EXAM # 1

RLST 2400

RELIGION AND CONTEMPORARY U.S. SOCIETY

Write An essay answering one (1) of the following questions.

(Please identify which question you are answering.)

1. Imagine that a roommate, a friend, or a parent, who has never heard of Peter Berger, finds the following paragraphs in your notebook:

Because human physiology has so few strong insincts, people must create their own world. The processes of externalization, objectivation, and internalization all combine to create a nomos to protect against anomy. The arbitrary nature of the constructed world is largely hidden; the nomos is presented as eternal and necessary truth. Through socialization, members of the society internalize the reified nomos. Thus they are protected from the threat of anomy.

Yet socialization is never perfect. One’s own freedom and the encounter with disconfirming others keeps the threat of anomy ever present. To escape that threat, most people choose to become alienated. Bad faith is their strongest defense against anomy. In a traditional religious society, religion is the main source of bad faith. Yet religion provides an indispensable service. It legitimates the nomos by offering symbols of a numinous power inherent in the cosmos. Thus it is the strongest protection against anomy.

Naturally your roommate, friend, or parent will respond: “What the hell does that mean?” Write an explanation of the paragraph for them in plain English. You simply have to explain the meaning of the terms and the ideas in the paragraph, so that anyone can understand it.

2. Choose one example from your life and use it to demonstrate your understanding of Berger’s theory. (It can be a behavior, a value, a belief, an object, or anything that is an important part of your life.) Explain how this example illustrates the way the nomos you live in imposes itself on you? Include most (or all) of the following points:

· How do the processes of externalization, objectivation, and internalization work in relation to the example?

· How is it legitimated in your life and in the larger society you live in?

· In relation to this example, how does the threat of anomy manifest itself?

· In what ways are you being alienated, living in bad faith, in order to avoid anomy?

· In what ways do you experience the tension between your own freedom to externalize and your desire to be alienated, in order to avoid anomy?

· Would that tension disappear if this example served as an important religious symbol in your society and your life?

(OVER)

Essays should be 2 - 3 pages, double-spaced. No papers above the length limit will be accepted.

This exam covers material studied in class through September 10.

It is due in class on September 15

Please read carefully and follow these Guidelines for Writing Essay Exams:

As in any other academic course, you are being tested on your ability to understand, organize, synthesize, and think logically about the ideas presented in the course. Therefore, in answering the question, you should show that you have read the assigned readings, attended class, and grasped the main ideas presented in readings and class. On some occasions you may be asked to write about your own personal experiences or feelings. But please remember that your grade is always based on your demonstrated understanding of the course material. Your primary responsibility in every essay is to show what you have learned in this course. The more course material you include in your essay, presented accurately and logically, the better your grade will be.

A good essay is written clearly, concisely, and precisely. It offers a series of general ideas, with each one supported by more specific ideas or evidence, and all the general ideas are arranged in a logical order. Make sure your essay has a clear logical flow of ideas within each paragraph and from one paragraph to the next. If your paragraphs could be rearranged in a different order and make just as much sense, your essay is not yet well organized! A good way to avoid this problem is to make an outline before you write your final draft, so that you can see the organization of your essay clearly. Make every word count, from the very first word; avoid needless introductions and repetitive conclusions. Make every sentence add a new thought or a new way of supporting a main idea.

You should always show that you can express the main ideas of the course in your own words. A good way to do this is to assume that you are writing for someone who knows nothing about the subject; imagine you are writing to a parent, a friend, etc. Do not use lengthy quotations (though you may want to refer to specific pages in the readings in parentheses or footnotes).

Your essay exams will be graded by your recitation instructor. It will be to your advantage to discuss the course material as fully as possible with your instructor, both in class and outside of class. It makes a lot of sense to discuss the ideas BEFORE you write the essays, though you are also encouraged to discuss the essays after they are returned to you with comments. We will be happy to discuss your exam with you, or go over a preliminary draft, during office hours or at other times by appointment. See the syllabus for office hours and phone numbers.

