – by:
    a) Marx
    b) Weber
    c) Durkheim
    d) Parsons
    Answer: c
30. Which is NOT a function of religion?
    a) Social solidarity
    b) Conflict creation
    c) Morality
    d) Identity
    Answer: b
31. Marx’s view on religion is:
    a) Neutral
    b) Positive
    c) Negative
    d) Functional
    Answer: c
32. Secularization challenges:
    a) Politics
    b) Religion’s dominance
    c) Science
    d) Law
    Answer: b
33. Durkheim’s “Elementary Forms” studied:
    a) Totemism
    b) Capitalism
    c) Hinduism
    d) Christianity
    Answer: a
34. Religion can promote change – said:
    a) Weber
    b) Marx
    c) Durkheim
    d) Spencer
    Answer: a
35. Religion as false consciousness – by:
    a) Weber
    b) Marx
    c) Durkheim
    d) Mead
    Answer: b
36. Symbols of religion give:
    a) Identity
    b) Meaning
    c) Unity
    d) All
    Answer: d
37. Religion in modern society is:
    a) Disappearing
    b) Transforming
    c) Unchanging
    d) Declining only
    Answer: b
38. Religion promotes solidarity through:
    a) Collective rituals
    b) Economic exchange
    c) Political parties
    d) Science
    Answer: a
39. Religion maintains inequality through:
    a) Social mobility
    b) Justifying hierarchy
    c) Reducing poverty
    d) Technology
    Answer: b
40. Religion’s social role is studied in:
    a) Sociology
    b) Biology
    c) Economics
    d) Physics
    Answer: a
41. Conflict perspective sees religion as:
    a) Consensus
    b) Inequality tool
    c) Sacred unity
    d) Harmony
    Answer: b
42. Religion offers:
    a) Hope
    b) Fear
    c) Exploitation
    d) All
    Answer: d
43. Who said “Religion legitimizes domination”?
    a) Marx
    b) Weber
    c) Durkheim
    d) Parsons
    Answer: a
44. Religion as a source of morality is:
    a) Functionalist view
    b) Marxist view
    c) Conflict view
    d) Secular view
    Answer: a
45. Religion influences:
    a) Family
    b) Politics
    c) Education
    d) All
    Answer: d
46. Durkheim stressed:
    a) Religion is illusion
    b) Religion is society worshipping itself
    c) Religion is capitalism
    d) Religion is disappearing
    Answer: b
47. Which perspective emphasizes meaning of rituals?
    a) Symbolic interactionist
    b) Functionalist
    c) Conflict
    d) Evolutionary
    Answer: a
48. Religion gives identity through:
    a) Rituals
    b) Symbols
    c) Community
    d) All
    Answer: d
49. Secularization is challenged by:
    a) Religious revival
    b) Science
    c) Education
    d) Industry
    Answer: a
50. Sociology studies religion as:
    a) Sacred truth
    b) Social institution
    c) Divine power
    d) Faith only
    Answer: b

Tags: Sociology of Religion, Social Perspectives, Functionalist Theory, Conflict Theory, Weber Religion, Sociology MCQs