4B

Question 1

Atheism

Answer 1

Ranges from strong (asserts there is no god) to weak (lacks belief in god); and from negative (nihilistic, hopeless) to positive (naturalistic, rational and humanistic). Atheism is often a reaction to the perceived irrelevance or contradictions in religion.

Question 2

Fundamentalism

Answer 2

A return to religious “roots” and traditional values. It resists modernity and secularism, seeking to protect what it sees as eternal truths. Fundamentalists believe their interpretation of religion is exclusively correct.

Question 3

Alternative Spirituality

Answer 3

Focuses on pluralism, personal choice, and new expressions of the sacred. Draws from multiple traditions or creates new forms entirely. Common in New Age movements and postmodern religious environments.

Question 4

New Religious Movements

Answer 4

Emerging spiritual groups that may incorporate elements from established religions or propose entirely new frameworks. Often arise as a response to dissatisfaction with institutional religion or secularism.