THE SAME GUIDELINES WILL APPLY FOR EVERY EXAM.

PLEASE SAVE THIS SHEET FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

EXAM # 2

RLST 2400

RELIGION AND CONTEMPORARY U.S. SOCIETY

Write An essay answering one (1) of the following questions.

(Please identify which question you are answering.)

A. Choose ONE cultural phenomenon, and explain how it would be experienced differently by a modern person (a person living in the traditional U.S. nomos) and a postmodern person. A “cultural phenomenon” can be anything that people experience in the U.S. today. Some examples: the idea of progress, a famous historical figure like George Washington, a war against Iraq, a television show, a supermarket. In answering the question, be sure you explain the key features of the modern nomos and the postmodern nomos, to show that you clearly understand the differences between the two. In conclusion, if you had the choice to experience the phenomenon you study in a strictly modern way or a strictly postmodern way, which would you choose? Why?

B. If you had to live either in a society that was completely modern or completely postmodern, which would you choose, and why? For this essay, “modern” means the traditional U.S. public religion of modernity, as we studied it; postmodern means postmodernism as we studied it in this course. For this essay, no combination of the two is allowed. You have to choose between being completely in one or completely in the other. As you answer the question, be sure that you explain the most important features of modernity and postmodernism. Look at the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of society. Then explain why you choose one or the other.

Essays should about 6 pages, double-spaced. No papers above the length limit will be accepted.

This exam covers material studied in class through October 29.

It is due in class on November 5

Please review the Guidelines for Writing Essay Exams distributed on reverse side of Exam # 1.

The same Guidelines apply for this exam too.

EXAM # 3

RLST 2400: RELIGION AND CONTEMPORARY U.S. SOCIETY

Write an essay -- and an outline for the essay -- answering one (1) of the following questions.

(Please identify which question you are answering.)

A. Both liberation theology (Latin American, African-American, and feminist) and Spretnak's holistic spirituality focus on specific problems in our society.  The question is:  Do you think that liberation theology and holistic spirituality can work together in an alliance?  Or do they contradict each other too much to be effective partners? Discuss the two movements in general. Be sure to show that you understand the religious / spiritual foundations of their approaches. Also illustrate your answer by discussing how the two movements would deal with one or more specific social problems that they think must be addressed and the specific changes they think are necessary to make our society better. 

B. What elements and aspects of Spretnak's holistic spirituality and the movements of liberation theology (Latin American, African-American, and feminist) that we studied do you think would be most viable in making an alternative to the current nomos of U.S. society?  What elements and aspects of Spretnak's holistic spirituality and the movements of liberation theology do you think would be least viable in making an alternative to the current nomos of U.S. society? Overall, do you think it would be desirable for the most viable elements and aspects of holistic spirituality and liberation theology to become the dominant nomos of U.S. society?  Why or why not?

NOTES: In order to be "viable," an alternative must be both possible and desirable. In other words, there must be a real chance that the alternative could become the dominant nomos, and there must be good reasons to want the alternative to become the dominant nomos. In answering this question you'll have to say something about the current dominant nomos. But remember that your grade depends primarily on your demonstrated understanding of holistic spirituality and liberation theology.

This IS your final exam. There is no other final exam.

Essays should be about SIX (6) pages, double-spaced.

Guidelines from the previous exam apply to this exam too.

In addition to the essay, you are required to submit an outline, which you must write before writing the essay itself. Outlines can be done in any outline style. (Don’t worry about formal rules.) But the outline must be at least 6 - 12 lines. Each line should be a brief statement (not necessarily a full sentence) of a main point that will be included in the essay.

The exam is due by 4:30 PM on MONDAY, DEC. 15,

in the Religious Studies Department mail room, Humanities 273.

If you would like comments on your paper, please attach a stamped self-addressed envelope.