Religious Studies 101Y                                      

Final Exam Review                                        

Prof. John Simmons

 

The Dimensional Triangle, Part 2: Doctrine, Ethics, Social

 

Exam date:  Tuesday, May 9, 2006

                       3:00-4:50pm

Exam format:

 

Part I: 25 computer-graded multiple-choice questions worth 1 point each.

Part II:  8 short answer identifications, you pick any 5, worth 2 points each

Part III: 1 essay question (on the back of this review sheet) worth 15 possible points for a total of 50 possible points

Please bring a #2 pencil for the computer-graded portion of the exam. 

 

Exam content:

Reading:

Simmons, Beliefs and Believers Study Guide = Classes: 14, 15, 19, 22, 23

A Search for Meaning =  Chapters 4 & 5

 

Key overall theme:

 

Belief and Behavior - B+B=B

Doctrine = belief

Ethics = behavior (proper patterns of action)

... both dimensions impact on the social dimension

 

Please be familiar with the notes on DOCTRINE  in Classes 14 & 15 and the notes on ETHICS in Class 19.  Religious doctrines: a) bring order or focus to myth and ritual; b) provide the institutionalization of answers to the unexplainable (death, suffering, change); c) control the boundaries of religious experience; d) determine what is inclusive and exclusive in a given religion. Religious ethics define proper patterns of action; four steps in the ethical process = obligation, responsibility, dissonance, redemption/harmonizing mechanism; the impact of the doctrinal and ethical dimensions on the social dimension; the second dimensional triangle

 

Information sources:

 

  1. PowerPoint notes: from website files:
    1. Doctrinal & Ethical Dimensions
    2. Destructive Cults Part 1 (under REL 454)

 

Key Concepts/Videos seen in class:

 

1. MSNBC documentary on exorcism in Roman Catholic and Pentecostal churches - illustrates how doctrine brings order to myths and guides ritual practices; theodicy = doctrinal explanation of evil; suffering is blamed on the Devil who must be ritually exorcised.

 

2. Documentary on the Jonestown mass-suicide; extreme example of the relationship between doctrine and ethics, belief and behavior; Jim Jones = charismatic leader; Rebecca Moore describes the reasons behind her sisters= involvement in the cult (Class 14).

3. The Jesus Factor – documentary on George W. Bush’s evangelical Christian beliefs (doctrine) and how Christian ethics impacts public policy decisions (social dimension)

4. A History of God – documentary tracking how the doctrinal concept of God changes through the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

5.  A Ticket to Heaven – movie on the characteristics of a destructive cult, cult recruitment, and the power of religious doctrine, ethics, and social dimensions.

6. “Putting it All Together” – new addition to the Beliefs and Believers media course; Class 25 showcases the interrelationship between the six dimensions.

 

 

Essay question: the essay question below will be Part III of the midterm exam. Your essay should be at least four paragraphs in length (including introductory and concluding paragraphs) and use examples from our notes, text, and/or videos to support your position.  The essay will be worth 15 points for and exam total of 50 possible points.

 

            Using any visual material (video, DVD, movie, roll-in) we have seen this semester, illustrate how the EXPERIENTIAL, MYTHIC, RITUAL, DOCTRINAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL dimensions inter-relate.

 

 

 

Good luck!