1/24- The Study of Religion part 2

Question 1

religious exemptions

Answer 1

-Amish and other traditionally pacifist religious groups are exempt from mandatory military service
-Tax exemptions
-Vaccines, circumcision, public health issues

Question 2

religious definitions

Answer 2

-Pre-scientific explanation of the unknown
-Mechanism for social cohesion
-Experience of transcendence

Question 3

religious definitions

Answer 3

-Pre-scientific explanation of the unknown
-Mechanism for social cohesion
-Experience of transcendence

Question 4

family resemblance model

Answer 4

-the idea that a set of instances may form a category or give rise to a concept even though there is no single attribute common to all the instances
-They can be described, but are not defined by shared characteristics
-No essence, no singular “mother” or “father”
-Not every member in the family possesses all of the traits

Question 5

family resemblance model advantages

Answer 5

-Allows us to make use of numerous ideas and theories
-Allows us to accept that much of what is characteristic of what we call religion exists elsewhere
-Allows shades of grey and reminds us that religion is often impossible to distinguish from culture and politics

Question 6

important traits of religion

Answer 6

-community formation: us vs. them
-ritual
-tradition
-ultimate questions